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WHEN we began our Let’s Move! initiative four years ago, we set one
simple but ambitious goal: to end the epidemic of childhood obesity
in a generation so that kids born today will grow up healthy.
To achieve this goal, we have adhered to one clear standard: what
works. The initiatives we undertake are evidence-based, and we rely
on the most current science. Research indicated that kids needed less
sugar, salt and fat in their diets, so we revamped school lunch menus
accordingly. When data showed that the lack of nearby grocery stores
negatively affected people’s eating habits, we worked to get more
fresh-food retailers into underserved areas. Studies on habit
formation in young children drove our efforts to get healthier food
and more physical activity into child care centers.
Today, we are seeing glimmers of progress. Tens of millions of
kids are getting better nutrition in school; families are thinking more
carefully about food they eat, cook and buy; companies are rushing to
create healthier products to meet the growing demand; and the
obesity rate is finally beginning to fall from its peak among our
youngest children.
So we know that when we rely on sound science, we can actually
begin to turn the tide on childhood obesity.
But unfortunately, we’re now seeing attempts in Congress to
undo so much of what we’ve accomplished on behalf of our children.
Take, for example, what’s going on now with the Women, Infants
and Children program, known as WIC.
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This is a federal program designed to provide supplemental nutrition to
low-income women and their babies and toddlers. The idea is to
fill in the gaps in their diets — to help them buy items like fresh
produce that they can’t afford on their own — and give them the
nutrition they’re missing.
Right now, the House of Representatives is considering a bill to
override science by mandating that white potatoes be included on the
list of foods that women can purchase using WIC dollars. Now, there
is nothing wrong with potatoes. The problem is that many women and
children already consume enough potatoes and not enough of the
nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables they need.
That’s why the Institute of Medicine — the nonpartisan, scientific body
that advises on the standards for WIC — has said that potatoes should
not be part of the WIC program.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated occurrence. We’re seeing the
same kind of scenario unfold with our school lunch program. Back in
2010, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which set
higher nutritional standards for school lunches, also based on
recommendations from the Institute of Medicine. Today, 90 percent
of schools report that they are meeting these new standards. As a
result, kids are now getting more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and
other foods they need to be healthy.
This is a big win for parents who are working hard to serve their
kids balanced meals at home and don’t want their efforts undermined
during the day at school.
And it’s a big win for all of us since we spend more than $10 billion a
year on school lunches and should not be spending those hardearned taxpayer dollars on junk food for our children.
Yet some members of the House of Representatives are now
threatening to roll back these new standards and lower the quality of
food our kids get in school. They want to make it optional, not
mandatory, for schools to serve fruits and vegetables to our kids.
They also want to allow more sodium and fewer whole grains than
recommended into school lunches. These issues will be considered
when the House Appropriations Committee takes up the annual
spending bill for the Agriculture Department on Thursday.
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Remember a few years ago when Congress declared that the
sauce on a slice of pizza should count as a vegetable in school
lunches? You don’t have to be a nutritionist to know that this doesn’t
make much sense. Yet we’re seeing the same thing happening again
with these new efforts to lower nutrition standards in our schools.
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Our children deserve so much better than this. Even with the
progress we have made, one in three children in this country is still
overweight or obese. One in three is expected to develop diabetes in
his or her lifetime. And this isn’t just about our children’s health; it’s
about the health of our economy as well. We already spend an
estimated $190 billion a year treating obesity-related conditions. Just
think about what those numbers will look like in a decade or two if we
don’t start solving this problem now.
The bottom line is very simple: As parents, we always put our
children’s interests first. We wake up every morning and go to bed
every night worrying about their well-being and their futures. And
when we make decisions about our kids’ health, we rely on doctors
and experts who can give us accurate information based on sound
science. Our leaders in Washington should do the same.
Reader Comments
Yankees
West Hartford, CT 4 days ago
Don't back down Michelle Obama. Don't let the junk food lobbyists and the Congress intimidate you. The
nation is with you.
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Jodi Anderson
USA 4 days ago
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We are most certainly with you, Michelle Obama. Thank you for being a patriot and fighting for welfare and
well being of the children, our nation's future.
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29Recommend
Josh
Maryland 4 days ago
I am definitely NOT with her. A baked potato is not junk food.
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Andrew Allen
Wisconsin 3 days ago
That's a little presumptuous, don't you think?
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Beda
Dallas, Texas 3 days ago
The one thing she didn't mention, and that I care about a lot, is regulating what can be bought with food stamps.
But we know why that is untouchable - the food and beverage industry would never allow for a ban on soft
drinks and processed foods. I believe in food stamps; however, I only want them used for quality foods.
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Recommend
Josh Hill
is a trusted commenter
4 days ago
The Republican attempts to roll back this program are nothing less than appalling.
At the same time, I wish I could say that the program relied on current science. You say, "Research indicated
that kids needed less sugar, salt and fat in their diets, so we revamped school lunch menus accordingly." But
there's really no good evidence one way or the other about the health effectsof salt, and current research doesn't
suggest that kids need less fat in their diets -- that tends to increase obesity and cardiovascular risk by
encouraging people to eat more carbohydrates, as well as reducing palatability. Rather, they need the right kinds
of fat.
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Sadly, in these and other regards, the programs seems to reflect the knowledge of 1970 rather than the
knowledge of today.
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Niut Nut
Canada 4 days ago
Josh, all over the NYTs you keep promoting this. Maybe you have a book or a program that depends on your
'new science' but you don't actually understand science. It's not a fad, a documentary, the latest book titles or the
select studies we are given to read in the news. While there is SOME current research supporting your agenda,
just as much does not. This is far from resolved. And if you read the actual whole body of current literature, the
papers as they are coming out, you'd see that this isn't a '70s' thing at all.
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Josh Hill
is a trusted commenter
4 days ago
PS -- forgive me for bloviating over multiple posts here, but there's something else that's troubling me about
your metastudy.
If we accept for argument's sake the meta-anlaysis of the studies that adjust for multiple confounders, all-cause
mortality doesn't increase significantly with high sodium intake, but *does increase significantly for low sodium
intake.* If the federal regulations are based on science, and this is science, shouldn't they be requiring schools to
*use* salt rather than reduce it?
But no, that isn't going to happen, because it would contravene dogma that's been accepted for years. Too often,
nutrition recommendations have more in common with papal bulls and the doctrine of tradition than they do
with rigorous science.
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Niut Nut
Canada 4 days ago
No good evidence about the effects of salt on health? How about the most recent meta-analysis in the American
Jrl of Hypertension? One of very many.
Am J Hypertens. 2014 Apr 26. [Epub ahead of print]
Compared With Usual Sodium Intake, Low- and Excessive-Sodium Diets Are Associated With Increased
Mortality: A Meta-Analysis.
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Graudal N1, Jürgens G, Baslund B, Alderman MH.
It's a meta-analysis - a study involving the statistical analysis of 23 randomized studies, covering 220,000
individuals.
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acmoreno
Palm Beach FL 4 days ago
What is failing to enter the discussion around children's nutrition is children's activity levels. We didn't see so
much perceived obesity because schools were spending adequate amounts of time on physical education and
recess activities. Today, these are virtually non-existent or simply optional. Children could continue to eat
today's higher-sugar, higher-fat diets if they were also undertaking the requisite activities to burn the sugars and
fats.
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Recommend
Josh Hill
is a trusted commenter
4 days ago
Niut, with all due respect, I majored in physics and the claim that I don't understand science is laughable.
If you have read my posts you know that I am aware of the limitations of dietary research and knowledge. That
is why, in my post above, I pointed out that there is no good evidence one way or another on the effects of
sodium. Studies on the effect of sodium consumption on longevity have been decidedly contradictory.
Meta-analyses can decrease systematic error insofar as it is local to a specific experiment. They cannot decrease
systematic error insofar as it is not. The rule of garbage in, garbage out still applies, and when the studies in
question are epidemiological studies that do not adequately isolate variables error still sums to error.
From the abstract of the meta-analysis to which you refer:
"METHODS:
"The relationship between individual measures of dietary sodium intake vs. outcome in cohort studies and
randomized controlled trials (RCTs) measured as hazard ratios (HRs) were integrated in meta-analyses.
"RESULTS:
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"No RCTs in healthy population samples were identified."
Anyone who doesn't get a belly laugh out of that really doesn't understand science.
[cont'd]
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Josh Hill
is a trusted commenter
4 days ago
Now, let's look down a bit further in the abstract:
"Data from 23 cohort studies and 2 follow-up studies of RCTs (n = 274,683) showed that the risks of ACM and
CVDEs were decreased in usual sodium vs. low sodium intake (ACM: HR = 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI)
= 0.82-0.99; CVDEs: HR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.82-0.99) and increased in high sodium vs. usual sodium intake
(ACM: HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.03-1.30; CVDEs: HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02-1.24). In population representative
samples adjusted for multiple confounders, the HR for ACM was consistently decreased in usual sodium vs.
low sodium intake (HR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.81-0.92), *but not increased in high sodium vs. usual sodium intake
(HR = 1.04; 95% CI = 0.91-1.18).* [emphasis added]
In other words, the studies that didn't adjust for multiple confounders showed a trivial 16% increase in all-cause
mortality with high sodium intake, *while the studies that did adjust for multiple confounding factors showed
no statistically significant increase in all-cause mortality at all.*
Furthermore, if you read the study itself, you will see a variance in results in the component studies that would
lead any real scientist to throw them out the window. At one extreme, Turnstall-Pedoe finds that high sodium
intake yields a hazard ratio of 0.84, while at the opposite extreme, Geleijnse finds that high sodium intake
increases hazard ratio to 1.45! All, absurdly, at a 95% CI.
This isn't science, it's comedy.
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Josh Hill
is a trusted commenter
4 days ago
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Finally, do these inadequately controlled cohort studies have any means of distinguishing the effects of sodium
consumption in childhood from the short-term effects of sodium consumption? We know that in some
individuals, excessive sodium consumption increased blood pressure. (Though studies cast doubt on whether
that actually increases mortality). But we're talking about children here, who rarely die from CVD.
The question then becomes -- does high sodium consumption in childhood increase ACM in adulthood? The
honest answer is that we don't know because, to the best of my knowledge, the studies that actually do address
this problem suffer from the same shortcomings as the studies in the meta-analysis.
The idea that low sodium consumption from childhood would prevent development of high blood pressure later
in life, as well as possibly having other beneficial effects such as reducing osteoporosis, is an intriguing one.
Some hunter-gatherers certainly can do well without added sodium, though one must in this case take regional
hereditary variations into account. What's more, it is intriguing that their blood pressure falls with age, rather
than increasing.
But to the best of my knowledge, we don't know enough to make *any* of this more than speculation. In the
absence of solid scientific evidence, we start basing expert advice on what *seems* right -- and from that, all
sorts of nonsensical nutrition advice has emerged.
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Peter913
USA 4 days ago
And when we boil it all down, doesn't it really come down to our "big mouths"? Yes?
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Recommend
Josh Hill
is a trusted commenter
3 days ago
Acmoreno, that does seem to be a factor, not just at school but at home, where kids spend more time at the
computer when they used to spend in physical activity.
However, for Americans as a whole, there's no secret about what has been the primary contributor to the obesity
epidemic: the average American consumes more calories every day. And that increase correspnods to an
increase in carbs; fat consumption remains about the same.
While there's much that we still don't know. the obvious tactic is to reduce added fructose (sugar and HFCS, and
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fruit juice, same effect) first, and highly glycemic carbs like white potatoes second. We should then eliminate
*processed* meat, which has a high risk of CHD. Most fruits are fine in any quantity and vegetable
consumption should be increased. High omega 6 seed oils are not a natural food and should be eliminated.
Frying is in practice dangerous owing to oxidation of the oils. Laboratory studies suggest that foods such as soft
ice cream that contain significant levels of oxidized cholesterol are dangerous.
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Recommend
Diana Moses
is a trusted commenter Arlington, Mass. 4 days ago
Eating habits are habits, and we pay attention to what habits we are encouraging children to develop while they
are in school, in terms of thinking, studying, interacting with others, behaving, etc. We are also inculcating
habits through the kinds of foods being served in school lunches. We need to take responsibility for the kinds of
eating habits we are encouraging through the choices offered on school menus, and we need to make sure that
what is offered meets a defensible standard; otherwise, it seems to me, we are neglecting part of our duty as
educators.
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AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
Eating habits don't change overnight just because the food does. Perhaps there's a lead time wherein food will
be trashed before kids start picking at it. I don't know. And neither does the First Lady, it seems.
This is no longer just about healthy eating habits. It's also about the changing of habits. It's a shame more
emphasis isn't being placed on the "change" part of this.
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Karen Garcia
is a trusted commenter New Paltz, NY 4 days ago
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Kudos to Mrs. Obama for using her bully pulpit to advocate for healthy school lunches. Her influential voice
should help curb the voracious GOP appetite for snatching food from the mouths of babes.
But why stop at healthy fruits and grains and veggies in lieu of junk food and starch and pizza?
Hunger in America has reached emergency, epidemic proportions, with food insecurity striking 49 million
people. One in four children in the richest country on earth has learned to not automatically expect three meals a
day.
Combined with the unconscionably neglected humanitarian crisis of chronic unemployment have been a series
of cruel bipartisan cuts of billions of dollars in the food stamp program. Even with some states now acting to
restore a portion of SNAP funding, most families receiving benefits report running out of their stipend by the
third week of the month. According to the NIH, even a child who misses only the occasional meal has more
behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, poor school performance, stunted growth, and illness.
To end childhood obesity and child hunger, we must first alleviate poverty. And so far, on this 50th anniversary
of LBJ's Great Society speech, neither political party is addressing the jobs crisis. Only with an expanded safety
net, good-paying jobs and a living wage can we expect healthy, bountiful tables and healthy, secure families.
In a country just touted as "the one indispensable nation," there are just way too many disposable people.
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214Recommend
Karen Garcia
is a trusted commenter New Paltz, NY 4 days ago
Link to NIH study on childhood food insecurity:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16549481
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Daniela
Massachusetts 4 days ago
One of the best ways to eliminate child poverty? Give dad's custody.
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Recommend
Robert
Yonkers 3 days ago
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Please lets stay focused Karen. Mrs. Obama is trying to make schools healthier. When that task is 90% done
then we can focus on poverty and jobs, etc. Thank God we have Michelle leading this this issue!
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stephen
Orlando Florida 4 days ago
This is similar to the medical industry. To be worried about what is more profitable for the company than what
is better for the consumer. In this case our children. So my question for the congress critters is what is important
to you. The health of the children of your constituents or the profit of your campaign donors? We are on to you.
Thank you Mrs. Obama for standing up for our kids.
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pkbormes
Brookline, Mass. 4 days ago
One of the questions is who are the true constituents of these congresspersons?
It just may be that the constituents are not you and me or our children and grandchildren.
It just may be that the true constituents are giant corporations, of course, and the extremely rich whose children
and grandchildren will never see the inside of a public school.
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stephen
Orlando Florida 4 days ago
You are so right pkbormes. But we still have one vote to one person. If enough of us get motivated to vote we
change that.
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Recommend
Maya Adam
Stanford, CA 4 days ago
I salute you, Mrs. Obama, for trying to bring us back to basics with regard to the food our children eat and the
amount of physical activity in which they engage. You have tirelessly reminded us that our children need to eat
fewer processed foods (foods that are traditionally too high in fat, sugar and salt) and be more active. You have
also actively facilitated that shift in the schools. You've sent the clear message that, ideally, our children should
be enjoying healthy meals together with their families. Not only have you delivered these messages with
conviction, but you have modeled these behaviors regularly with your own family over the years - and done so
with joy and grace. You are an inspiration to many working mothers and you have made a difference to the way
in which we live our lives.
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David Mendoza
Portland, Or 4 days ago
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is not perfect, but it is starting to improve how children eat at school.
A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health compared the food children selected and consumed
before and after the law was implemented. The results: vegetable consumption increased by 16% and more
children selected fruit as part of their school meal. Though overall fruit consumption remained unchanged, more
kids ate fruit since more of them selected it.
Additionally, contrary to all the anecdotes, food waste did not increase. Uneaten food that was thrown away by
students was a problem before the changes were made and continues to be a problem now. The law was not
responsible for this shameful habit of throwing away edible food.
Simply put, the law is having a positive effect on how children eat and as the authors concluded, "Legislation to
weaken the standards is not warranted."
Link to the study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine:
http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(13)00635-1/abstract
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Mary Ann & Ken Bergman
Ashland, OR 4 days ago
"And when we make decisions about our kids’ health, we rely on doctors and experts who can give us accurate
information based on sound science. Our leaders in Washington should do the same." --- Michelle Obama
Many of our leaders in Congress, especially Republicans, don't believe in science. What they do believe in is
the almighty buck, and the corn growers of America and others who provide the basic ingredients of junk food
provide the bucks. So we get sugar, lots of it, in the form of corn syrup, and we get lots of harmful fat in deep
fried foods.
