President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama thank the winning students from around the country for their “Healthy Lunchtime Challenge” recipes, and urge them to join in the campaign for healthier school meals. (Alex Gangitano/The Hagstrom Report)

By ALEX GANGITANO

First Lady Michelle Obama continued her fight for nutritious school meals today, labeling the members of Congress leading the pushback as “complaining voices,” and urging the children attending the third annual White House Kids’ State Dinner to join her in the battle.

“Now, I know that some of you might have friends who want to bring back the junk food in the schools, right?,” the first lady said in the East Room, addressing the children representing all states and territories.

“Because there’s always those kids,” she said. “They’re like, give me my junk food back. And I know that in recent months, we’ve even seen grownups, including folks in Congress, trying to undo some of the progress that we’ve made the get healthier food into our schools. And while the vast majority of the schools are doing just fine with these new standards, those few complaining voices happen to be the loudest voices and they’re getting the most attention right now.”

“It’s not surprising that there are certain interests that are resisting change and trying to take us back to the old ways of doing business because for them there’s a lot of money on the line.”

“You all have a right to expect that your hard-earned tax dollars will be spend on food that meets basic nutrition standards.,” the first lady said, noting that the federal government spends $10 billion per year on school meals.

“You all represent 54 reasons why we know that we can do so much better by our kids when it comes to eating healthy because the truth is, is that if 8-, 9-, 10-year-olds can cook and happily eat a healthy, tasty meal, then there is absolutely no reason why we can’t get nutritious foods into every school in this country that kids will actually enjoy. You guys remind me of that every single day.”

When President Barack Obama arrived to speak at the event, he acknowledged that even the first family — including daughters Malia and Sasha — likes less-than-healthy food.

“One thing — maybe I shouldn’t say this — but it’s not like our family, including me, don’t have some snacks once in a while that may not be on the perfect nutrition chart,” Obama said.

The president listed the family food weaknesses: Malia, ice cream; Sasha, pie; the first lady, French fries, and his own downfall, chips and guacamole.

“Basically if there is a bowl of good chips and guacamole … I lose my mind,” he said.

But the president added that all the Obamas have learned to control themselves.

Malia, he said, “still has fun when she does have ice cream. In fact, the fact that she doesn’t have ice cream every day means when she has it it’s like hallelujah.”

The first lady added, “I’m making a vow — I’m going to take a break from French fries.”

The children in attendance all submitted winning recipes to the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge. In support of Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” project, the young chefs had to make recipes that adhered to the Agriculture Department’s “MyPlate” guidelines, in which half the plate is fruits and vegetables, the other half protein and grains.

The winners were chosen by a panel of judges, including Sam Kass, White House chef and executive director of “Let’s Move.”

Sabrina Swee
Sabrina Swee, 12, of Beresford, S.D., came up with a recipe for Hawaiian Kale Wraps, and hopes her recipe will be served in her school cafeteria.

“A chef from our state will come and talk to our school about healthy eating,” she said. She has already seen changes in the nutritional value of her school lunches since the rules under the Healthy Hunger Free-Kids Act went into effect.

Today’s event included a three-course lunch, incorporating nine recipes by the winners. Joining them at the lunch were the first lady, Kass and NBC “Today” show weatherman Al Roker.

After lunch, performers from the Broadway musical of “The Lion King” entertained.

In her closing remarks, the first lady acknowledged the winners as young leaders and challenged them to “pay it forward.”

The group then explored the White House kitchen garden, which Kass said “is where it all started for us.”


 
Left: First Lady Michelle Obama greets students who won a healthy school meal recipe contest at the annual Kids’ State Dinner at the White House. Right: NBC “Today” show weatherman Al Roker, left, is greeted by Sam Kass, White House nutrition adviser and executive director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign. (Alex Gangitano/The Hagstrom Report) First Lady Michelle Obama is surrounded by characters from “The Lion King” at the third annual Kids’ State Dinner at the White House. (Alex Gangitano/The Hagstrom Report)