4 Ways Barack Obama Can Change the Way Our Country Eats

I was so upset last year to read reports that to some people, Barack Obama was considered "too skinny to be President." While he does seem to be the fittest and slimmest of any modern-day U.S. presidents, he is certainly not underweight at all.

Barack Obama is 6′2″ and is reported to weigh about 190 pounds. That equals a body mass index of 24.4, which puts him in the ideal body-composition range--and in even better shape than his immediate predecessor, George W. Bush, who clocks in at 5′11″ and 194 pounds, with a BMI of 27.

Compared to most candidates--who hit the campaign trail and gain weight (Bill Clinton gained a reported 30 pounds when he was stumping in the '90s)--Obama actually lost a few pounds. And yes, there were greasy diners and burger joints along the trail, but Obama was also seen on many occasions hitting farmer's markets for local produce to nosh on during the day. Unfortunately, it seems that many oversize Americans considered his weight to be a weakness instead of a strength.

Instead of distancing ourselves from our fit commander in chief, why not look to him and his family as an inspiration? I'm hopeful that in the next four years, our country's waistline can benefit from our new leader--either from his policies or by his example. And how might that happen? Here are four ways the new president might improve the way you eat.

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Comments

[Treehuggindirtworshiper]

As more people become unemployed the school lunch program is going to be a necessity for many more children. I don't know what happened in the last 25 years but I don't think I would eat the lunch they serve at my daughters school even if I was starving. When my son was in highschool they could buy pizza and SubWay sandwiches. People need to get back to actually cooking instead of opening a box or heating something in the oven. School cafeterias need funding and strickter dietary guidlines.

[kjstjohn]

It's not just diet the President can influence. He can help to get PE reinstated--especially in grades 6 - 12 where there are no recesses on the playground. This is a health (and economic) issue. It is also a national security issue.

[mahdeealoo]

We ate out of the garden my whole childhood, made our own bread and steered away from anything that was pre-packaged, pre-boxed and processed. And then came the junk food, deep fried, white sugar, white flour, and fast food. We all gained weight in the family. I went up 50 lbs from eating junk. After several years of this, I switched back to grown locally vegetables and fruit, whole grain sprouted breads, and milk that is not homogenized. My weight dropped like lemmings off a cliff. I feel better, get sick less, have more energy, and my memory is improved. You are what you eat has a lot of credence in this day and age. So if you eat junk...

[starboymikey]

It's a bit simplistic, but nonetheless relevant, that body weight = calories in-calories out.

Americans as a whole continue to get way too little exercise. If you want to eat more ice cream, try walking briskly for an hour a day, or go to they gym and get on the Stair Master. A few ab crunches wouldn't hurt either.

Basketball? Also good.

[adamsmith3]

Obama changed the way I ate. Every time I saw him on the campaign trail he was eating waffles. And then I saw him with his shirt off and thought "I need to eat me some waffles." Seriously though, I thought we had parents for things like eating habits. If not them, then a health/nutrition teacher in school. Obama is our President, not our "dear leader."

[benne]

Really good point. He has enough to do in governing the country, without getting into our food habits.

[questionsquestions]

There is no reason why the President can't serve as a role model in ways that are not political. That's not him acting as "dear leader", that's him eating healthy and encouraging others to do the same. he will just be living life as he always has and setting an example. No extra work involved.

Also, while I agree about parents being responsible for establishing eating habits, it hurts nothing for them to have non-parental positive role models as well, especially when it's someone who eats healthy because they want to, not because they are being paid to shill.

[deeppeace]

Hmmmm. Parents or cool President? Parents or Malia's dad? Parents or washboard abs? Who do you think might get and hold a child's attention better? He doesn't have to lift a finger or utter a syllable to be a role model. Even parents need rold models, too, sometimes.

