Michelle Obama's Agenda For Healthy Eating

NYTimes.com:

White House officials say the focus on healthy living will be a significant item on Mrs. Obama's agenda, which already includes supporting working families and military spouses. As the nation battles an obesity epidemic and a hard-to-break taste for oversweetened and oversalted dishes, her message is clear: Fresh, nutritious foods are not delicacies to be savored by the wealthy, but critical components of the diets of ordinary and struggling families.

Read the whole story: NYTimes.com

Comments

[MrMostly]

The biggest barrier to heathy eating in the USA is the Department of Agriculture, farm subsidies and agri-busness conglomerates like Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, etc. These entities dispoil our natural land, impede our political porcess and force un-healthy food into our lives.

[jeanruss]

You are so right!

[Alison Rose Levy - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes, and if you're concerned about supporting organic, small farm, and sustainable agriculture, check out my blog about how the FDA is making moves to install computer chips in all livestock, a move that supports agribusiness and undermines small farms: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alison-rose-levy/having-a-cow-and-eating-i_b_175211.html

Also write the FDA-- today is the last day at: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26665

[twisted-european]

Michelle, that's so before-recession! In times like this, you need all the soul food you can get your grubby hands on. ;-)

[ladylove114]

As a person that cooks a lot and likes to try new things, I promise you it is very expensive to eat healthy. It is sad to me that one bunch of asparagus is nearly $4.00. One bunch will do for me and my husband but not if we had 2 or 3 kids at home. Who could afford that? Anyway, I do have a garden and for you city slickers that don't have much yard you can make a raised bed about 8' X 8', fill it with good dirt and you will be shocked how much you can get out of it. You can have a spring garden, summer garden, then a fall garden. Hope a lot of people try this.

[dirigentin]

I try to shop around. I live in a small desert town, and our local grocery store can price gouge something fierce, so I try to only buy certain things there -- but if I do most of our shopping 15-20 miles away, in more competitive settings, then I get better deals. We're blessed to have a Trader Joe's in our valley, and much of their produce is organic.

[mombabytiger]

Michelle - Put your money where your mouth is. There is plenty of room available at the White House for a vegetable garden. A picture of your girls harvesting fresh veggies would be a terrific boon to those of us trying to get our kids away from the fat and processed foods.

[CalverH]

yep

[Aesthete]

Reminds me of my own childhood. My mother raised a vegetable garden that took up an entire hillside! That would be a terrific thing to do at the White House!

[MNmommy]

We need to make the basic fresh fruit and vegetables affordable.

That's the bottom line.

If it's as affordable as canned and processed, the choices will be obvious.

[VOTER]

True but for many the produce is available at affordable prices right now, if
they take advantage of sales and/or produce on the decline in freshness by'
knowing how to use these fruits and veggies through baking, roasting, stewing and
soups.

For working families, simple recipes prepared on days off to be
eaten during the week is helpful.
And if a family is preparing a processed Mac n Cheese for dinner why not
add some fresh veggies to it?

Promoting gardening, canning and preserving produce is a great idea.

I was fortunate to learn so much in cooking and baking from my mother and grandmother,
though as a youngster I envied my friends enjoying Fast Food
instead of dinners of soups, stews, breads, etc. all made in our kitchen.

We need to be educated about the basics in cooking and the
delicious results.
In store demonstrations in the produce sections of grocery stores might
help.

[JeanMerilynSimmons]

People who go to Wendy's don't go there for fruit or yogurt, they go there for burgers, fries and frosties. That's why it doesn't work. And just because you don't have enough money, doesn't mean you can't eat healthy. An apple and banana (with some fresh water to drink) is way cheaper than a soda and a candy bar. You may have to give up that candy and soda to buy fresh fruit or vegetables. I just hope Obama puts his money where his mouth is and cleans up the FDA. They need to start by banning HFCS.

[kotexbarbie]

I hope she's ready to use the V word!

Meat stinks.

[Roxanna]

WE are a nation that is fat but nutritionally starve.

That is why we look the way we do..Thanks to processed Corporate Foods that are filled with fillers of colored dyes,tons of preservatives, hormones, antibiotics and leaving out real food in the process.!
I am glad that Michele Obama is drawing attention to healthy foods.

[MossyOak]

Interesting that Laura Rush (I mean Bush) insisted on organic food but didn't bother mentioning that out loud.... that's because it would anger all those chemical companies her husband was subsidizing with tax breaks so they could make even more money while they kill people.

[nellie]

Very quietly and secretly the wealthy do what everyone knows is the most healthy thing, while pretending that the rest of us are fanatics.

[jeanruss]

Maybe Michelle should read HR 875 from her husband's Sec of Agriculture. It will make organic farming Illegal. Watch youtbe "Criminalizing Organic Farming". What hypocrisy! I guess if the Obama's start an organic garden, as reported in the press, they will have to go to prison. I am disillusioned with Obama, and I voted for him. He just seems to be another front man for corporations like Monsanto.

[VOTER]

Obama has increased funding for the National Organic Certification
Cost-Share Program to help farmers afford the cost of compliance with
national organic certification standards.

Also reformed the US Dept. of Agriculture Risk Management Agency's
Crop Insurance Rates so that they DO NOT PENALIZE ORGANIC FARMERS!

Also supports Local Family Farms with local foods and promotes regional food system
policies which allow farmers to sell directly to customers, cutting out the
middleman, to help farmers continue farming and be profitable.

[conniedogs]

I'm glad the President stopped smoking...­.maybe that will inspire others to put down the cancer sticks.

[MossyOak]

Where did you read this? I'd like to post the link to a friend who is giving up food so he can afford his cigs....

[conniedogs]

LOL......

digg.com/2008_us_elections/Obama_Says_He_s_Quit_Smoking - 137k - Cached

[MossyOak]

"As the nation battles an obesity epidemic..­."

With 6.5 million out of work, we're getting a handle on that problem, Michelle.

[EHarold]

Meanwhile half the nation if not more starves themselves on ramen..

[conniedogs]

LOL

[entropyisfun]

Too bad she can't convince her husband to nominate a decent nominee for Sec. of Agriculture instead of Tom "Monstanto" Vilsack.

[Gladys1963]

Thank you, Mrs. Obama, for your crusade for healthy eating and for not using "healthy" as an adverb.

[tubette]

so many of the right are scared of socialism because they may have to go on a diet... LOL!! watch out rush....

[skymuffin]

Check around. I think he ate some liberal bloggers..­.he's gotten bigger. Is it medication or mandication?

[roshni]

I'm sure it's some of each.