It seems that many in Congress are more interested in their own welfare and in getting reelected than they are in
the health and welfare of our future leaders and producers, our children. Only thoroughgoing campaign finance
reform to get the big money out of politics will end toadying to special interests and encourage politicians to
legislate for the interests of the people.
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stockst0710
Greenville, NC 4 days ago
The issue of healthy food choices comes down to finances. As a student from a lower middle class family, I
remember the years of eating school lunches: pizza, mac and cheese, fried okra, french fries,fried everything.
Buying lunch for three kids was too expensive for my parents. All children deserve the right to have receive
adequate nutrition and not be discriminated against for any reason; especially not because of their inability to
pay.
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121Recommend
oldokie
Portland, OR 4 days ago
Fried okra? Not so bad. It was boiled to death in my school. It's actually a pretty healthy veggie if cooked right.
Best recipes are from India. Or pickled. Or used in gumbo.
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7Recommend
Meredith
NYC 4 days ago
Of course they want to make it optional. No liability. Corporations make mandatory a dirty word, to convince
voters that it's big govt intrusion into freedom. When it really means is to establish rules, laws and our
protections that can be enforced.
That's the only way gullible children can be protected from exploitation from constant advertising of junk.
When schools fed kids junk, their habits were reinforced. Public officials cooperated in feeding our kids the
junk, which legitimized junk for kids for decades.
Corporations depend on our distorted ideas of govt regulations, to be free to sell us poison food and get us
habituated to it. Then many of their victims will defend their rights to eat as much poison as they want.
Once our taste buds and quality standards are debased, they can sell us anything, with a steady income stream
from hundreds of millions of us. We will stuff ourselves with their junk, made as cheaply as possible, and pay
them well for it. Then they hope we will protest when the govt gives us healthy messages to oppose our junkconditioned appetites.
By keeping regulations that protect the public optional, corporations will use the Constitution and their ads to
condition us. Thus they can do whatever they want in all areas that need protection for the public. Anywhere
that the holy ideal of private profit is involved, business has long claimed that govt protections for the public are
unamerican. The negative results are all around us.
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Anetliner Netliner
is a trusted commenter Washington, DC area 4 days ago
School lunches and WIC supplements should be as nutritious as possible, and permitted foods should be based
on nutritional science, not industry demands.
I applaud the First Lady and the White House for their stand on this issue.
New York Times and other media: Please publicize the names of the House members who want to weaken the
nutritional value of these programs and press them on the reasons for their stance. It would be worthwhile for
American voters to know which of our elected representatives put industry pressure ahead of the health of
mothers and children.
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514Recommend
Marian B
New York 4 days ago
I agree. Let's put a name and a face on these obstructionists so that voters can see who, in DC, is working for
their best interests and who is not.
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manderine
manhattan 4 days ago
I agree.
With midterm elections this year, it could behoove the voters the names, just which congress person apposes
offering nutritional food for school children and who are supporting cheaper fast food companies to be made
available for our school age children.
I have a feeling they are one and the same as those who apposed the ACA.
This is an issue that voters with families can rally around and vote FOR something that directly and
immediately impacts them.
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Mike Clarke
nj 3 days ago
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I'll applaud her when she pushes legislation to make it unlawful to purchase soda, chips and donuts with food
stamps.
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C. Martinez
Boston, MA 4 days ago
Just remember that the GOP/Tea party is owned by the wealthiest corporations in our Nation. The management
and owners are also the biggest contributors to conservative (GOP/Tea) politicians.
These folks are not interested in good nutrition if it negatively affects their profits. After all they can afford
good nutrition, education and opportunities for themselves and thir children.
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170Recommend
Michael B
New York 4 days ago
Do you really believe that is what limited government advocates care about?
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2Recommend
tbdnyc
New York 4 days ago
Yes, that is what they care about. How do you not see it?
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10Recommend
Meela
Indio, CA 3 days ago
That's the Truth. It's the same overall group that brought junk food into the schools in the first place. Read Fast
Food Nation and weep. They started in Colorado and moved out from there.
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2Recommend
B
Minneapolis 4 days ago
Let's see, who has more credibility in supporting the health and nutrition of school children - House
Republicans or the First Lady? Hint: 153 House Republicans Congressmen voted against the school lunch
program, they are opposing school breakfasts and summer lunches for hungry kids and they voted to cut billions
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from the food stamp program. The First Lady advocated for the school lunch program and travels the country
exercising with school kids and promoting healthier foods. My bet is the First Lady will have the support to out
vote heartless House Congressmen again because Americans do care about kids.
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148Recommend
AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
The First Lady doesn't have to answer to constituents, which makes it easy for her to ignore the problems with
implementing her policies.
Until she runs for office and has to face voters, she lacks a certain amount of credibility.
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Patty Ann B
Midwest 4 days ago
Being of Irish descent it is hard for me not to think of the potato as a vegetable which indeed it is and a nation
of people lived rather healthily on them for centuries. Baked or raw potatoes by the way are rich in nutrients,
fiber and antioxidants, and no, you do not get worms from raw potatoes. I ate them all the time when I was
little. I never had worms.
That said I understand that most likely Congress is attempting to claim French fries as potatoes and most of the
time there is very little potato in the French fry and even if there is potato in it, it is inundated with heated oils
(trans fats) and covered in salt. Definitely not nourishing for developing brains.
Perhaps this is what Congress and their rich sponsors have in mind. Perhaps well developed brains on middle
class and poor children is not what they would wish to aim for. Or, perhaps, they are just so greedy they don't
care about how they might harm our children.
Oh, and diabetes is a multi-billion dollar pharma business. Disease as business, when did we come to that?
Perhaps about the time we started making pseudo-foods that caused an epidemic of diet related diseases. Hand
and glove.
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shack
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Upstate NY 4 days ago
Mrs. Obama,
Thank You for your work for the nutrition of our children, and thanks for the work on behalf of veterans'
families along with Dr. Jill Biden.
My wife and I constantly muse on how lucky we are to have you, the girls and the President as First Family in
the White House.
Bill and Deb Shackelton
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pkbormes
Brookline, Mass. 4 days ago
I agree with you, but I am continually disheartened by all the anti-Obama rhetoric out there.
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37Recommend
Larry
London 4 days ago
"Congress..." "some members of the House of Representatives..." You're too diplomatic, Michelle. Spell it out
clearly: Republicans.
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29Recommend
BHP
Dallas, TX 4 days ago
I'm a single mom, working full time outside the home. I am frequently short on time, and need the convenience
of school lunch to ease the burden of one more thing to squeeze into my day. But I also need that convenience
to be a healthy choice for my children, or everything I am doing at home to provide nutritious meals and snacks
is compromised by the long list of junk and garbage available at school. Beyond physical health concerns, there
is also the consideration of best brain food........kids who leave lunch and go to math class after having
consumed a meal of sugar and processed foods, are not going to have an easy time paying attention in class.
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59Recommend
pkbormes
Brookline, Mass. 4 days ago
First, thank you, Ms. Obama for this.
The problem, of course, is that Republicans in particular are beholden to big money and special interests.
The other problem is that most in Congress are wealthy, and that leads some of them to feel that if nutrition is
not a problem for their private school educated kids, why should they worry about other peoples' kids. (Hint,
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hint...other people's kids might not be lily white.)
Just so long as I got mine...
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The Wifely Person
St. Paul, MN 4 days ago
Mrs. Obama,
Would that this was truly about taking care of our kids. IF, as a nation, we really cared about them, there would
be nutritious lunches offered, along with regular PE, music, art, theatre, and dance classes for all children. Well
fed, well rounded children should be what we are all seeking. Their minds as well as their bodies desperately
need nourishment.
But it's not about those things. The CongressClowns have already decided this is really about Class, Caste.
Color, and Containment. They need an underclass that fails spectacularly to justify their hijacking of the
economy. If the lowest strata fails, it gives them further permission to be paternalistic in their control....and the
operative word in that sentence is control. Starvation of mind and body will ultimately destroy the hope of
betterment for much of the working poor as well as the collapsing middle class.
I have written to my very own CongressClown John Kline expressing my displeasure at this neo-con denial of
services to the working poor and the suppression of their children. If those kids are our future, we must hope
that this set of CongressClowns are going to be consigned to our past. Sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, thank you from the bottom of my heart for trying. Truly.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
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Howard
Arlington VA 4 days ago
The idea of counting condiments as vegetables in school lunches goes back to 1981, when a lot of bad things
started to happen in this country. That particular policy gave rise to the long-running Catchup Advisory Board
skit on the Prairie Home Companion radio show, which never seems to go out of date. The problem is that the
food processing industry can't seem to corner the market on fresh fruits and vegetables. They want people,
especially children, to eat food with brand names.
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Steve Fankuchen
Oakland, CA 4 days ago
I expect the Republicans will now spew forth a barrage at Michelle Obama braying, "Who elected her to mess
with the WIC program and school lunches?!!!"
Which is precisely the point. She is an American citizen, with a right to say and meet with whom she chooses.
And, perhaps, unlike her husband who was elected, she will not feel constrained to "play nice" with the
schoolyard bullies.
That said, I would like to see names named, industry campaign contributions delineated, and the connections
spelled out.
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Peter S
Rochester, NY 4 days ago
Its clear that Americas children need to immediately begin raising the money to hire lobbyists, make campaign
contributions and ingratiate themselves among the wealthy so that they can begin to be heard by members of
congress. Right around $1.8 million should get you some attention, but you should aim for more. Good luck
kids !
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14Recommend
Joseph
albany 4 days ago
Sorry, Mrs. Obama, but with all the cookies, chips, sugary soda, fruit yogurt, pancakes, and other junk food out
there, why in the world are you worrying about white potatoes? Yes, broccoli is better for you than potatoes, but
most kids won't eat it.
Stick with a war on sugar and refined carbohydrates, and prohibit companies from displaying their product as
"low fat," when it's loaded with sugar and is bad for you (like yogurt), and kids will not be as obese.
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5Recommend
Carol Q
Gaithersburg,MD 4 days ago
What is the objection to potatoes? that's easy. The limited amount of money should not be spent on greasy
french fries or tator tots - they are refined carbohydrates that are over abundant in school and at home because
they are cheaper.
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Money should be spent on healthy fruits and vegies that contain a greater variety of vitamins and minerals and
contribute to a good digestive system. Allowing potatoes to be purchased defeats that purpose. The "food
police" people seem only to be interested in finding fault with this administration.
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Joseph
albany 4 days ago
She didn't say French fries, she said white potatoes. There is nothing wrong with mashed potatoes as a side dish.
Again, broccoli is better, but kids won't eat it. I do agree with you, however, regarding FF and tator tots, which
are absolute garbage.
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3Recommend
Janet
is a trusted commenter Salt Lake City 4 days ago
If white potatoes are allowed on the WIC list, this would include all the frozen french fries products. That's the
problem, not the nice russet you can buy in the produce section.
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3Recommend
NYT Pick
WH
Illinois 4 days ago
Regularly our twelve-year old comes home from school telling us about all of the unhealthy foods that surround
him in school--the candy bars in the vending machines, Bosco sticks and greasy pizza slices served in the lunch
line, the chips and soda in the lunch bags. The physical education teacher, meanwhile, does her best to
counteract the onslaught of junk-food advertising by promoting healthy eating. First Lady Michelle Obama is
refusing to cave to the industry representatives whose motives are profit- not child-welfare driven. Hear, hear!
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Tom
SA 4 days ago
All vending machines should be banned. Why aren't they? The schools make money from them. Taxpayers can
replace the "revenue stream" with higher taxes or schools cam buy their own vending machines and control
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what goes in them.
I find it repulsive that schools are seen by the food and advertising industries as simply sales centers for
whatever junk they are peddling.
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3Recommend
Greed Isinallwalksoflife
Austin, TX 3 days ago
Agree that it is sad that everything is political - even what we eat. Why is discussing the weather political for
heaven's sake?
I totally disagree on the root of the problem though. If things were not decided at a federal level for the entire
country, every person would not have a vested interest in this decisions. That is why our country was not set up
like that. These kinds of decisions are supposed to be made as close to home as possible - individual,
community, state and then only a very few things were to be done at the federal level, which is why they are
spelled out in the Constitution. That way if you didn't like the way things were run in your area, you could
move. When things are decided at the federal level, you have nowhere to go. If the decision is local, you can go
and visit the representatives and make your voice heard. We have grown so far from that premise and that is
why everything is political - that and the growing influence that they have over our lives. Just wait until
government healthcare really kicks in.
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1Recommend
Noah
Baltimore 4 days ago
Speaking from the standpoint of someone who works in a large school district's Food and Nutrition Department,
this sounds more like a systemic problem in your child's school or school district. Federal Regulations only
work if they are enforced on a state and local level.
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1Recommend
gametime68
19934 3 days ago
Well there is always the option packing your childrens' lunches and that way you know exactly what they eat.
Stop with the chicken little thing. Thirty years ago I packed my kids' lunch so I knew exactly what they were
getting each day. That, and I didn't always have lunch money for them and we didn't qualify for the hand outs.
See that how works? It's called taking responsibillty for yourself. Didn't need Michelle Obama 30 years ago and
don't need her now to tell us what to do or how to do it. The real issue lies with people with kids today who
don't care. Tell us, without federally dictating how to parent and imprisoning people when they defy your
political objectives, do you cure indifference in parents who don't want to be bothered with their childrens'
lunches or even raising them?
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1Recommend
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MGK
CT 4 days ago
Everything has become political even what we eat...
the "don't tell what to do" zealots and kooks are accusing her of big government and frankly this is what we
deserve when we de-fund and de-emphasize public education. We increase ignorance and common sense
exponentially...it is a sad commentary on the state of our vox populi and our culture.
Something as innocent as food and diet have become hostages to the bottom line and the right wing....
Rome is burning...but no one smells the smoke....pathetic.
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8Recommend
acmoreno
Palm Beach FL 4 days ago
So, why aren't you playing the role of a responsible parent and sending your kid to school with a healthful
lunch, rather than relying on a paternalistic, intrusive government and raise your kids for you? Free markets
work better than the government monopoly that started this fabricated problem in the first place.
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4Recommend
Janet
is a trusted commenter Salt Lake City 4 days ago
Vending machines are difficult to get rid of in public schools because the income from them finances many of
the school activities. That's the agreement school districts make with Coke or Pepsi. My son's high school
managed to limit the sugared soft drinks offered, but the replacements were fruit juices, which are just sugar
water with a few nutrients. It is a battle parents are still fighting but schools don't want to give up the cash flow.
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3Recommend
Hans Christian Brando
Los Angeles 4 days ago
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You might tell your twelve-year-old that junk food in vending machines is not exactly a new phenomenon. It
just used to be cheaper. As for school lunches, they were mostly garbage when your grandmother was twelve
years old!
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2Recommend
Chris Hill
Seattle 4 days ago
Problem is, school lunches are decided by the public school, not the greedy, profit-hungry, capitalist industry.
It's the Department of Education's job to control lunches, not the president's wife. The fact that the first lady is
involved in this is a complete mockery of the entire school system.
What we need is more school choice. That way, parents can voluntarily create a market demand for schools that
offer healthy lunch options.
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1Recommend
RichardC
Stillwater, OK 3 days ago
Part of the recommendations, now mandated by law, have been restricting the calories children are served at
lunch. As there are many children for whom the meal at school is the largest single meal, such restrictions are
counter-productive. For athletes and older kids with jobs that involve manual labor, the calories permitted are
inadequate. There is also the problem of getting kids to eat what they do not like. It is better that children eat
than not, and that they can get sufficient calories for their needs than to meet a "one size fits all" nutritional
program for everyone regardless of their needs. As with all Federal programs, there is no way to adequately
account for individual cases adequately. Thus some children are under-served, and in a few cases grossly so. So,
fine, you want to promote a healthier diet and thus healthier kids. Great. But is a top-down, legislatively
mandated approach really the best way to go about this?
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3Recommend
Banzanbon
Brooklyn, NY 3 days ago
And all that said, it is your job to help your kid with eating right, not the job or the right of some politician's
wife! What ever happened to thinking for yourself?!
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2Recommend
cc
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Maine 3 days ago
I never could understand vending machines in schools. Am I the only one that finds this odd?
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1Recommend
shrugged
Ohio 3 days ago
Profit -- really WH? Just because a greedy profit company is making junk food doesn't mean that parents and
school officials have to serve it. It would seem to me the culprits are the parents and the school administrators
who have the final say in what products are served in their cafeterias.
