First lady announces Subway joining ‘Let’s Move’ campaign
January 23, 2014 | 04:12 PM
First Lady Michelle Obama stopped at a Subway restaurant in Washington, D.C., today to announce that the nationally franchised sandwich shop has made a three-year commitment to support her “Let’s Move” campaign against childhood obesity.
Subway, whose menu offerings are praised by nutritionists more than most fast-food restaurants, has agreed to increase its nutritious menu offerings to kids and to launch a series of campaigns aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption by children, and says it will set new standards for marketing products to families.
“I’m excited about these initiatives not just as a first lady, but also as a mom,” Obama said, according to a White House news release.
“Subway’s kids' menu makes life easier for parents, because they know that no matter what their kids order, it’s going to be a healthy choice.”
Obama also noted that Subway last fall attended her White House “Convening on Food Marketing to Children,” where she urged the private sector to promote healthier products and decrease the marketing of unhealthy products to kids, and she urged nutritionists to praise companies when they take those actions.
“Ending childhood obesity is a cause that has been near and dear to Subway since we introduced the Fresh Fit for Kids Meals in 2007,” said Suzanne Greco, a company vice president. Greco said that a sign on each restaurant’s door will say ‘Playtime Powered by Veggies’ and that there will be a video collaboration with Disney’s Muppet characters.
According to the White House news release, Subway has committed to:
Subway, whose menu offerings are praised by nutritionists more than most fast-food restaurants, has agreed to increase its nutritious menu offerings to kids and to launch a series of campaigns aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption by children, and says it will set new standards for marketing products to families.
“I’m excited about these initiatives not just as a first lady, but also as a mom,” Obama said, according to a White House news release.
“Subway’s kids' menu makes life easier for parents, because they know that no matter what their kids order, it’s going to be a healthy choice.”
Obama also noted that Subway last fall attended her White House “Convening on Food Marketing to Children,” where she urged the private sector to promote healthier products and decrease the marketing of unhealthy products to kids, and she urged nutritionists to praise companies when they take those actions.
“Ending childhood obesity is a cause that has been near and dear to Subway since we introduced the Fresh Fit for Kids Meals in 2007,” said Suzanne Greco, a company vice president. Greco said that a sign on each restaurant’s door will say ‘Playtime Powered by Veggies’ and that there will be a video collaboration with Disney’s Muppet characters.
According to the White House news release, Subway has committed to:
- Only offer items on its kids menus that are based on the federal nutritional guidelines for the national school lunch program, including offering apples as a side and low-fat or non-fat milk or water as a default beverage.
- Deliver $41 million in media value in the next three years to market healthier options to children and families, with a focus on increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables. This is the brand’s largest kid-focused marketing campaign to date, and includes general marketing, in-store merchandising, television, social and digital media and public relations.
- Focus all kid-focused in-store merchandising and marketing on only the healthier options. This includes updating training materials to teach employees to encourage kids to choose apples.
