Michelle Obama's Shake Shack Burger: Much Ado About Something?

OMG. Michelle Obama ate a burger and fries.

According to the Washington Post, the First Lady ordered a highly caloric meal of burger, fries, chocolate shake and Diet Coke at the new Shake Shack in Washington D.C. (The Post calculated the amount to be about 1,700 calories. For more info on the calories in Shake Shack meals, check this out: http://www.nutritionix.com/shake-shack/nutrition-calculator.)

Now, some are crying foul, considering the First Lady has been leading the charge against child obesity through the Let's Move campaign to promote exercise and healthy diet for America's kids.

The pseudo-scandal is reminiscent of the controversy last month over President Obama's sausage-featured photo-op with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Photo from Getty Images

Is the criticism warranted? To what degree should the Obamas be perfect role models of a healthy diet?

Neil Barnard, M.D. president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, wrote on The Huffington Post:

The First Lady's signature anti-obesity campaign -- Let's Move -- is no match for the administration's ongoing purchases of sausage, cheese, burgers and other fatty foods that are sent to schools everyday. And the U.S. Department of Agriculture continues to bow to the interests of meat lobbyists and heavily subsidize the production of meat and other unhealthful foods.

Good Morning America points out that last year Michelle Obama told ABC News:

I love burgers and fries, you know? And I love ice cream and cake. So do most kids. We're not talking about a lifestyle that excludes all that. That's the fun of being a kid. That's the fun of being a human.

Quick Poll

Is it OK for Michelle Obama to eat a burger, fries and shake?

No, she should practice what she preaches

Of course, give her a break!

Good question, I'm still not sure

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

WATCH:

Comments

[Widespread Panic]

09:40 AM on 07/15/2011

If you eat right 98% of the time, there is absolutely nothing wrong with splurging every once in a blue moon. It's only unhealthy if you indulge in fast/unhealthy food regularly.

[T003]

10:26 PM on 07/14/2011

People who practice good, healthy eating habits in general, like Michele Obama, should certainly allow themselves a splurge or a treat every so often. There is nothing wrong with that, and it does NOT go against what she has been preaching on thhis topic.
GOOD FOR YOU MICHELE -- I HOPE IT WAS DELICIOUS : )

[Rebbent]

09:29 PM on 07/14/2011

What, the middle ground and sensible compromise don't exist if you're The First Family? The First Lady never said she'd never have another burger. She espouses eating healthier foods while retaining the right (and fun) of being human and enjoying the occasional indiscretion. Even that message right there is a healthy one.
It is tiresomely simple-minded to apply absolutes to every single issue.

[haneita]

08:38 PM on 07/14/2011

Everyone is entitled to splurge once in awhile. Give the lady a break.

[erricoeg]

08:01 PM on 07/14/2011

Healthy eating is not and should not be about eliminating and vilifying any foods. What the FLOTUS has been doing in her campaign is incredibly important because it is about developing healthy eating habits. Healthy eating is about moderation and making things like burgers and sweets a treat not a staple of one's diet.

People need to get over themselves and give the Obama's a break. They are both healthy weights, fit, active, and healthy. People are just looking for something to criticize.

www.foodieformerlyfat.com

[stape45]

07:25 PM on 07/14/2011

If we only do it when she does, I think we'll be just fine. She is.

[rexitalia]

05:47 PM on 07/14/2011

NO fan of Mrs. O, but she should be able to eat as much as she wants of whatever she wants.

[troutfan]

03:01 PM on 07/14/2011

Come on, People. Weight Watchers diet allows an occasional splurge. If Michelle ate like that all the time, she'd be way overweight. I've tried nearly every diet known to man, and several of the diets I've tried allow for an occasional day of eating whatever you want to eat. Michelle has a fine figure. The proof is in the pudding. President Obama is rather thin. They both have regular check ups and exercise on a regular basis. I don't see that Michelle's meal is in anyway a contradiction.

[John Skupny]

01:33 PM on 07/14/2011

We are talking Shake Shack here, where they serve real food! There is a difference in eating good, genuine food versus highly processed, manufactured food. Shake Shack is not what could be defined as 'fast food' no matter if it is expiditious. cheers to the First Lady for having good taste!

[JEWELLINGS]

12:23 PM on 07/14/2011

THIS IS SO PETTY AND STUPID. MICHELLE IS A GROWN WOMAN WHO CAN EAT WHATEVER SHE LIKES. (JUST LIKE YOU CAN EAT ANYTHING YOU LIKE) NO FIRST LADIES EVER HAD HER FIGURE NOR EVEN BEING THAT HONEST. REMEMBER, HER CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT HELPING CHILDREN WITH OBESITY. GOOD HEALTH STARTS FROM THERE, SO THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH OBESITY. SOME OF THE OTHER FIRST LADIES HAD THEIR CAMPAIGN, AND THEY WERE NOT SCRUTINIZED AS THIS FIRST LADY, SO THERFORE GROW UP AND STOP THIS IDIOTIC NONSENSE.

[Maria Patriciu]

01:50 AM on 07/14/2011

Leave her alone! Afterall she could have once in a while a burger, French fries and an ice cream.
OMG what is happening to this country where The First Lady might not be allowed to have a burger now and then.
Let's be serious....

[mgray34]

05:42 PM on 07/13/2011

Nah, I'm not going to read this foolishness. It's amazing how many people allow their disdain for the POTUS and FLOTUS cloud their logic, reasonableness and judgement.

[mfmaccloud]

05:26 PM on 07/13/2011

Well if she does away with happy meals youll have to get the kids an adult meal hmm.

[Suzette Standring]

05:24 PM on 07/13/2011

Hard up for news, are we? Michelle Obama can eat anything she wants. She is a good role model because she is fit and at a healthy weight, as is the president. If they were obese, then this would be a different public conversation. That's the reward of staying fit. Every once in a while, you can have a burger or sausage or ice cream. Somebody, pass the pesto!

[glenya7121]

05:22 PM on 07/13/2011

Perhaps she should find another project as she and the President have fallen short on her Diet projerct.