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1Recommend
minfxbg
usa 3 days ago
this has little to nothing about industry, WH. This is more in line with parents, such as yourself, refusing to
pressure the schools and school boards to take out vending machine, to not allow delivery of McDonalds, Pizza
Hut etc., to the school. You want to applaud Michele, fine. But the first line of defense, and action, is you; the
parent.
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1Recommend
Ashok sathe
India 3 days ago
I read these articles with interest, because what is done in USA is copied( rather with a thought what Obama is
doing must be with all study by USA experts on -say Nutrionists in this case) Soda & pizza in school? no idea
itself is undigestable. If some student/ his parents want soda or pizza in school let them buy it with their money
when student returns home. In school it has to be healthy nutrition.
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Recommend
GM
Milford, CT 4 days ago
Mrs. Obama, please don't back down on this subject.
There are many more people than you may realize who support you and the President on the importance of this
subject for our children's health and our country's future.
As difficult as it seems, it is not impossible. The time is now for all of us to push aside the misguided and
selfish efforts of the well connected lobbyists, corporate interests and science deniers in the government.
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Our children must come first. It can and must be done.
In a comment yesterday on a related article, an articulate and active participant explained how it is possible for a
public school to deliver healthy and nutritious meals. This, in a school located in Bronx, NY in one of the
poorest congressional districts in the country.
The final statement in this video makes it perfectly clear, "If we can do it here, and we can do it in a public
school, then there's no reason for anyone to tell me it can't be done anywhere else. It can be done anywhere.
And you don't need millions of dollars to make it happen."
The video is well worth a look.
http://vimeo.com/83804061
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G
giniajim 4 days ago
Thank you for speaking out. I'm mystified that nutrition for our children should be a subject of political diatribe
in Congress. I hope that cooler heads will prevail and put our children first!
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8Recommend
Joe
Iowa 4 days ago
An admirable goal indeed. My only question with all due respect is whose responsibility is it to make sure these
healthy lunches are eaten and not tossed in the trash, considering many of these kids know it's open grazing
time as soon as they get home?
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3Recommend
JT FLORIDA
Venice, FL 4 days ago
This is one more reason why Americans need to wake up to the reality that House republicans could widen their
lead this November and take the Senate.
The programs that you have championed along with those of President Obama are in jeopardy because of the
intransigence of the GOP.
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Democrats need to realize that programs like WIC, food reforms in school lunches, peace, climate issues etc are
imperiled if democrats get another shellacking this Fall.
Please, Mrs. Obama, lead the charge with your husband to make the mid-terms just as active as 2008 and 12
because if they aren't and turnout is low, we'll have virtual gridlock and rollbacks in progressive programs like
better nutrition in our schools.
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14Recommend
1058
NY 4 days ago
Thank you Mrs Obama. I also wish there was clear labeling of common food allergens such as wheat/gluten,
soy and countless soy by-products, eggs, nuts, as these may contribute to preventable suffering and serious
preventable medical complications in a growing number of people in the US population.
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4Recommend
Richard Luettgen
New Jersey 4 days ago
Must be tough to be more intelligent than a husband who's also a pretty distinguished guy, hmmm? Not that he's
by any means a slacker in that department, but that actually makes it worse. Edward R. Murrow's wife, Janet
Huntington Brewster, had the same problem.
While I, like a lot of Americans, have my differences with our president, Mrs. Obama is my favorite First Lady
among the ten I've watched in a life now in its 60th year (too young to have been interested in the eleventh,
Mamie Eisenhower). So, while I sympathize with Mrs. Obama's overall goals, I'm unhappy to have to disagree
with some of her points here.
It will strike some (it does me) as starting to approach thought-police, or at least food-police, to have a problem
with INCLUSION of potatoes in a list of permitted foods for which a program provides subsidies, merely
because the message should be reinforced that people should eat more of other foods. This approaches scary in
its massive paternalism (maternalism?).
Then, more generally, schools are having problems with the regulatory intensity visited on school lunches.
Much of it is good, limiting sugar, fat and salt, but it's going too far -- scrapping, for example, milk because it
has one percent too much fat in it to satisfy the milk-police. Administrators are complaining that kids, unhappy
with food that has no taste, are instead sneaking off to McDonalds. Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?
Food policy, like tax policy, benefits from moderation.
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Mary Elizabeth
Boston 4 days ago
Is Mrs. Obama really more intelligent than her husband? Or is your comment just meant to undermine this
President once again. What does that have to do with the discussion?
That kids may be sneaking off to McDonald's indicates that perhaps their brains have become addicted to high
fat, high salt food of questionable nutrient value, while fattening not only them, but the wallets of the McDonald
Corporation.
Vegetable and whole grains can be made more delicious than a Big Mac with a little effort.
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8Recommend
Richard Luettgen
New Jersey 4 days ago
AACNY:
We (Americans generically) seem to be twigging to the absurdity of electing in large numbers those who simply
KNOW what a better world looks like but haven't the foggiest idea of how to get there, or who possess any of
the real skills required to define and walk the path. Not only the U.S. Senate this time, but up to five more state
legislatures are likely to go Republican in the mid-terms, bringing the total to as many as 31, from the current
26.
While that won't halt or materially diminish the raucous screeching about what's wrong with the world, it will
keep hands out of the cookie-jar -- even adult hands.
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1Recommend
AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
I also love Michelle Obama but she has some things to learn about policy. When you're fighting about potatoes,
you've gone too deep into the weeds.
It's not enough to have brilliant policies. (That's the fun part.) To have any real value, the policies have to be
implemented. She would be more helpful to children if she could figure out how to make the policies work on
the ground.
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1Recommend
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Irene
NY 3 days ago
That would be President Obama who spends time 'thinking'. I wish more of our elected representatives would
spend time thinking instead of memorizing the talking points of the day from Heritage.
The fact is that there has been improvement in child obesity levels since this program has been implemented. If
parents and health classes would reinforce the destructiveness of eating fast foods we'd be further along in this
epidemic of obesity and diabetes we are experiencing even among our youngest.
Some people will fight against anything good if it comes from the other side of the political aisle. They should
consider 'thinking' too.
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6Recommend
Slim1921
Charlotte NC 4 days ago
"She would be more helpful to children if she could figure out how to make the policies work on the ground."
The policies could be made to work "on the ground" if "the ground" had a lot less Republicans representing it
(and let's face it, Republicans represent a lot of "ground" aka Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Mississippi...)
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8Recommend
Richard Luettgen
New Jersey 4 days ago
Mary Elizabeth:
Liberals generally might consider developing a sense of humor: you might actually accomplish something
besides compelling national agita.
It may be that vegetables and whole grains may be made less insipid and off-putting in our school lunch
programs, but the fact remains that they're not being made so, and kids are voting with their feet. What's more,
when you imply that such food is as tasty to young human beings as McDonalds, or Burger King or your local
emporium of charred flesh and animal fat, you're not even slightly convincing to anyone who knows kids.
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Better to make the food just a LITTLE less healthy if it inveigles those kids from a steadier diet of dead animal
flesh and salt-licks.
But that was the point of my comment: Mrs. Obama has gone off the deep-end in an absolute insistence on
political and gastronomic correctness, and lost all sight of real, achievable policy goals.
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2Recommend
AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
Slim1921 Charlotte NC:
Sure. It's the GOP that is taking children by the hand and leading them to the trash bin with their trays of
healthy food.
The "ground" is the cafeteria and where the rubber meets the road. That is where the First Lady needs to refocus
her efforts.
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2Recommend
Richard Luettgen
New Jersey 4 days ago
AACNY:
Imagine the conversation with Barry, who, by all accounts, still will sneak a cigarette when he can get away
with it (which, after all, IS vegetable-matter): "Yes, love, you make a policy speech on food in our schools and
generally about how kids need to eat more cardboard. I haven't savaged House Republicans yet today, and we
can't let them become too complacent. And, now, if you'll excuse me, I need a presidential walk in the Rose
Garden: no, no, I need some solitude, to ... think".
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1Recommend
AACNY
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is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
Mr. Luettgen:
Here we go again. Perfect policy meets reality. Obstacles encountered. GOP and Big Business blamed. Vitriol
turned toward everyone except the policymakers who didn't realize the darned thing had to actually be
implemented among those with free will.
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4Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
Milk is extremely important as children. Humans only absorb calcium until their mid 20s and then it is just
calcium maintenance. Michelle Obama's policies could lead to a lot of broken hips down the road. But, I am
sure the liberals will just blindly follow her no matter what she says.
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1Recommend
Sydney
Washington DC 4 days ago
Congressional Republicans are betraying our children. Thank you for highlighting this issue. I can't imagine
how hard it must be to keep fighting the good fight each day when faced with such dishonest and unscrupulous
beings.
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17Recommend
Michael B
New York 4 days ago
It is actually anti-science to cut down on kids' fat intake. I can understand the attempt to limit sugar from
sources like cola, candy, and ice cream.
However, most of these veggie-filled meals go straight to the garbage. That's because kid don't want to eat
string beans and broccoli for lunch.
Let 'em eat burgers, pizza, maybe a grilled chicken sandwich, perhaps cut the sugary drinks and candy. Other
than that, give kids what they want to eat, just like your own kids eat what they want, Michelle.
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6Recommend
David
Victoria, Australia 4 days ago
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Its strange that in so much of the world children willingly eat whatever is put in front of them. Only in the
english-speaking West do they baulk at vegetables. It's time there were fewer distractions to seduce them and
harm them.
Fruitloops, Cheerios, Poptarts, Cocopops...that's how too many children start the day.
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9Recommend
RevWayne
the Dorf, PA 4 days ago
Change is difficult for all of us. Once upon a time when we were an agrarian and a labor intensive society most
people, regardless of what they ate, remained thin. Their daily acttivity was enough to maintain a healthy
weight. Clearly it is very different now. We now must be intentional about what we do. Exercise doesn't just
happen today. We need to schedule time - be intentional - to walk or work out at a locak gym or workout at
home. The American food industry wants our business. They offer foods and amounts that entice us. Changing
the amount we eat and the foods we eat is difficult. We know what is good for us, but we are tempted. So, keep
pressing for change in the eating habits of our youth, Mrs. Obama. Encourage us to develop an intentional
attitude that incluudes regular exercise. We must changee! Thank you for your concern.
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12Recommend
madeleine
Avon, Colorado 4 days ago
There are so many reasons to feel discouraged with, if not completely hopeless about, the majority of our
representatives in Washington. Their agendas are self-serving, their motivations corrupt, and their rhetoric so
specious it's a wonder that they manage to continually spit the big fat falsehoods out of their twisted mouths
without choking on them. I am beginning to think that's the plan: to make us outraged so often it gets old and
we stop caring. But this is the perfect place to not stop. How can we not, as a country, at least agree that we
should feed our children responsibly, thoughtfully, and WELL? I wish this paper would single out each
Congressional representative who is trying to undo this work and ask him or her to explain, down to the last
detail. Thank you, Ms. Obama.
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35Recommend
Daniel
Washington 4 days ago
It's good to have people with influence like Michelle Obama fighting to see that children are exercising, eating
nutritious meals, and staying healthy. Her work at growing vegetables at the White House and getting children
involved is great. amanandhishoe.com
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16Recommend
pvolkov
Burlington, Ontario 4 days ago
Response to Maya Adams
"You've sent the clear message that, ideally, our children should be enjoying healthy meals together with their
families." is a statement from you comment praising Mrs. Obama for her efforts.
I would like to say to her that there are too many families that have trouble enjoying healthy meals with their
growing children because they cannot afford the relatively high prices for the healthy foods you recommend.
And a great deal of obesity in children (and adults) is due to the cheaper foods they only can afford such as
starchy filling items.
If you are worried about the health of our children Mrs. Obama, you should also be worried about the lack of
decent schooling for so many children living in the poorer areas of our cities and towns. You should be worried
about the lack of financial resources to keep our next generations physically and mentally well while your
husband is prolonging ending a costly and senseless war, you should be worried about the many families whose
members may be without jobs to take proper care of their families and most of all you should be very worried
about the lack of decent health care for
ALL the citizens of our country.
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1Recommend
Dr. Abby Aronowitz
N.Y. 4 days ago
Thanks for trying to help our kids become healthier.
Please consider changing language to fight an “unhealthy lifestyle,” instead of an “obesity epidemic,” to reduce
discrimination against people of size. Science suggests that junk food and stagnation is unhealthy for ALL kids.
There is plenty of bias against size, without making it a national campaign. There are thin couch potatoes and
fat couch potatoes, but only the fat ones are considered lazy, slovenly, and gross, leading to bullying, insecurity,
and eating disorders. Some are even blamed for the healthy food in schools, which is often shunned.
Science suggests that genes strongly influence weight. Many kids feel bad about their size and hate themselves,
despite eating the same as their peers. They feel put down, for something they cannot control.
Some research suggests that thin people can have unhealthy fat deposits internally, which is more dangerous
that external, visible fat. Many thin people believe they can eat anything at all, because they aren’t fat. Focusing
on obesity instead of lifestyle is harmful to them too, by suggesting that an unhealthy lifestyle is OK, if you’re
not fat.
And while you’re at it, please try to change subsidies for the sugar and high fructose corn industries into taxes,
while eliminating transfats from our food supply. Is that too much to ask?
Thanks for your consideration.
Dr. Abby!
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Author of “Your Final Diet”
“This is Fabulous!” Secretary Hillary Clinton
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gobears
CA 4 days ago
"we worked to get more fresh-food retailers into underserved areas."
The anti-GMO crowd is only going to make getting fruit and veggies to more people that much more difficult.
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Jacob Sommer
Medford, MA 4 days ago
Mrs. Obama, as a parent of young children, I very much appreciate all the work you have put into this program.
There is one thing I would like to know if you've had the chance to do, even though it is outside your sphere of
influence: have you had any chance to talk with legislators about changing the Farm Bill so it would help
reduce the price for fresh, healthy produce? More government money goes to subsidizing soy, corn and wheat
than is spent on our school lunches.
I'll understand if the answer is no. Your husband hasn't had much luck convincing political rivals to work with
him either.
I'd love to see the cost of ingredients for a dish of wilted fresh spinach with garlic, lemon, olive oil, a little
butter and a dash of salt be lower than a hamburger on a roll, but many places charge more for fresh spinach
than for fresh ground beef.
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John Abbott
Chicago 4 days ago
You don't have to be a nutritionist to realize that not only are potatoes packed with nutrients, but high in carbs
and low in fats.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/27...
It contains a great portion of C, B6, and fiber.
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I love science.
I hate when people use the word "science" for whatever agenda that they have. To say that people who are poor
shouldn't have access to an economical food that is rich in nutrients is just. Plain. Goofy.
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Robert Oxenburgh
Alamo, CA 4 days ago
Potatoes are indeed packed with nutrients. But it is french fries that will be served. Fried in transfats, covered in
salt, containing a little processed potato.....
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AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
Yes, it's been dumbed down here.
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sallyb
wicker park 60622 4 days ago
Potatoes are nutritious, but the point is they're also relatively inexpensive, in other words, affordable enough for
people on limited budgets. Nobody is saying not to eat potatoes (except fries – lay off the fries!), but it's more
important for WIC funds to purchase veggies & fruits that might otherwise not be chosen.
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Recommend
Jon
Florida 4 days ago
I appreciate the First Lady's efforts on this front, and I believe it is crucial to curbing costs in our healthcare
system not to mention the welfare of children to improve diets. I also realize the audience she is aiming towards
is not much for nuance, but "nutrient density," like so many of the old erroneous standards of nutrition science,
is not really what matters. That is, if you want the highest nutrient density, take a vitamin. Food cannot be
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understood in terms of its constituents, which is why multivitamins, a fiber supplement, and white bread do not
make a good diet. I do agree that fruits and vegetables (green leaves, especially) are the linchpin of a good diet,
as informed by evolutionary biology.
In any case, I really do not get what congress is thinking here (they're not thinking, as usual). Cut the budget at
the corporate welfare lines, not the school lunches.
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Jean-Louis Lonne
Belves de Castillon France 4 days ago
My school lunch was a mix of fresh and canned veges,home made corn bread, beans, etc; not much meat, great
home made dessert, cherry cobbler my favorite, to get another piece one had to eat all on plate. This made by
three farmer housewives fresh daily. I don't remember any waste. Geronimo Oklahoma in the 60s. What
happened?
Bravo Michelle Obama, Godspeed to you.
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26Recommend
Janet
Portland, OR 4 days ago
Thank you to our First Lady for refusing to allow politics and (what else) money to derail the efforts of
concerned parents and health care advocates, in ensuring that our nation's children receive nutritious delicious
school meals! Thank goodness there are some individuals in Washington with their heads screwed on right!!