[goodzoe4all]

you know I voted for Obama..I wanted him to be (hopefully) a positive roll model to some of the misguided youths of today...but I am getting so sick of hearing about EVERYTHING he does..I am just waiting to hear about his latest colon cleanse.

[StopGlobalWarmingBeVegan]

here is the solution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVuevsrVD6g

[Lionsden]

Yes, Joseph Stalin and Mao had plans for the way people ate too.

[c1ee]

Yep, and they too had no respect for the law, tortured civilians, invaded and occupied other countries illegally, abused people's fears and their basest instincts, and plundered their country to line their pockets at the expense of the middle class.

[questionsquestions]

Sounds like the Bush Administration...

[uglyhumanbeing]

did not read the article and i will not.
let people eat the way they do.

[Ms Fu]

The article is not implying that Obama should change food laws or ban McDonalds. It simply states that Obama's personal habits coupled with his support of food safety and organic and local farming can provide further encouragement for those with poor eating habits to ascribe to healthier ones.

[Shzron1946]

If the author of this article realy meant well, she would focus on his habit of exercising every day, not the foods he eats.

[lynjs]

As someone due to gallbladder surgery last year that has had to change their diet, I agree with the article.

Although I'm in the rural part of North Carolina and we do have a farmer's market and an abundance array of fresh veggies and fruits both organic and non-organic there and at the grocery stores, there are many people who don't have that luxury.

In some urban areas there are not neighborhood places where one can get those kinds of goods. Many folk have to travel to the suburbs to get them. That takes time and money. Then there is getting it back home. Taxi service isn't cheap.

Rural people like myself have an added problem as well. There isn't any public transportation to connect the outskirts to the city, so a car is needed.

Then there is the price of the fresh fruit and veggies in question. Despite the lower gas prices, the food has yet to come down.

So if something of a new diet is mentioned, transportation, availability and price must be apart of the conversation also.

[questionsquestions]

I hear you on the gallbladder surgery...fun, fun. People told me what would happen, but it's not the same as living it.

[EarthToZoey]

I try to eat local, sustainable, organically-grown foods as much as possible. I travel across the States full-time for work, so it's a difficult thing to do. There are so many areas where even commercially-grown organic foods are nil.

I'm not sure what the government can do (or would be willing to do) since agriculture in the U.S. is built upon the shoulders of the military-industrial complex (gov't subsidies, petroleum-based fertilizers, etc). There is an intricate money trail which is closely guarded by those who hold the financial interest. Keeping our country addicted to genetically-modified, processed foods keeps them rich. And as we all know, greed seeks power -- in other words, you can bet that a good number of those in government who have the power to make changes are being schmoozed and bought off as we speak.

It seems that it is up to us, private citizens, to work collectively within our communities and support local farmers and buck the system. Seek out a local farmer's market in your area if you haven't already and consider starting a CSA (community supported agriculture) if there isn't one yet. Here's a good resource if anyone is interested: http://www.localharvest.org/

[Spinzone]

I fully understand your position - when go hunting during my travels, I try to kill local animals; moose in Michigan, Elk in Colorado, bunnies in the Dakotas, small cute ducks in Missouri.

[EarthToZoey]

If you weren't being sarcastic, I'd say that's a good thing. We wouldn't want you hunting imported game, no?

[Spinzone]

Someone should talk with Hillary about her diet; those thighs and hips are growing like the national debt

[johnb3950]

A few years ago I noticed a travel piece by someone who had been to Europe and had thought" my, how slim everyone is" - then they caught themselves and realized, "no, they are normal, we have have gotten habituated to seeing overweight people everywhere, In America."

[picacho]

He's too skinny!

[Mother77]

No, he's fit. Thank goodness. We can't see you but may I assume...

[Pema]

I read the artical, it was very good, and I agree with all the points brought up, i would only add to the aurthor, that I do not think nurtriton will not fall to the way side due to economic crisis. We need clear heads and healthy bodies to make the changes needed. Hopefully that's turning into a common wisdom.