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Steamboater
Sacramento, CA 4 days ago
Republicans want to deny kids a healthy diet during school lunches and use money as an excuse to deny them a
healthy lunch. When it comes to destroying life though with war republicans are the first to pull money out of
the air for it and fund it. Bottom line, opposition to Michelle Obama and her agenda to keep kids healthy really
has nothing to do with either money or any other issue but just republicans once again just saying NO to
anything coming from the Obama White House. With this issue however, what do you expect? Republicans
care more about their guns then the health and welfare of America's kids.
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5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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ibLoG
Canada 4 days ago
Kudo to Mrs. Obama for helping schools across the country to serve kids with better nutritions.
I fully support the SNAP's program, but I hope congress is able to create law to limit adults who use SNAP
from buying high sugar contain food, which contribute to their obesity and diabetes that have a negative
consequences to the national healthcare's cost.
I'm aware that we're in America, we should have more freedom, but using taxpayers money to buy junk food to
spike up the national healthcare's cost and destroy your well being are not smart freedom.
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Steamboater
Sacramento, CA 4 days ago
" Right now, the House of Representatives is considering a bill to override science ... "
Overriding science has been the republican agenda all along, whether regarding healthy school lunches or a
healthy environment and global warming. The terrible irony of it all is that while using money as the GOP
bottom line, In the end, this republican contempt for science will cost us so much more, that is unless America
smartens-up and votes these republicans out of office.
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25Recommend
Christine
Falls Church, VA 4 days ago
That anyone would even entertain the idea of harming our kids for the sake of money is appalling. Yet here we
have not just one politician but many flocking to be advocates for the moneyed interests for whom profit is
more important than a child’s wellbeing.
This is greed at its absolute worst. Any politician who isn’t zealous to protect our children does not deserve to
be in office. Advancing one’s career at the expense of children’s health is about as immoral as you can get.
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Demetroula
Cornwall, U.K. 4 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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All hail the hallowed House of Representatives, dominated by Republicans who are all too happy to invoke Big
Government roadblocks when it comes to prevention, whether it's childhood obesity, mass shootings or illegal
wars.
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Kevin Cahill
Albuquerque 4 days ago
Michelle Obama is doing more good than the whole US Congress put together.
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Mike Clarke
nj 3 days ago
She would do a whole lot more good if she pushed for legislation making it unlawful to purchase soda, chips
and donuts with food stamps.
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sdavidc9
is a trusted commenter Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut 4 days ago
Our present food industry does not want its established ways of developing and marketing and competing with
each others disturbed by new ways of living and eating. They do not want people who do not play by their rules,
and will tolerate such people only if they can marginalize them, usually by making fun of them or painting them
as snobs or health nuts or would-be nannies.
They will use all the power of advertising and public relations to blunt the growth of habits that will hurt their
present ways of doing business. Ignoring their efforts does not work very well. Consumers (and citizens) need
to be educated so that advertising not based on facts becomes less effective. There are two competing worlds,
each with its own facts and values, and they are competing about food and about most other things. One of them
is right in its basic approach (although not always correct) and one of them is wrong (although sometimes worth
listening to).
This needs to be said directly, or at least strongly implied.
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don myers
Connecticut 4 days ago
Obviously the Congress needs some brain food; but hasn't it always?
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Bismarck
North Dakota 4 days ago
My kids actually like the school lunches and they eat fresh fruits, veggies and salad everyday. I applaud these
efforts to bring school lunches into the 21st century. It makes my efforts at home appear less draconian to my
children since they see that how we eat at home is the same as at school. Keep defeating the Republicans on
this, they are truly awful.
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117Recommend
JGrondelski
PERTH AMBOY, NJ 4 days ago
Why is Michele Obama deciding whether potatoes should be on the menu of a local school in New Jersey? Why
can't parents in New Jersey and Connecticut and Idaho decide what local schools offer as fare, free of
Washington's interference? And why is it that the menu of the Stillwell School, where Michele sends her kids,
not necessarily serving the Spartan fare than our First-Dietician deems appropriate for all others? Or is this just
another example of the Washington elite lecturing what everybody else should do while exempting themselves
from their mandates?
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Amy Haible
Harpswell, Maine 4 days ago
Potato growers in Maine are just tickled pink about the possibility of selling more potatoes to schools. And why
not? We grow a great potato up here. But I absolutely do not trust our Governor LePage put to put school kids
first. If he could strike a deal that made school lunches 90% potato based, he'd probably give it a whirl.
Especially for kids who receive subsidized lunches. And if they wanted something with more nutrition they
could simply apply to get a job wiping up tables for their peers in the cafeteria, or sweeping floors after school.
Don't laugh. Our governor has actually made similar suggestions. Go Michele. She is behaving like a leader
should behave. Let's not confuse leadership with dominance.
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AG
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Wilmette 4 days ago
This comment is filled with misrepresentation, loaded terminology, and other false modes of argumentation:
1. Mrs. Obama isn't "deciding" what the menu of the school in NJ should be. She is advocating for a cause,
entirely within her rights as a citizen, and her rights to use her bully pulpit. If you had a similar bully pulpit, you
would have the same rights.
2. There is nothing sacred about the schools in NJ being "local." By the same brilliant argument, it would be
OK for a school to allow children to eat lead paint, to be exposed to the fumes of a nearby leather factory, to
work without safety equipment in the chemistry lab.
3. When the Coast Guard is protecting Perth Amboy from would-be bombers and foreign enemies, that is not
"Washington interference." Ditto for protecting Perth Amboy children from internal enemies who would
torpedo their health.
4. I do not know the menu at Stillwell School, but I doubt it is less healthy than the one you want to defend.
Please show me where Mrs. Obama has argued by deed or word that other children should not eat as healthfully
as hers.
5. Please also show me how the Washington "elite" (code word for Mrs. Obama) is "exempting themselves
from their mandates." Is she in favor of her kids' school serving junk food?
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David
Victoria, Australia 4 days ago
Jamie Oliver Food Revolution should give a good insight into why something has to be done. It is a real eyeopener into what muck is served up to children at school, and at home too unfortunately. Too many parents
should be hanging their heads in shame at what they feed their children and what they allow schools to feed
their children. Does it really matter who kicks this off?
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15Recommend
Hilary
New York City 4 days ago
You are asking why the federal government has a role in the food it is paying for? The school districts can fund
their own bake sales and pizza parties if that's their thing. But the school lunch program is a federal program. As
a taxpayer, I do not want my taxes diverted away from nutrition to subsidize junk food that will hit me up
AGAIN for medical costs.
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Fred DuBose
Manhattan 4 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Guess you missed the fact that white potatoes were cut from the WIC healthful foods list not by Michelle
Obama but by the Institute of Medicine.
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Doris
Chicago 4 days ago
Why are Republicans telling schools what they can serve? Why are they pushing unhealthy foods? Obesity is
epidemic in this country.
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Guy Walker
New York City 4 days ago
She is not "deciding", that's Congress' job. She is encouraging. See the difference? The members of Congress
are from the states you would like to see making these decisions. See how it works here in America? Contact
your member in congress and complain about potatoes and you will have your say in Washington.
Meanwhile, I'll just ponder why packages of ketchup are vegetable thanks to good 'ol Ronnie Reagan who could
have done something about this a long time ago but just said "no".
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17Recommend
JeffinNC
Raleigh 4 days ago
Perhaps you missed this line "Right now, the House of Representatives is considering a bill to override science by mandating that white
potatoes be included on the list of foods that women can purchase using WIC dollars."
Nothing to do with the school lunch program.
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Whatever it takes
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Virginia 3 days ago
For the record Mrs. Obama is not a dietician any more then Al Gore had a scientific degree. A dietician would
not be trying to get rid of milk for growing kids.
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Xavier
Paris 4 days ago
She is just awesome.
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23Recommend
Shelly McClure
NYC 4 days ago
Dear US Gov, Please stop supporting big Agribusiness. Let General Mills and P&G support them. Put our tax
dollars towards REAL food, grown by farmers who care about the earth as much as what we eat. Michelle
Obama's program is a great start, but there is a long way to go.
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GKB
CT expat 4 days ago
P&G is in big Agribusiness? I hadn't heard that people are eating Swiffer refills washed down with Tide
detergent. You learn something new every day in the NY Times.
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5Recommend
HT
is a trusted commenter Ohio 4 days ago
P&G moves in and out of the food business. They invented Pringles and Crisco. They used to own Sunny
Delight and Folger's Coffee. Right now, their only major food lines are for pets (Eukanuba and Iams).
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Michael
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Ann Arbor, Michigan 4 days ago
Do not allow Big Food to buy our lawmakers and write the laws themselves. This problem would disappear.
Two ways to do that are term limits and campaign finance reform.
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8Recommend
sallyb
wicker park 60622 4 days ago
Agreed, but can we really expect the very people who would be put out of work by those reforms to submit such
a bill, let alone vote for it? That would take a majority of unbelievably selfless & patriotic congresspersons to
pass it.
We will not live to see it happen.
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Recommend
JSunny
Denver, CO 4 days ago
Thank you First Lady! Those "elites" in Washington, beholden to profits, not our children, have been selling our
America's down the wrong path for too long. Real food. Education. Freedom from gun murder. Why is it radical
to expect health not junk for America's children, and our future? First Lady Obama is too polite to call out the
perpetrators of these crimes against our children. YUM, P&G, McDonald's, General Mills, the list goes on and
on, call them out! Free our kids from junk!
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8Recommend
ironmikes
Chicago 4 days ago
This campaign has led to higher costs to local school districts and to greater waste. Is Michelle Obama willing
to fund these extra costs. What Ms. Obama leaves out is that many local school districts are fighting these
because of the reasons mentioned above. For Democrats the House GOP are the bad guys but many of them are
being lobbied by their local districts to limit this. In Chicago the very liberal town of Evanston is opting out of
the school lunch program just for these reasons.
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3Recommend
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AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
The problem is that kids are throwing away their meals. This is not the Obama household where the First Lady
can demand her kids eat their vegetables. This is a nation of millions of kids with all sorts of backgrounds and
the freedom to not eat the food.
THAT's the challenge, not Congress, which is only responding to the school districts' complaints.
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Miriam
Raleigh 4 days ago
No they are responding to the GOP disinformation machine. You verbiage betrays you.
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11Recommend
JeffinNC
Raleigh 4 days ago
So the well-being of children is not worth the extra money? Got it.
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10Recommend
Hilary
New York City 4 days ago
You are rather naive if you believe Congress is responding to school district complaints and not lobbyists.
Please...
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J.C. Fleet, Ph.D.
West Lafayette, IN 4 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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It's regrettable that healthy foods are so unfamiliar to some children that they refuse to eat them and choose to
go hungry instead. However, as any parent knows, you don't let your kids define the family menu.
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3Recommend
Justin
Melbourne Australia 4 days ago
Just got back from a trip to the west coast of your country. Whilst I don't know enough about the ongoing
debate, but something that needs to be considered is the portion sizes. Everything was huge. A small change
here ( along with a reduction of cheese and bacon in chips) would help I believe. Justin. Australia
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28Recommend
Socrates
Verona, N.J. 4 days ago
Thank you for your sanity in the face of GOP insanity, Michelle Obama.
America has one of the worst diets in the world, and the poorer you are, the fattier, saltier and sugarier it gets.
The GOP wants to step on the diabetes accelerator.
The idea of exposing vulnerable young Americans to more American sugar, salt and fat via more American
processed food and junk food is commercial and political child abuse.
Olivier De Schutter, a U.N. health expert, said "unhealthy diets are greater threat to health than tobacco." and
calls for global regulation of salty, sugary foods while the GOP Congress is calling for more 'freedom' to
develop juvenile diabetes and metabolic syndrome with more 'freedom' fries, 'freedom' potato chips and
'freedom' corn syrup soda and more vending machines for the Fortune 1000.
Leading the charge to keep the junk food in and vegetables out is Fox 'News" and the School Nutrition
Association, a an intentionally misnamed lobbying group that adores the GOP and which receives its money
from big food suppliers such as Domino's Pizza and Coca-Cola.
The GOP has no ethics or human decency.
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Lonely Pedant
DFW, TX 3 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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But we'll still call them a Grand Old Party, won't we?
Priebus is laughing.
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Recommend
Mike Clarke
nj 3 days ago
How about the First Lady leading the charge to make it unlawful to purchase soda, chips and donuts with food
stamps?
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1Recommend
AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
Welcome to reality. One-size-fits all rulings from above almost always encounter obstacles. Regulations have
consequences. The First Lady needs to hear the objections and work through them.
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2Recommend
Miriam
Raleigh 4 days ago
These objections are brought to you by Big-agra in tandem with the GOP machine that is designed to breed
disrepect for everything the Obamas do. Her approach is data-driven and correct. Do these guys miss the good
ole days of the GOP when in an effort to save money, Reagan's team wanted to make a pickle chip a vegatable
serving?
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15Recommend
Celia
Oswego, NY 4 days ago
They used to grow a lot of potatoes in Maine . . .
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Recommend
lauraboutwell
nyc 4 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Actually it is Susan Collins of Maine who prefers the potato lobby's assessment of how many potato's people
eat (not enough) to the national institute of medicine's (too much.) Collins is leading the charge in the senate to
make wic less effective, at the cost of people's health.
Just let that sink in a moment.
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J.C. Fleet, Ph.D.
West Lafayette, IN 4 days ago
These aren't "one-size-fits all" recommendations. There is flexibility for how to meet the guidelines that will
allow individuals and school districts choice - but within limits of foods that have clear health benefits as
opposed to foods that are nutritionally poor.
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AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
Miriam Raleigh
These objections are brought to you by Big-agra in tandem with the GOP machine that is designed to breed
disrepect for everything the Obamas do.
***
Nonsense and the usual trope about Obama's critics.
Anyone who has actually been responsible for *real* change -- and not the hypothetical kind -- understands that
implementation encounters obstacles.
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AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
J.C. Fleet, Ph.D. West Lafayette, IN:
These aren't "one-size-fits all" recommendations.
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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***
On CNN last night, a Congressman mentioned how "x" ounces of skim milk violates the fat content requirement
of the policy.
The problem here is not how wonderful the policy is in the abstract or at national level. (Who can argue with
healthier eating?) It is in how it gets implemented across the country within schools in their refrigerators, on
food prep counters and on food trays.
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Recommend
AG
Wilmette 4 days ago
This is one of the best Op-Eds I have seen in a long time. The simplicity of its argument is powerful and
compelling. Add to it a direct, unadorned, unsentimental exposition, and we have a beaut! The First Lady
deserves our gratitude not only for her anti childhood obesity campaign, but also for laying out the issue so
clearly.
In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Brutus asks, "Who is here so base that would be a bondsman?", and "Who is
here so vile that would not love his country?" I doubt that Brutus could have imagined that were even more
despicable levels of baseness and vileness. We have legislators who are willing to shill for Big Junkfood at the
expense of children's health. Anyone who wants to start yelling "Nanny state" needs to answer this question: If
defending ourselves against the bombs of an external enemy is an acceptable function of government, why is
defending the health of our children against an internal enemy also not so?
May the first Lady go from strength to strength in her campaign, and may her foes and detractors retreat in
confusion, humiliation, and defeat.
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Tony B
Sarasota 4 days ago
I'd love too see who is bankrolling these Congress representatives. No surprise that it would be big food with
highly processed junk vs real food. Follow the money.
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36Recommend
SouthernView
Virginia 4 days ago
It tells us loads about the pathetic state of the modern Republican Party that it elevates the interests of its
corporate sponsors over the health of America's children. Even more astounding, as Ms. Obama points out, the
results serve to increase federal spending, by contributing to higher obesity rates that we will all have to pay for
someday. Why anyone who can tie their shoelace cannot see through the sham and thenfraud of the Republican
Party defies human imagination.
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Jeff k
NH 4 days ago
Ms. Obama, like her husband, believes that she knows what is best for others and therefore it is perfectly
appropriate for the government to impose her beliefs on everyone. This attitude is ruining our country. Ms.
Obama should encourage parents and schools to serve what she believes are healthy diets to children, but then
leave it to parents and schools to decide for themselves what to serve.
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10Recommend
Miriam
Raleigh 4 days ago
In this case she does, as does every even moderately educated adult with children - the ones ones who care
about more about their kids than their viseral disrepect for the Obamas.
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16Recommend
Wendy
is a trusted commenter New Jersey 4 days ago
Jeff - I believe the federal government has always issued standards for school lunches, as they supply much of
the food that goes into them. Not trying to impose a "nanny state", just trying to get good value and promote
healthy choices through use of our tax dollars.
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8Recommend
Jack Kerins
NJ 4 days ago
Why is there so much opposition to science based reccommendations that deliver better food to our children.
Why would any resonsible parnet wish their 5 to 10 year old child be fed a diet high in sugar and fat? You may
not like the Obama's but don't let that stop us from using good science to protect our kids from junk food.
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sallyb
wicker park 60622 4 days ago
Jeff k – Mrs O is trying to educate folks, and raise awareness. In fact, she is encouraging parents and schools to
serve what we all know (based on science and observation) are healthy diets to their children. She is not in a
position to legislate, but a government that is responsive does in fact impose standards, on this as well as many
other issues (seat belts, e.g.).
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6Recommend
Dan G
Philadelphia 4 days ago
Parents and school systems are heavily influenced by the enormous influence of sugary drink companies, fatty
food companies, lobbyists, and agro-businesses selling chips and processed foods. The FIrst Lady is setting
helping to level the playing field, so that parents and schools can afford to and have the information they need
to make good decisions.
Also, the science that Mrs Obama cites is not "what she believes," it is what evidence has shown over many,
many studies. Science is not something that one chooses to believe or not, it is something that is demonstrated
by evidence time and time again. As a country, we rely on what we "believe" way too often - again, it's time to
level the playing field by giving science its due.
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10Recommend
RMarc
Albany NY 4 days ago
What is ruining the US is the slavish devotion of our representatives to Wall St and their corporate masters!
Do you feel the same way about tobacco?
Sugar and salt in the diets of children is as destructive and addictive to them as tobacco, and alcohol, is to
adults!
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5Recommend
Jeff k
NH 4 days ago
Jack - I have nothing against parents making responsible choices about what there kids eat. Nor do I oppose Ms.
Obama's effort to educate parents about what she believes their kids should eat. Ms. Obama in fact may be
absolutely right in her views about what kids should eat. What I oppose is the notion that the federal
government should be issuing standards for such things.
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J.C. Fleet, Ph.D.
West Lafayette, IN 4 days ago
Mrs. Obama's "beliefs" are that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, low in highly processed foods, low in fat is
healthy. Only one problem with that argument. These "beliefs" have been explored and tested by scientists so
they aren't beliefs, they are accepted facts for how to live a healthy life. It is also clear that the consequences of
a routine diet that does not follow these simple recommendations is a population with increased obesity and all
the diseases associated with obesity (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer). The argument that government
food programs shouldn't be informed by the consensus of nutrition and medical science is absurd.
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13Recommend
DR
New England 4 days ago
You're free to believe that junk food is healthy, just don't expect taxpayers to pick up the tab for your diabetes
and heart disease.
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2Recommend
Doris
Chicago 4 days ago
One thing not in this article, is how Republicans have pulled a Ronald Reagan, "Ketchup is a vegetable" ploy.
They declared pizza is healthy and should be a part of the school lunch program, but hey never mentioned that
the entity that funded that push was Dominios Pizza.
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Mary Lamping
St. Louis, Missouri 4 days ago
That's odd. You blame the "pizza is a vegetable" ploy on Republicans. I saw
the documentary "Fed Up" yesterday. In that movie they said it was Amy Klobuchar (spelling?) a democratic
representative from Minnesota who introduced the "pizza is a vegetable" amendment in support of Schwan's
frozen foods, the largest distributor of frozen pizza in the U.S. whose headquarters are in Minnesota. I wonder
which is the correct story? Not that it matters when the end result is the same.
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Kaiso Boy
Rockland ME 4 days ago
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RE Washington interference
Not funny when "libertarians" ask us to keep "Big Government" out of the kitchen and let the parents decide.
And what about Big Food and Big Agra that, after about 40 years of brainwashing, have succeed in hooking the
American brains to "Fat, Sugar & Salt?
As any other pusher, Big Ag & Big Food know that, if you hook the brains of children; they would be your
clients for life . . .
Nothing short of a "National Intervention" will change the American diet.
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NYT Pick
Maurice Gatien
South Lancaster Ontario 4 days ago
It is part of the Obama Doctrine to blame Congress for every failure, every problem - while ignoring that since
2006, her husband's party controlled both houses of Congress and while ignoring that her husband's party still
controls the Senate.
On the aspect of relevance to the problem, the role - or non-role, as the case may be - of Congress would not
rank in the top 10.
The top 2 are identifiable.
Education is #2. There are 2 dimensions to that aspect. First, there is the challenge of educating health
professionals - few doctors have themselves taken courses on nutrition, as part of their medical school
curriculum. Many doctors are themselves poor examples of good health. Other than making the cliched, vapid
observation "You should lose some weight", they are lacking in constructive advice.
Second, there is the challenge of educating the general public. And the educational system is poorly prioritizing
that subject.
The reason "Education" is so important is related to the #1 reason that the problem is so entrenched. There are
debates about America having slipped in various categories, where it's no longer ranked Number 1 in the world.
But, one area where American is by far Number 1 is in the area of Marketing. No one comes close.
When that Marketing talent is harnessed to bad food products, the combination is bound to overwhelm the
consumer. Mrs. Obama would be well-served to form a "swat-team" of marketing people with talent, instead of
lamely attacking Congress.
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AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
It's not just a marketing campaign that's needed. Real marketers would have conducted some "pilots", in which
the new food policy is implemented in some representative school cafeterias (socioeconomic, etc.) and refined.
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Evelyn Johnson
San Ramon 3 days ago
Her husband already has the swat team and they are in bed with the corn lobby. You know them, the one's who
make all those products with high fructose corn syrup.
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Jack Kerins
NJ 4 days ago
Congress is not controlled by Democrats. The House has been Republican since the 2010 election. The Senate
Republicans require a 60 vote majority to pass a bill. Republicians have operational control of Congress. It is
correct to note that Congress is the source of industry efforts to reintroduce their junk products to our children.
Lets keep money and politics out and use the science based recommentions.
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Doodle
Fort Myers 3 days ago
Establishing policies through legislation for healthy eating is part of the education process. It is establishing
leadership on health living and healthy eating, like the way parents show their children what's the right thing to
do. Not everything is about marketing.
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1Recommend
Patrick Stevens
Mn 4 days ago
Congress creates the laws that allows the food industry to undersell healthy lunches for our kids. Why would
the First Lady not take them to task over this issue? Are Congressional campaign coffers of more value than our
sudents' health and well being?
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A Texan
Dallas, TX 4 days ago
You're right that not all doctors are great examples of healthy eating. But I respectfully disagree with your main
arguments. This is precisely about congress. The administration has put evidence-based guidelines into place;
right now specific groups in congress are trying to roll them back as a favor to the purveyors of corn syrup and
junk food. What on earth does this action of the 2014 congress have to do with what Obama and the democrats
did in 2008? Since when is it the job of schools to "educate the general public" about nutrition? Sorry, I don't
think it's a marketing issue. It's just common sense.
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J.C. Fleet, Ph.D.
West Lafayette, IN 4 days ago
Mrs. Obama worked with health and nutrition experts to make evidence backed recommendations for
improving the nutritional quality of a federal food program. Congress is trying to undercut that effort without
regard to the purpose of the change or the science that led to the changes. Her "lame" attacks on Congress is
least she can do - raise awareness in the electorate that their representatives are doing a bad job and motivate
them to contact their representatives.
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Tom
SA 4 days ago
This is a specious argument. The article does not blame Congress for the nutrition/obesity problem, it points out
correctly that Congress is trying to roll-back some of the provisions of the efforts made to correct the problem.
This is an appeal to raise public awareness on that and have Congress reject such roll-backs and instead support
the initiative.
Why should taxpayers demand anything less than the best quality and healthiest food for our children in
taxpayer supported programs?
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9Recommend
Ruth Anne Baumgartner
Fairfield, Connecticut 4 days ago
Your suggestions about marketing are very good. But please don't weaken the credibility of your comment by
repeating that mantra about Democratic control of both houses. Senator Kennedy became too ill to attend
congressional sessions early in President Obama's first term, and the filibuster was then used by Republicans in
lock-step to paralyze the Senate (with too few Democrats to override). The Democrats can only be legitimately
said to have had "control" of the Senate for a few months.
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6Recommend
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Ken
Portland, OR 4 days ago
Maurice, You fail to connect the marketing you mention with the money spent to buy members of congress.
Congress is part of the problem because it is owned by the Oligarchs. Congress does their bidding, including
denying science, all in the name of profit.
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Randall Reed
Charleston SC 4 days ago
The problem that the School Food Director's Association is fallen in with the backsliders to try to weaken the
lunch standards. It is a money issue. They don't want higher quality food standards to cut into their profits. They
have little regard for student welfare. What might not be apparent to most readers is that this "association" is
bankrolled by the big school lunch contractors like SoDexo and many SoDexo employees are, in fact, the
school food service directors who are voting members of this "association." It is a stacked deck and does not
represent the opinions of other members of the school community. When wil this "insider" power, control, and
manipulation stop? How dumb do the Republicans (solely) backing this bill think the American public really is?
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2Recommend
BroDro
San Diego 4 days ago
When ever I see a comment start with something like:
"It is part of the Obama Doctrine to blame Congress for every failure, every problem - while ignoring that since
2006, her husband's party controlled both houses of Congress and while ignoring that her husband's party still
controls the Senate." I can only think "can you say filibuster and 10% approval rating?!"
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msf
NYC 4 days ago
"Second, there is the challenge of educating the general public."
Exactly the point.
This is what Michelle Obama is doing here.
You can also call it Marketing. The American people will surely listen to the First Lady over a commercial.
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Mark
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Hartford 4 days ago
This IS a marketing. The GOP is marketing their "small government" mantra to hide their real goal processed
food makers profit. Mrs Obama is marketing a working solution before the GOP stuffs their repeal nonsense
into the next agriculture bill.
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6Recommend
SteveO
Connecticut 4 days ago
Sorry Maurice, but Ms. Obama does not deserve your criticism, and she doesn't even need your advice, and she
certainly is not, unlike you, making a political partisan argument. Her argument is based on science and facts: if
we get fresh fruits and veggies (not counting french fries which get there easily enough) to kids and low income
households, childhood obesity goes down. Simple. Nothing about Republicans, nothing about Democrats,
nothing about liberals, nothing about conservatives. Her program works, let's support it, and demand that
congress supports it too.
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8Recommend
Zobi
Cambridge, MA 4 days ago
You really think that a doctor--whom a child sees maybe once a year--is going to have a bigger impact on
nutrition than the food the surrounds the child every school day? That really seems unlikely.
And how can you say that education is really important in the same breath that you criticize Mrs. Obama for
trying to defend healthy food programs in school?
I'm struggling to follow your partisan-poisoned logic.
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Joseph Huben
Upstate NY 4 days ago
Attacking Congress? Mrs. Obama is marketing, with talent Maurice. This is how it works.
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5Recommend
Jennifer C
Silver Spring MD 4 days ago
We can engage in better education to address the long-term issues, and change school lunch and WIC standards
to help stem the obesity tide now. We don't need to choose. Calling Congress out on actual current efforts to
stop this progress is fair game, regardless who supposedly "controlled" Congress when.
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Recommend
Biotech exec
Phila PA 4 days ago
I read this differently. I think she is asking that Congress, with all of the special interests it may covertly serve,
and with no special training in nutrition (see your point above under "Education") not override the list of foods
that the independent expert body (IOM) recommended.
She is only asking, as one part of a very complicated problem, that Congress not insert their judgment over the
IOM. I do not think she is blaming Congress for all of the problem--just not to make one aspect worse.
Is there a compelling reason I haven't seen for including potatoes?
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Nora01
New England 4 days ago
Your post is quite confusing. You begin by criticizing the Obama administration, then switch to supporting the
First Lady's attempts to take action on childhood obesity. What you are trying to say?
Eating habits are established in early childhood. They are very difficult to change later for several reasons.
Infants begin to develop food preferences in the womb from what their mothers eat. Therefore, the earlier we
can introduce fruits and vegetables, the more likely the habit of eating them will take hold. By adulthood, it may
be too late.
Mrs. Obama is on the right course. The GOP are just trying to please corporations, neither care a fig for the
health of human beings. As for the economics of this, it is simple: pay now or pay much more later. Pay for
decent school lunches or pay for poor health outcomes.
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2Recommend
AB
Maryland 3 days ago
Quite a few paragraphs to condemn someone for writing something positive. Mrs. Obama has struck a nerve.
You can always tell when the Obamas are on the right track, just by how agitated certain populations become.
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Buckeye Hillbilly
Columbus, OH 3 days ago
I don't see anyone 'lamely attacking Congress', I see a reasoned argument against a move by the House
Appropriations Committee to (once again) knuckle under to special interests, in this case the junk food industry,
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at the expense of American kids.
But I suppose it is refreshing that there are still one or two Americans who actually believe Congress is doing a
good job. Pathetic, maybe, but refreshing...
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3Recommend
goodspkr
Denver, CO 3 days ago
It appears the "bad" food products may be the one nutritionists recommend since a low fat high carb diet leads
to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
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Recommend
rustom
phoenix 3 days ago
Congress is directly involved to roll back WIC and mandatory lunch items. You are diverting attention from the
congress to marketing. Congress make rules those overrule any attempts like marketing.
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Recommend
Ramil
Chicago 3 days ago
And how do you get money for marketing? It is sad that the elected people are influenced by marketing and not
by the actual facts and well being of nation..And guess what the multi-billion dollar companies have more
money than whitehouse and they will outspend on marketing. Remember the cigarette companies marketing and
convincing the public that Smoking is actually good for them and no relation with any health issues and guess
what most of the people believed it...!!
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Recommend
EDC
Colorado 3 days ago
Congress should be attacked for their extremely transparent lack of will to do anything good for the American
people. This is OUR government, OUR congress, and we expect them to remembe those two facts at all times.
We are not beholden to corporations and advertising companies as you lamely suggest.
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Recommend
sharon
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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worcester county, ma 3 days ago
@AACNY-You don't have a pilot program on eating healthy!! If kids are given the choice they'll eat a bag of
chips a candy bar and wash it all down with a soda. That is why the decision is left to adults, nutritionists and
scientists! I'm absolutely dismayed by the recalcitrance of the Republican party and those who support it. How
ridiculous a nation we have become when we make eating healthy a partisan issue. I remember the CEO of GM,
I believe, was astounded that the republicans managed to make a car!!, the Chevy Volt, into a partisan issue.
Our country is insane. Sarah Palin commented snarkily about sodas and health food when she JOGS and
follows a healthy diet!! The federal government should have a say in how a heavily subsidized program spends
its funds. If this was the Bush administration or Laura Bush advocating for this no one would be batting an eye.
When she promoted reading to and for children no one on the left ranted about how government was trying to
control our lives. Any rational person would agree that it just is possibly a good idea for our children know how
to READ!! Any rational person would agree that our children are dangerously overweight and if we can't
control what they eat at home, we can at least try to control what they eat at school. If Michelle Obama came
out against young children smoking the childish and contrary republicans would be giving out cigarettes and
lighters on the school playground. The agenda is to oppose Obama, nothing less.
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Richard Kimsey
Salt Lake City, Utah 3 days ago
Except for the fact that congress controls the budget and right now is made up of a large number of people who
think the earth was created a few thousand years ago. Breathtaking ignorance, arrogance and stupidity must be
met on all fronts with an appeal to science and fact based methodology, exactly what Mrs. Obama is talking
about. I do not have much hope for a marketing based approach - it is marketing that has packed the trash into
children's lunches. The potato lobby has the ear of congress, not the science community.
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Bruce Gluckman
New York 3 days ago
You enact legislation that would permit the line of least resistance it will be taken. While your
recommendations cannot be faulted, the suggestions are useful for additional appropriations to counteract the
resistance. But try ot get this republican Congress to approve that funding!
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Recommend
Teri
VA 4 days ago
The First Lady's campaign is a positive step in the right direction; however, the issue is not as black & white as
it appears. WIC not allowing white potatoes. White potatoes have some great nutrients, etc. but the argument is
- people are making/buying french fries; thus, making it unhealthy. Well, that can be said with many vegetables.
Cover broccoli with some horrendous fake cheese (which many do) and it is unhealthy. Where do we reign in
the nanny state? The fruits & vegetables mandatory requirement means EVERY kid is served the fruit/vegetable
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of the day. They cannot refuse it. As someone who volunteers in my child's cafeteria, I can assure you the
majority of kids throw it right in the garbage, untouched. A complete waste of food. An unintended
consequence of a good regulation, but the amount of waste is shameful. Perhaps the fruit/vegetable should
always be offered but not forced to reduce this waste. Every regulation has unintended consequences. That does
not mean you throw it out, but maybe find a way to improve it.
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7Recommend
HT
is a trusted commenter Ohio 4 days ago
I am appalled that any responsible adult, much less a school district, would seriously consider not even offering
children a fruit or vegetable with lunch. If you're going to regularly serve meals to children, they should be
healthy ones.
If these school districts are worried about waste, they can do what my children's school does: set out a fruit and
veggie bar. The kids can go back as often as they want until the bar is empty. The school district tweaked the
offerings on the F&V bar to minimize waste, and now my kids complain when they can't get second helpings of
their favorite fruits and vegetables.
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Anne-Marie Hislop
is a trusted commenter Chicago 4 days ago
Exactly. The nay-sayers will chime in about government 'interference' in people's lives. That's bunk. We live in
an inter-related world. One child's obesity and resultant life-long health-care costs effects all of us. Multiply that
child by hundreds of thousands and our society is profoundly effected for decades to come.
Offering children healthier foods instead of low-nutrition, high calorie and fat, and sugars dense foods is a
sensible approach. Not to offer a variety of fruits and veggies simply sabotages the efforts of parents trying to
help their children remain healthy.
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46Recommend
Jeff k
NH 4 days ago
Yes of course it's that simple. And the government should also impose standards prohibiting the consumption of
alcohol and violent literature and such other unhealthy conduct. Right?
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RD
PA 4 days ago
In elementary school? Yes, the government should indeed "impose standards prohibiting the consumption of
alcohol and violent literature." The idea here is to provide healthy food for children while at school. Seems like
a good idea to me and nothing more sinister than that.
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2Recommend
Curious
Anywhere 4 days ago
One wonders why such naysayers worried about interference don't pack lunches for their kids to begin with.
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4Recommend
Wendy
is a trusted commenter New Jersey 4 days ago
This is children we're talking about. Last time I checked, children are not allowed to consume alcohol and there
are parental warnings on violent video games. So yes, the government does have a role in promoting healthy
child development. We're not talking about taking away any adult rights in this situation.
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4Recommend
sallyb
wicker park 60622 4 days ago
Jeff k – we're talking about children here, and most (all?) states already have laws about selling, or giving,
alcohol to minors. (Also, many of us would love to see violent literature, esp. movies, limited to adults.)
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Recommend
NYT Pick
Patrick Stevens
Mn 4 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Allowing fast, fat, carbohydrate loaded food into public schools happened slowly over time, as the food
industry ramped up, and public schools needed to save money in their operating budgets. In the later seventies
and eighties, most public schools suspended their own local, on site meal preparation, and allowed private
corporations to serve their students prepackaged entrees. Most of these new lunch items were loaded with the
high fat, salt, sugar, starch content that the fast food industry has taught Americans to love, and that has
generated huge profits for the industry over the past two generations.
We know the outcome of that movement. We saved a few tax dollars, but we reinforced bad diet behaviors in
our youth. If even the school is serving greasy fries, pizza, and overly sweetened desserts, what parent can say
no at home?
If a couple of years of increased food waste is the cost of turning the tide on American eating habits, then so be
it. The kids can be taught to enjoy a healthy, well prepared diet. The higher cost of medical treatment for obese,
unhealthy adults is our alternative. School districts ought to bite the bullet and reinstitute local dieticians and
food service staff to run their programs.
I continue to hear right wing, tight fisted, mean spirited politicians and commentators complain about our First
Lady and denigrate her movement to try to help America's children lead more healthy lives. Shame on you. Is
money your only motivator?
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acmoreno
Palm Beach FL 4 days ago
We continue to hear from the media and "well-intentioned" liberals that we are somehow both simultaneously
obese and starving. The clarion call goes out in the morning for more school lunch funding for the starving kids
in school districts everywhere, while in the evening we lament the morbidly obese children who need more
healthful alternatives. Which one is it? I realize there is only anecdotal evidence out there, but one merely need
to turn on the news to get these cognitively dissonant views.
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1Recommend
Joe
NYC 4 days ago
"I continue to hear right wing, tight fisted, mean spirited politicians..." - funny, we spend over $14,000 per
student per year in K-12 - more than enough to provide healthy lunches if allocated right. Why don't you ask the
mean spirited teacher's union where all that money goes. You can go to a top tier state college with housing and
an excellent meal plan for that much money.
Or maybe you could look at the Democrat policies that disincentivise work and two parent homes and promote
welfare dependence as a cause of poor nutrition. When people are more well off they tend to eat better. I
know... the truth hurts.
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glenp
atlanta 4 days ago
kids need adequate fats and salt(chloride ion ) for proper brain growth.
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1Recommend
mamarose1900
San Jose, CA 4 days ago
Answer to your final question: Yes.
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Recommend
MN
Michigan 4 days ago
I also watched this change since the 70s with shock and dismay. The school lunches of my childhood in the 50s
were sound - milk was always served, there was fruit for desert. The black bean soup was.....well, we won't talk
about that, but it was only once a week. We should not have allowed private profit-driven food in the schools.
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1Recommend
gametime68
19934 3 days ago
Then ask the over-bloated educational bureaucracy to trim some of those fat middle layers of administration to
free up some of that money for our kids. Levies and property taxes pick the tab for education in America. That's
the problem. Not privatizing the school cafeteria food program. Competition in the market place could easily
solve that if nutritious foods that were convenient and comparable in price. They tend not be either.
So hey, before we get all "it's the corporations' faulty," remember there are solutions: Pack your kids lunches.
Trim the fat from the bloated school bureaucracy to put children first. Go ahead now and call a teacher and
suggest it.
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1Recommend
Bethannm
connecticut 4 days ago
Actually, doctors are fairly clueless on the subject of good nutrition - for example "healthy" whole grains. Most
grains convert to sugar in the body, even whole grains.
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My son briefly attended a school that offered free breakfast. Many what was served up was a diet of sugary
carbs: cereal, French toast, pancakes, maple syrup, orange juice. The healthiest thing he ate while there was
butter.
I agree that federally funded food should not consist of sugars. A diet with sufficient protein and fat, with nonstarchy vegetables can offer good nutrition at a reasonable price.
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13Recommend
JJR
Royal Oak, MI 4 days ago
Your son's breakfast was, indeed, a sugary mess. But your implication that whole grains are unhealthy betrays
incomplete knowledge. Inform yourself further and eat better. Bon appetit!
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3Recommend
Joseph
albany 4 days ago
You are 100% correct.
I eat either eggs, turkey bacon, turkey sausage or plain Greek yogurt with cut-in fruit for breakfast, with a cup
of coffee. Sometimes I drink tomato juice or a V-8. No cereal, no bagels, no pastries, no OJ, and no yogurt with
the gloppy fruit on the bottom. Great way to start the day.
Unfortunately, we have been brainwashed for three decades by the FDA and their ridiculous food pyramid that
fat is bad, and no-fat is good, when in reality, fat is good, and carbs and sugar are bad.
And never forget that "Big Food" (think ADM) has a ton of influence on both parties in Congress.
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3Recommend
AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 4 days ago
Joseph albany:
Unfortunately, we have been brainwashed for three decades by the FDA and their ridiculous food pyramid that
fat is bad, and no-fat is good, when in reality, fat is good, and carbs and sugar are bad.
***
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That food pyramid may well be one of the causes of our obesity epidemic. We'd be better off with an emphasis
on "moderation" or something that emphasizes eating self-discipline (ex., awareness of quantities, frequency,
etc.)
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Recommend
Catdancer
Rochester, NY 4 days ago
Off topic, but the breakfasts I was offered during a recent hospital stay were also sugar-soaked and low in
proteins. How anyone can heal on such food is beyond me. I managed to special order a better breakfast after
the first day, but the default was mostly starch and sugar.
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Recommend
NYT Pick
indie
NY 4 days ago
I always marvel at priorities. For instance, when we found out that asbestos was toxic, we realized that it was an
ingredient in many ordinary products and proceeded at great cost to school districts (billions? more?) and
elsewhere to carefully identify and remove it. How many kids were getting asbestosis and mesothelioma from
school exposure I wonder?
Now we have the same situation with toxic ingredients in the food we serve to the kids but we aren't doing a
thing. Money cannot be spared. How many kids are developing obesity and diabetes from school food I
wonder? Two meals a day.
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181Recommend
Lizabeth
Florida 4 days ago
As a classroom teacher, I can’t for sure say “how many kids are developing obesity and diabetes from school
food,” but I can for sure say how much the junk kids eat at lunch affects their behavior and learning ability
during the school day.
It is disheartening to hear/read comments about Michele Obama’s issue with control (as stated in an opinion
piece in my hometown newspaper,) when what she’s doing is attempting to improve the health of the nation’s
children. How is that controlling and why is that a bad thing?
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Mike
Florida 3 days ago
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The same situation? Excuse me for being logical, but you're quite mistaken. Kids have parents, and they can
send lunch with them! Asbestos was different, the kids really didn't have the choice to being their own oxygen
tanks and masks with them. Maybe parents should be responsible and provide their kids with a healthy lunch
rather than waiting on the government to mandate it.
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3Recommend
brassia
nj 3 days ago
What about the hormones and antibiotics as well as genetically modified foods we are feeding the kids?
That causes more harm than any "unhealthy food"
Guess Michele Obama isn't about to take on a giant like Monsanto foods.
Didn't know she has a degree in nutrition either nor she is an elected official to impose any regulations in the
school cafeteria causing millions of dollars in wasted food not consumed by students.
It is
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Recommend
LSBrew
KC, MO 3 days ago
maybe if you stopped calling the ingredients in our children's food "toxic" and instead use the more descriptive
term "unhealthy" people would take you and your crusade more seriously.
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1Recommend
MIMA
heartsny 4 days ago
There is an old saying "you can't fight city hall" but by golly, Michelle Obama is giving her best.
As a one time school nurse, and Head Start health coordinator, it has done my heart good to see the fight Mrs.
Obama has given for the children of the country. Kids spend a great deal of time in school and it just makes
common sense as they learn the academics they also can learn that nutrition can come naturally in the lunch
room - that is, if they are given the opportunity. They can learn about something as simple as the value of fruits
and vegetables because it is right in front of them, every day.
It is with disgust that Congressional members have been opposed to health of United States citizens on so many
fronts, the ACA for one. But to oppose healthy foods which can benefit children by reducing childhood obesity
does not have any purpose. To decrease the benefits of WIC does not even make sense. WIC's standards have
been around for decades, why do this to innocent babies, toddlers, and mothers? It just goes to show once again
how far out of touch and how far out of care those opponents are.
Showering their ill wishes on children, powerless as to what goes on the school lunchroom table or in the
grocery cart for home, is pretty low. They can't go much lower. Thank you Michelle for trying your best.
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Lou H
NY 4 days ago
Dreaming of the first ex=president's wife to become president ?? Let's talk about Michele Obama. I can dream.
Please, I can dream.
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HDNY
is a trusted commenter New York, N.Y. 4 days ago
Once again, follow the money. It flows from those who would fill American kids with foods that cause obesity,
diabetes, and heart disease straight into the coffers of the Republicans in the House.
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44Recommend
NYT Pick
Peter
VA 4 days ago
Everyday I asked my child what vegetable you have eaten today? When he is back from school this is our
favorite starter line of conversation. He giggles and respond back: 'Carrots'.
I can honestly attest without the law, we would never be able to grow that habit of healthy eating. Let's face it:
how many parent consistent engage healthy eating habits for kids? Kids go to school and spend most of their
time at school, and I think that's the place they should learn not only science or history, they should learn a life
lesson of healthy eating habits.
We all know why congress is trying to rollback this nice piece of legislation, special interest and lobby. Those
vultures are always active, they are bipartisan, they want to sell junk and make profit, at the expense of these
little kids.
To our friends at Congress, please don't be allergic to our First Lady, when they do good things, please support
them!
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235Recommend
mamarose1900
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San Jose, CA 4 days ago
Why not? Parents teach their kids more by example than any other way. I see no reason why parents can't teach
their kids healthy eating by eating that way themselves. It's a cop out of parenting duties to expect schools to
teach everything. Schools should support parent's efforts to teach life skills like healthy eating, good manners,
etc. But they should not be expected to be the main teachers of those things. Parents need to be parents, even if
that means giving up some things you'd rather do. If you're not willing to make the sacrifices demanded of
parents who want to raise competent adults, then you shouldn't have kids.
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3Recommend
Evelyn Johnson
San Ramon 3 days ago
Sure pawn it off on the school. How about we go back to keeping the responsibility of what our kids eat with
the family. Brown bag it folks. It really does not take that much time. Aren't your kids worth it?
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2Recommend
Mike
Florida 3 days ago
"without the law, we would never be able to grow that habit of healthy eating." Are we really that pathetic, that
we must have the government do our parenting for us? We can't get our kids to eat healthy, so we want the
government to mandate it while they watch our kids each day? Are we really willing to give up all
responsibility for raising our children and have an over-blown, bureaucratic system do it for us?
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3Recommend
Crazywater
NC 3 days ago
One million kids have dropped out if the school lunch program because they won't eat the food. The GAO
believes kids are going hungry rather than eat Michelle's awful food alternative. Great job!
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/27/federal-audit-calls-new-...
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1Recommend
Daisy
New York 3 days ago
If you're concerned about what your child eats at school - and see that his lunch is nutritionally inadequate why aren't you making him lunch (or teaching him to make his lunch) to send w/him to school?
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3Recommend
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Woody
Atlanta 3 days ago
Perhaps there should simply be a federal child bearing licensing program. Prospective parents would have to
pass grueling testing requirements covering subjects including childhood nutrition and exercise. To augment
this, we could expand on Mr. Duval's extended school day and make school year round, only allowing children
to remain with their parents at night. The children would undergo regular stool, urine, and blood analysis to
verify that parents are not abusing their children by providing them with any foods that the government deems
unacceptable.
Or we could allow the states or, better yet, counties and municipalities to run the schools and cafeterias
completely. That would have the added benefits of reducing the number of federal government employees,
freeing them to find productive work, and loosening the the federal government stranglehold on its citizens. But
that would be far too sensible.
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2Recommend
EJZimmerman
Chestertown, MD 3 days ago
Same folks who brought you cuts in food stamps. Makes NO difference why you need it...be self-reliant, even
without adequate public education and job training.
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Recommend
Christine Mcmorrow
Waltham, Massachusetts 4 days ago
The fact that a school lunch menu is such a huge issue in Congress is obscene. For Lord's sake, people, there are
so many other important issues to fix in this country and creating a fight over potatoes or making food
guidelines "optional" (whatever that means--everybody with half a brain knows the word "optional" means it
won't get done) seems irresponsible to the beneficiaries of programs designed to benefit kids.
In my opinion, Congress needs to leave nutritionists in charge of the composition of school lunch menus. I can't
imagine Big Food has so much money to burn that their financial support of Congress can dictate food choice...
or am I being naïve? this should be decided by the Department of Health and Human Services, not politicians.
Nothing less than the health of kids is at stake.
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13Recommend
lyndonpeck
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Athens, Georgia 4 days ago
I think you are being completely naïve about the power, and deep pockets, of Big Food.
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7Recommend
Michael
Central Florida 4 days ago
You're being naive.
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6Recommend
Joseph
albany 4 days ago
Thanks partially to the federal government and the FDA, we have been in this obesity mess since the 1980's. I
would not count on HHS to change anything for the better.
This is not rocket science. If you want to slow the epidemic of obesity, the schools should serve nothing that has
more than a few grams of sugar (including all fruit juices, fruit yogurt and energy drinks). Bad carbs (mostly
bread, pizza and pasta, which are cafeteria staples) should be kept to an absolute minimum.
And in terms of the cost of healthcare, other than perhaps dementia, nothing is more important that controlling
the epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Not cancer, not heart diseases, not anything else.
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3Recommend
Sid
New York, NY 4 days ago
I applaud this campaign. As a physician, I tell my patients to avoid adulterated, processed foods (restaurants,
fast food, canned foods, cold cuts, etc) to start. If you want a burger, fine, make it yourself, at home. That way,
they are in more control of what they eat. A lot of patients have difficulty avoiding this junk because it is just so
cheap, and the companies that produce this garbage disproportionately market this junk to the lower
socioeconomic class. How can you tell low income patients to avoid the $0.99 junior bacon cheeseburger, and
start shopping at Whole Foods? Therefore, if WIC can get kids access to healthier options, I'm all for it.
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NYT Pick
Don Duval
North Carolina 4 days ago
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The real cure to childhood obesity would be to extend the school day to 5 PM and restore both physical
education and active arts programs to the school curriculum.
Instead, we cling to a school day built around the anachronistic notion that there are parents waiting at home at
3 PM--and a school calendar that is structured to accommodate the labor needs of family farms that never
existed in urban areas and have all but disappeared from rural America.
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410Recommend
Kate
New York 4 days ago
Here in NY, physical education and the arts are mandated. And, kids don't go to school until 5 pm.
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Recommend
afternoonsand
North Dakota 3 days ago
Most of those who want to extend the school day are not really interested in education but so that they can shift
the cost of child care.to the state. Evidence is mounting that in the United States year round schooling is also not
having the same effect as other countries. The reasons are numerous but it does not work.
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2Recommend
Chris
Mars 4 days ago
Why not start school at 6am and end at 8pm. We can serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and control their
mandatory play time with approved diverse group or fellow students. A snack of rice cakes or carrots could be
allowed once during the day. An approved TV show could be shown at 7pm as long as it portrays at least 1
same sex couple.
Parents will be allotted 1 hour with their children from 8 until 9pm but it is then mandatory bed time.
I mean, this is for children's health. The newest of all the new third rails. Only very mean people could be
against children's health.
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3Recommend
gametime68
19934 3 days ago
No the liberals want to control it your and your child's entire lives. It's not enough to suggest and fund what we
can to achieve healthy results. With liberals it has to be all or nothing.
Let's look at that bloated middle layer of administrative costs at our local schools. Can some of that money be
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freed up to help offeset the costs of locally sourced healthy convenience foods for our cafeterias?
School is one meal a day. The other two should be eaten at home. What do the kids grab when they get in from
school? I guarantee its probably not a granola bar. Want a guarantee about your kids nutritious lunch at school?
Pack it yourself. I did for 12 years - oh and that was 30 years ago before Michelle Obama learned how to lecture
anyone about anything.
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2Recommend
Randall Reed
Charleston SC 4 days ago
The school day starts at 7:00 AM for many children and it is nonstop until 2:00 or 3:00 PM. Many of these
children attend before- and aftercare programs, so their time at school can easily approach 11 or 12 hours each
day. I can assure you that at the end of each normal 6-hour teaching day, the students and teachers are spent;
they have given it a full measure for that day. Children are not adult workers! Comparing them to factory
workers is just as anachronistic as your farm worker analogy. Today's classrooms are intense, even at the lowest
grade levels. Classroom teachers are exhorted to teach "bell-to-bell" in every class, every day. There is no slack.
Extended day schedules in some urban school districts is a "Hail Mary" effort to "catch up" academically to
their suburban neighbors. The jury is still very much out as to whether extended days--and increased mental and
physical fatigue--can be justified using authentic assessment measures of academic performance.
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4Recommend
Jennifer C
Silver Spring MD 4 days ago
Yes, restoring more physical ed in schools would help, but there can be no "real cure" without addressing food
intake. It's fantasy to think otherwise.
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2Recommend
Rebecca L
Los Angeles 3 days ago
I can't believe a suggestion to extend the school day to 5 p.m. has 144 "likes"! The very *last* thing kids need
to be healthy (and productive) is more time in school. They need less time sitting, less homework, less screen
time, and a lot more time playing, creating, and exploring. Otherwise, we're creating a nation of drones who can
take multiple choice tests, follow directions, and accomplish little else.
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5Recommend
james
flagstaff 3 days ago
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I hope you're prepared to pay the taxes to pay the teachers to play parents for another two hours a day. I think
it's a fine idea, but it will cost money.
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1Recommend
Concerned MD
Pennsylvania 4 days ago
The main diet culprit in childhood obesity is sugar. Unless the adults in a child's life provide a healthy diet
'environment', the attempts to decrease the incidence of obesity (and its associated fatty liver, type 2 diabetes,
etc.) are doomed to failure and our society will be paying severely for it.
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9Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
The soda industrys makes 2 billion a year off of food stamps. Just banning regular soda, sugary juice, candy
bars and ice cream to be bought with food stamps would go a long way to helping lower obesity.
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2Recommend
RS
Philly 4 days ago
If the lady did some due diligence she would quickly find out that massive, and I mean staggering, quantities of
these obamameals are being thrown out at our school cafeterias each day.
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4Recommend
NYT Pick
gayle
milwaukee 4 days ago
Speaking as a "lunch lady", I can say that when the new guidelines for whole grains and fruit and vegetable
requirements were rolled out, the kids at my middle school weren't happy. But, they have now adjusted to whole
grain rolls for sandwiches and whole grain crust for pizza. It all gets eaten. Some kids do throw away their fresh
apple or orange, most eat them. It's a slow process, because some may not get the fresh fruit and vegetables at
home. But school should be a place where all their food choices are healthy ones. We'll get there.
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DR
New England 4 days ago
Prove it. Then prove to us that it's better for kids to be eating large quantities of junk food.
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15Recommend
GG
New WIndsor, NY 4 days ago
So "Obamameals" are school lunches which serve Whole grains, veggies and fruit? Good on them. Are GOP
Meals Pizza, Soda, and Candy then?
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17Recommend
Zejee
New York 4 days ago
I think it's very funny that healthy meals for children are called Obamameals. What do we call junk food meals?
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13Recommend
Mike
Florida 3 days ago
By definition, if you only offer one type of food, it's not food "choice." What choice is there? I agree that kids
should have healthy choices, along with goods they like. Government mandates never allow for balance. Maybe
parents should exercise some responsibility for their own kids' lunches? How terrible of me to even suggest
such a thing, I know.
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4Recommend
Adam Gantz
Michigan 4 days ago
I'm disappointed, but not surprised, to see Mrs. Obama come off as weak as her husband and fellow Democrats,
and hurt my party's cause in the process. When you blame "Congress" and "the House of Representatives"
instead of Republicans, it creates a false equivalency that feeds into Republican efforts to get average people to
throw up their hands, give up on politics, and stop voting, leaving only the rabid religious right to vote for
Republican candidates.
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11Recommend
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sallyb
wicker park 60622 4 days ago
You make a good point, but Mrs Obama probably doesn't want to fan the flames of partisanship. Dems in
Congress need to take up her argument and fight against those GOP bills.
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1Recommend
J Burkett
Austin, TX 4 days ago
Bravo to you, Mrs. O, for heightening public awareness on this issue and the importance of our making healthy
food choices. Your message, coupled with frightening facts laid bare as to our over-sugarfication in the Katie
Couric/Laurie David film, "Fed Up", belong in every American family's conversation. As statistics make clear,
this is literally a matter of life and death. Which makes all the more infuriating finding example after example
of how those in the party that falsely lays claim to 'family values' mock your efforts and ignore indisputable
data.
Keep at it. Reasonable people applaud your efforts.
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38Recommend
Springtime
Boston 4 days ago
Those who complain about the creation of a "nanny state" don't have young children. Kids need people to care
for them. Our country has permitted corporations to twist our values so that we don't know who we are anymore
or who we care about. Sadly, this greed fest has invaded parenthood as well. Parents are under seige. They are
holding strong as the great wall of morality and decency in fighting for the hearts and minds of their children.
However, they can't do it all. We need government to be strong as well, to provide decent food at school. Hard
working parents and children deserve this kind of support.
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42Recommend
John Michel
South Carolina 4 days ago
Thanks Mrs. Obama for trying to help our malnourished children get better nutrition. It is pretty hard for them
to eat right when parents aren't around the house to make sure they do so. The adults are a problem. The huge
food companies are also a problem. They are getting very rich off the nutritional abuse of a totally gullible
public. Also, the stock market will suffer the effects of any serious reduction in the sheer amount of junk the
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public stuffs down its throat. Health providers stand to lose too if the public gets healthier, so it may be best to
just say that "by the year 2035 we will have reduced the amount of bad substances that people eat by 18.5% or
something like that.
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4Recommend
Lisa Zullig
4 days ago
Thank you Michele Obama and those who keep our children's health and well-being in the forefront. Every
child deserves access to real food at school. Not only does this enable them to learn and grow but it builds
healthy habits to last a lifetime. This is the only way to turn the tide on diet related chronic illness and build a
healthier future. Thank you for doing this important work.
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11Recommend
NYT Pick
Lucille Hollander
Texas 4 days ago
As a former school nurse who volunteered for lunch duty, I can say that this school lunch issue is more complex
than it seems.
Many schools have decreased or eliminated recess and physical education may only be on the student's schedule
a few times a week so the children have pent up energy which explodes at lunch time and it is a madhouse.
To make matters worse, the deep budget cuts to schools means there is often woefully inadequate monitoring at
lunchtime, the few teacher's aids available are often used elsewhere.
With no break or recess, students want to run and play and socialize when they get to the cafeteria, at the
expense of eating.
Often with only one person to monitor hundreds of children, plainly the foremost issue on that person's agenda
will be student safety, not nutrition.
As a result the students talk instead of eat, and I would see many, many lunches thrown away almost untouched,
and whole fruits that take time to eat hit the trash can in droves.
My point about the complexity of the school lunch issue is whether fruits and vegetables are optional or
mandatory, the budget cuts to schools and resulting lack of recess/physical education and lack of personnel to
monitor lunchtimes means that those healthy foods are ending up in the garbage can.
I thank Mrs. Obama for her efforts, and if these other budget based issues are addressed, healthy lunches that
have an opportunity to be actually consumed will make a positive difference to our children.
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AB
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Maryland 4 days ago
Mrs. Obama can't make Congress or local municipalities do their jobs by properly and fully funding schools.
That's our job as citizens. But Americans--your neighbors--don't want to pay taxes, so school programs are cut.
Maybe if we were as passionate about school budgets and voting for pro-school politicians as Mrs. Obama is
about healthy lunches, we'd see a restoration of art, music, and physical education programs.
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1Recommend
Lucille Hollander
Texas 4 days ago
There was no implication that Mrs. Obama has any responsibility for funding, rather a description of how such
cuts can ultimately affect more than one would think, including school lunches.
I too would like to see art and music and physical education restored, all three have benefits that far exceed just
the concrete knowledge gained.
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1Recommend
lynda
philly 4 days ago
What "deep budget cuts" are you talking about? Cities like Philly/Chicago have misused, wasted, NOT
collected property taxes, paid off unions (retirement/pensions), paid off democrat candidates/politicians
liberal/socialist/democraid only to tow the party line. Democrats overwhelmingly lie where school funds go,
waste it, lie about it. Also, wasn't the lottery supposed to fund schools?
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2Recommend
chyllynn
Alberta 3 days ago
I noticed the need for socialization over food at lunch 20 years ago when my kids were in elementary grades. I
made the suggestion that they go outside for the "lunch break" first and then come in to eat. By then the need for
fuel would likely outweigh the need to move and talk. It seems like an easy step to at least try, but it never was.
Further, for those really needing food before the outside time, why not allow them to take fruit out with them.
Then even if the "trash" wasn't properly disposed of it would not be as big a problem.
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1Recommend
mmp
Ohio 3 days ago
Parents need as much or more education on healthful eating as do their children. After all, it is the parents who
have the power.
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William
Minnesota 4 days ago
At every turn, the Republican-controlled House will ram through every "conservative value" and block every
liberal initiative. Since conservative values favor the more fortunate in society, and, beyond a few political
soundbites, are unconcerned about the less fortunate, there is little hope that the House will change its stripes,
their gerrymandered control continuing long into the political night. Neither compassion nor scientific findings
about food or anything else can make a dent in their cherished conservative values.
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8Recommend
sallyb
wicker park 60622 4 days ago
GOP values = profits. It appears they do not care if kids are healthy, the goal is not to do anything that might cut
into the profits of mfgrs' of corn syrup or any highly processed foods. They do not care if the only thing a child
has for lunch is a bag of cheese puffs & a can of pop, because there's money to be made, much more than can be
made from the sale of an apple.
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2Recommend
sophiequus
New York, NY 4 days ago
Mrs. Obama has taken on an industry fraught with special interests and ignorance with tremendous dignity and
restraint. The science is clear. Moving past knee-jerk ideology and congressional obstructionism is not.
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16Recommend
Carol S.
Philadelphia 4 days ago
Not only do "our children deserve so much better than this," WE deserve so much better than this. When a
society's children are obese, sick and unproductive, the society declines. Ultimately, the decisions that
seemingly only hurt "other people" come back to bite all of us in the back. And the healthy food issue is not the
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only one where a short-sighted approach works against all of us in the end. Thank you, Mrs. Obama, for taking
a stand in support of both science and common sense. More of us need to pay attention and speak up before this
nonsense overwhelms us.
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16Recommend
rini10
is a trusted commenter huntingdon valley, PA 4 days ago
Thank you, Michelle, for your work. The perspective of time will not be flattering to this congress and the more
that you fight them, the more you know that you are on the right side of history.
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22Recommend
Brad
Richmond, VT 4 days ago
People need good health to climb out of poverty. They get neither growing up on junk food, while society foots
the many costs that ensue. Let's get Big Food and its Big Money out of politics and, most of all, away from the
well-being of our kids. A couple of good ways to start would be to cut off taxpayer-funded subsidies to the huge
sugar industry, and passage of a Constitutional amendment stating the obvious: Corporations are not people and
money is not speech.
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17Recommend
NYT Pick
Marilyn Delson
Finger Lakes, NY 4 days ago
I remember when Reagan's administration declared ketchup would qualify as a vegetable in school lunches. I
think the Republican House Committee on nutrition is dastardly in wanting to shortchange needy children. How
to they sleep at night? That said, I also know that schoolchildren dump a lot of "good for you" food into garbage
cans. Why? I think that school cooks don't know how to cook anything other than junk food - frozen/freeze
dried/canned - because that is what they know and it's easier to cook that way when such a high volume of food
has to be prepared each day. Fresh, raw food preparation requires imagination, experience, and is labor
intensive. School cooks don't make much money. It is natural to resent changes coming from "on high". So,
there is a cultural problem, and there is a waste problem, and there is a communication problem. Are you
listening Mrs. Obama?
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Sully
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Boston 4 days ago
Hmm. And I remember when the Clinton Admin classified Salsa as a vegetable. Which, is basically thick
ketchup.
Should we really be spending money turning schools into caterers in lieu of, say, teaching how to read cursive?
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Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
Sully - When salsa is made properly it consists of nothing but vegetables and herbs.
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3Recommend
EJZimmerman
Chestertown, MD 3 days ago
Those without conscience sleep very well, thank you. That's the problem. You can't shame them.
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2Recommend
LSBrew
KC, MO 3 days ago
"The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1980,[1] signed into law by President Jimmy Carter, reduced the Federal
School Lunch and Child Nutrition Programs budget by approximately eight percent."
The Ketsup as a vegatable proposal came from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and
Nutrition Service (FNS) regulations, early in the presidency of Ronald Reagan, that intended to provide more
flexibility in meal planning to local school lunch administrators coping with National School Lunch Plan
subsidy cuts enacted by the Omnibus Regulation Acts of 1980 and 1981.[1][2] The regulations allowed
administrators the opportunity to credit items not explicitly listed that met nutritional requirements. While
ketchup was not mentioned in the original regulations...
Since Reagan wasn't behind this what are you going to do now? Blame Bush?
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1Recommend
Dan Wafford
Brunswick, GA 4 days ago
Last time I looked, this was America, land of the FREE. Will ALL parents, EVERY TIME, choose the best
food for their children? No, but they try to strike a balance between their kids' desires and their needs - the same
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struggle that every human being faces every day. It's not up to you or anyone else to force people to feed their
children the way you, in your high and mighty personal opinion, think they should be fed.
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3Recommend
HT
is a trusted commenter Ohio 4 days ago
No one is forcing a parent to feed their children anything. Buying lunch at school is optional -- if you don't want
your kid to eat the lunches served at school then send a bag lunch.
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13Recommend
Terry Malouf
Boulder CO 4 days ago
The problem with that attitude, Mr. Wafford, is that WE ALL PAY FOR OBESITY!
How about my right NOT to have to pay for exorbitant health care costs for obese children, who then go on to
become obese parents and spend DECADES taking up health care resources that could be easily avoided by
setting kids on the right track?
This is Corporate America pushing the agenda in Congress to get cheap, non-nutritious, and processed foods
back into our kids' diet. Or, do you think that Corporate America has YOUR best interests at heart? Land of the
free-ride…for corporate interests, not yours and mine.
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4Recommend
Jane Meyers
San Diego 4 days ago
But, it is up to our public schools to serve healthy food to the children who walk in every day. And it is not up
to you or me, or any citizen to promote obesity and childhood diabetes in our schools in any state in this
country. Parents can send a lunch with their child if they want the child to have other food.
As a country, as a people, we need to provide for our children so that they can learn in a safe, healthy, and
pristine environment. I remember learning about good nutrition at school. Did you?
All the children in the country deserve the best education in our public schools. Every family has the right to
provide food that is not healthy at home and in the food they send to school. So if that's what you want, go for
it!
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3Recommend
Joseph
albany 4 days ago
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It's not about forcing anything. It's about educating parents so they know what is healthy and what is not
healthy. How many parents know that eggs are healthy, and 99% fat-free fruit yogurt is not healthy? A fairly
small percentage because we have been brainwashed into thinking that fat is bad. Once everyone is educated,
they are free to make whatever choice they want. But that day is not even close to coming.
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3Recommend
Curious
Anywhere 4 days ago
Then those parents can choose to pack lunches for their kids.
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4Recommend
Steph
Florida 4 days ago
So you're for allowing children to make their own decisions on cigarettes, alcohol and other things? Your vision
of "land of the FREE" would seem so. This isn't a case of force feeding, it's offering better food options to our
children. Kid who get better nutrition are healthier and perform better in school and life. We are all better as a
country when this happens.
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2Recommend
NYT Pick
Jim Brennan
Canada 4 days ago
Pizza sauce is not necessarily bad. We make sauce with garden vegetables and herbs. Regardless of name every
dish can be made with inferior quality products. Industrial foods with little nutritional value generally do not
support local economies so are even worse than they appear. It takes extra effort to make food from local, raw
ingredients. I wonder where schools could possibly find all those extra hands to produce healthy food for those
who will never once have the creative notion of preparing it themselves. Serving local healthy food prepared by
students seems to have at least three advantages, albeit with the associated cost of corporate political currency.
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37Recommend
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Kathy Mast
Sacramento ca 4 days ago
You might make your pizza sauce with tomatoes and herbs, but Kraft etc, add tons of sugar, and salt. Read the
labels. But isn't this what it all comes down to? how many people really know what's in the jar/can? In
California we had the opportunity in 2012 to force the food industry to add ALL ingredients to their labels
including GMO's. The industry was relentless in the amount of money put into commercials against the
proposition. Like the oil industry that is afraid (?) of renewables and the infrastructure change they would
involve, the food industry is afraid of 'retooling' their product. Sugar, fat, and salt are cheap.
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2Recommend
Jim Brennan
Canada 3 days ago
With their buying power schools should not have to purchase much food requiring labels; fresh vegetables for
example. A little more cooking, a little less shopping (to paraphrase) goes a long way in making healthy food
and richer community life. Teaching the next generation of parents about food would benefit future
generations...something about a fish as I recall.
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1Recommend
Mark
Hartford 4 days ago
The sauce on the store shelf is between 4% and 5% sugar.
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2Recommend
HB
Boston, MA 3 days ago
Why have raw vegetables instead of pizza sauce as a "vegetable": The point is to retain the flavor, fiber and
vitamins in the vegetables. Serving raw vegetables is the best way to do this. The fiber makes the vegetables
filling so that the children will not look for high-calorie foods after consuming the vegetables.
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The pizza sauce may be high quality as a sauce, but it is missing the fiber, and the vitamins have been cooked
out of it.
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1Recommend
ddmyers
Reno, NV 3 days ago
Whoa! Ask students to prepare food in a kitchen? The health dept. will be on you right away and the union will
yell that use of students undermines union workers. I would agree with you that students preparing food would
be a learning experience but it's not going to happen.
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1Recommend
FilmMD
New York 4 days ago
That movie "Fed Up" is right: if a foreign country attempted to manipulate our children's behavior and pull their
strings in order to extract wealth from them, like the Big Food corporations are doing right now, we would go to
war.
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14Recommend
James
Kearneysville, WV 4 days ago
Sadly, we already do go to war, to do just what the Big Food Corporations are doing to our children. Corporate
profits, bank profits come first.
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3Recommend
RAP
Connecticut 4 days ago
Dear Ms. Obama, It's must be tough to put "children's interests first" when the parenting is done by a single
parent, holding 2, sometimes 3, low paying jobs just to pay the rent, buy food and bring up children.
I applaud your efforts and find despicable those who would put business interests before the well being of all
American children. That being said, it is high time for the United States to resolve the root problems of
inequality and it's brother, poverty. As long as there are parents as described in my first sentence, the issues of
poor education, poor eating habits and poor outlooks for the future will dog us as long as this country exists.
Solving these basic issues will be accomplished, I believe, when the two, ruling parties set aside their "rhetoric"
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and co-operate on a fair and just plan to help those who need it most.
Until then, "Twinkies" will be a source of whole grain and "Ketchup", as in the Reagan days, will be considered
a vegetable.
Thank you for helping bring light on this issue and thank you for eloquently stating the facts in your column.
Let us hope your last line concerning our leaders in Washington becomes a reality.
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18Recommend
Mike789
Jacksonville, FL 4 days ago
You see, if we feed the kids healthy food, they may get healthier minds and ideas of their own, especially
concerning their own health. Can't have that. They'll grow up to be competitors . Controlling the cloning
process is essential to preserving the status quo. That GI-Bill educated too many. They became recalcitrant.
That tuition scam is fixing that, but we have to do more. Everybody on the sugar-coated, American
exceptionalism bandwagon and pledge allegiance to the Republic that we've bought so that we have an
underclass to fill the ranks defending our multi-national interests and buying our cost inflated products. Feed
that money cow and milk it early. Like giving candy to a baby, eh, boys. Gotta think of the future.
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16Recommend
Michael
Central Florida 4 days ago
If you can, see the movie "Fed Up" and stay through the whole thing. Very depressing and insulting to the US
consumer, family, and government, all of whom deserve it.
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7Recommend
Joseph
albany 4 days ago
The parents and schools have no idea what is healthy and what is not healthy. The best example is orange juice.
It is no healthier than having a can of Coke with a vitamin supplement - they are both sugar water that make you
fat. Ask 100 parents if they think OJ is a healthy drink; 90% will say yes. So for those who dislike what Mrs.
Obama is trying to do with education, I guess you have no problem having your kids drinking OJ/sugar water.
I have libertarian tendencies, but I am sick and tired of this obesity epidemic that really could be stopped. You
rarely saw hideously overweight people back in the 1970's. Unfortunately, Mrs. Obama's encouragement will
mean nothing unless we totally un-brainwash Americans from the total lies and fabrications that have been
promulgated by the FDA and "Big Food" for decades.
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And could we please stop marketing "low-fat" cookies, which are loaded with carbs and sugar?
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14Recommend
John
Philadelphia 4 days ago
The problem is a one size fits all, top down government mandated solution. You don't want your kids not to
drink OJ then have em drink whatever you want. I'll raise my family how I see fit now how you, the Obama's or
any one else does.
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1Recommend
ladyonthesoapbox
New York 4 days ago
I agree with you about the OJ and "low-fat" cookies but that's not even on the table here. The school lunch
menus had sugar, salt and fat removed which puts the food more in the realm of real food which costs more than
industrialized edibles. Real food does cost more but the richest country in the world should pay their farmers
more and perhaps those who turn real food into stuff with added fats, salts and sugars to say nothing of the
chemicals, less.
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2Recommend
Pete
Philly 4 days ago
At our school district, the food Vendor who serves school lunches across america was complaining that the
government was interfering with the students' right to eat what they want. In a Public School Board meeting,he
complained that his dietitians were trying to lower the calories in the Pizza his company provides. The School
Administration backed him! Further, they told the students in attendance that this was a good lesson for them to
learn; The Government was interfering in their lives. How disappointing. We have Plenty of work to do in
fighting this type of ignorance. In the meantime, the teenagers will waddle to school as their cholesterol, Blood
pressure and glucose levels rocket.
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4Recommend
M.
New Jersey 4 days ago
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Good luck battling corn. Or gas-based vehicles. Or coal-based power. Or any other vested interest in our
quickly antiquated infrastructure for the production of food, power, and transportation. America the Has Been.
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4Recommend
Doug M
Chesapeake, VA 4 days ago
Republican congress members seek to allow school nutrition standards to be optional to save cost and increase
"freedom". That sounds reasonable until you measure the true cost of such a proposal. Lower costs at the source
do not inevitably translate to lower costs overall. The savings are the payment for a tsunami of disease to come.
Think back ten years when we were told the Iraq and Afghanistan wars would be a cakewalk and would pay for
themselves. Today, in the shadow of another Memorial Day, we are beginning to understand the true cost of
these conflicts, US$3T and counting.
I would have hoped we could have learned the lesson of the difference between a tactic and a strategy.
Thank you, Mrs. Obama, for speaking truth to power.
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10Recommend
Lake Woebegoner
Minnesota 4 days ago
It's no different than schooling, folks. You can lead the kids to what's good for them, but you can't make them
drink or eat.
We live in a busier world today with too many other choices for us and our kids, and no time to focus on
healthy reforms.
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1Recommend
NYT Pick
ladyonthesoapbox
New York 4 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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I was lucky in that I could send my children to school with a nutritious breakfast and know they would come
home to a balanced dinner with vegetables included. But it did set back my cause that so much junk was served
at their school. A pretzel was considered a lunch!!! The fact that the school served it and their peers were eating
eat condoned it. My kids would walk through the door on vapors -- exhausted from such an unbalanced, measly
meal. It makes me feel badly for children who miss a good breakfast and/or dinner, too.
We need healthy school lunches. Let's invest in the future of America.
Thank you, Mrs. Obama for your great work.
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145Recommend
Katy
New Brunswick, NJ 4 days ago
I'm totally pulling this one out of thin air, but is making a lunch your kid takes to school really that difficult? I
guess you deserve credit for giving them breakfast; apparently sometime in the past 10 years, some parents
consider that optional!
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2Recommend
ladyonthesoapbox
New York 4 days ago
Yes. It takes a lot of time and money to make lunch for 3 kids and I think it's not too much to ask for the schools
to serve a healthy lunch. (Funny, that the more is expected of women, that even more is expected of women.)
BTW, when I was a kid, maybe mothers ( I would say parents, but really, who's kidding who) packed unhealthy
lunches for their kids (i.e. fluffernutters and twinkies).
With more people falling from the middle class, is it too much to ask for our schools to serve our children real
(healthy) food.
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1Recommend
Mike
Florida 3 days ago
It wasn't luck that allowed you to do that. It was a choice. You made a good choice, prioritized your money to
buying them good food instead of wasting your money on the lottery and cigs each month. Good for you! Now
let's try to convince other parents to do the same without the government mandating what kids eat.
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1Recommend
James
Kearneysville, WV 4 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Michelle Obama made a statement 3 years ago. She stated that the obesity epidemic in America began 30 years
before. Now, today, if we look back at the events 33 years ago, we find that Ronald Reagan was sworn in as
President of the United States. His first act as President was to fire the FDA director.
The FDA had rejected a certain toxic chemical artificial sweetener 7 times as unfit for human consumption. The
chemical, known as aspartame, is now in almost 7,000 foods and beverages in this country. The newly
appointed FDA director remained in office for about 2 and one half months. During that time, he approved
aspartame for human consumption. We now have a list of almost 100 diseases caused by aspartame
consumption, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, massive weight gain, blood cancers, dementia and
Alzheimer's disease. This chemical is now in all chewing gums, heavily utilized by our children and many
adults.
The American Dairy Association has recently requested that they be allowed to put aspartame in all U.S. milk
products without listing aspartame on the milk label.
I have seen family and friends gain 50 to 90 pounds a year after switching to diet products with aspartame.
Michelle needs to stand strong against our do nothing Congress and continue to protect our children from
corporate predators.
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7Recommend
Joseph
albany 4 days ago
There is absolutely no concrete evidence that aspartame causes any of the illnesses you mention. On the other
hand, it is 100% certain that it is excess sugar (and carbs) that are responsible for our obesity and diabetes
epidemic.
The best thing to drink is water, but if you have to have soda, I would drink diet soda over sugary soda any day.
I'm a diet soda addict 55 years old, 6'1'' and 170 lbs. I lost 20 lbs. by cutting out carbs and sugar.
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3Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
Your data is not accurate. Diabetes and obesity have been rising since refined sugars and flours were introduced
a hundred years ago. They have been skyrocketing since the big soda companies got food stamps to pay for
their products. I would really do some research into how many people have diabetes and how many die from it
or diabetes related illnesses. Refined sugars are the real bad guys.. not aspartame!
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1Recommend
James
Kearneysville, WV 3 days ago
I have met a few persons like yourself, whom did not gain weight with aspartame use. The science says only
85% of those consuming aspartame gain weight. I have provided two links, one includes a 94 minute film on
aspartame and a list of some of the over 90 diseases associated with aspartame, with an explanation on how it
causes weight gain. I do not deny that sugar causes weight gain and is a poison.
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http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/29/sweet-mise...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/04/16/aspartame-...
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1Recommend
James
Kearneysville, WV 3 days ago
I have worked in a medical field with diabetics for the past 42 years. We see many patients giving up products
with aspartame and telling us that their blood sugars have come down over 200 points. This is common and they
also
lose 20 pounds on average, the first two weeks. We have other patients with blood sugars in the mid 100's with
their diabetes meds, but their A1c readings are still very high in the 10-14 range, until they stop using aspartame
and then it will come down to the 6-7 range.
Not many children drink coffee, but with the adult diabetic patients who have their retinas examined for diabetic
retinopathy, 99% of them with diabetic disease in the eye consume 'coffee creamer' (hydrogenated oil) with
their coffee. The body cannot metabolize the trans fats and the bad oil blocks the circulation to the eyes, causing
stokes in the eyes or blindness over time.
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1Recommend
Andrew
VA 4 days ago
While nutritionist and doctors debate science, and politicians and their wives debate public policy, the real
question the citizenry of our United States must ask is one of responsibility.
We are all responsible to ourselves for ourselves, and we must question what responsibility the Federal
government has to the health and nutrition of the children in our schools. We must first understand that the
children do not belong to society, but their parents and therefore are under the direct authority and responsibility
of their parents who are charged with the great task and responsibility of preparing their children for adulthood.
One can reasonably deduct that the primary weight of responsibility in regards to the nutritional decisions a
child faces is not left to political pundits, but rather engaged parents. Just as states and school board set
curriculum and budgets, they with input from parents, can reasonably set the nutritional guidelines for children
in public schools. Do parents really need the government in order to set sound nutritional doctrine for their
children?
Thomas Jefferson imagined the United States as a great agrarian society with farms and food being abundant for
all Americans as we reaped the blessings of liberty sowed by those who shed blood preserving the freedoms we
enjoy today. Parents and schools can be empowered to make decisions for themselves and their children, but
ultimately they should have the freedom and responsibility decide.
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1Recommend
DR
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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New England 4 days ago
Taxpayers end up picking up the tab for a lot of obesity related illnesses. If we're paying for it, we have a right
to weigh in on it (no pun intended).
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1Recommend
sharon
worcester county, ma 4 days ago
Laura Bush advocated that our children read. There was no left wing scream fest about government control and
forcing us to READ!! No, Laura Bush was commended for her efforts. Sarah Palin campaigned on soda!!! The
right is opposed to this program because it is being proposed by a Democrat, and an African American one at
that. When I was in school in the mid 70's there were no junk food dispensers. While we were allowed to bring
in "junk food" from home we were not allowed to purchase it at school. We were also not allowed to bring soda
from home onto the school premises. I don't see many obese children in my yearbook photos. We need to
control what our children eat. They are not responsible enough to make this decision on their own. If a child is
sent to school with lunch money he shouldn't be able to spend it on candy bars and soda from a vending
machine when the parent is not there to supervise the child's choice. Many of us control what junk our children
are exposed to in our homes. We should be able to control what they eat in school as well while being able to
allow them to have a hot nutritious lunch rather than a cold, soggy sandwich brought from home. Our children
are dangerously overweight. It's time to face this fact and do something about it. Children should be taught
proper nutrition. If the parents are unable or unwilling to provide this info then it is up to the public sphere to
provide it. The future of our nation's health and economy is dependent on it.
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6Recommend
Great Lakes State
Michigan 4 days ago
Dear First Lady Michelle,
Public schools may be reporting one better outcomes for food service, but having worked just recently as a
substitute teacher for three consecutive school years, my observations do not align with this statement. I have
witnessed very little in terms of fresh, non processed foods in every school district. It seems to me that just
about anything can be labeled whole grain, but truly this is absurd. I would produce a menu that serves the
basics. Cook and bake from scratch, and include potatoes, baked potatoes, with butter, salt and pepper.
Eliminate the chips, soda/fruit juice machines. Always allow and promote a morning snack for all students with
water, no juice or milk at snack-time. Do not sell chips, or like foods, whole grain corn chips are the exception.
Push nuts, and let us move beyond this business of nut allergies, we ate nuts out of the shell all my life growing
up, and in fact picked black walnuts from the ground walking to kindergarten in the early sixties.
The perversion of our food supply can be laid at the feet of Kraft, Nestle & other companies who are bent on
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using society for ill gained profit. One more thing, people should be walking to destinations, including your
children, you, President Obama, and all members of Congress, and the Supreme Court. Lead by example, we
will all feel better about ourselves and society. Outside air, using our limbs instead of a motor to move from
place to place always makes individuals feel better.
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1Recommend
NYT Pick
quix
Pelham NY 4 days ago
As a former teacher who used to watch kids buy gummy bears with their lunch money, I applaud the recent
efforts of enlightened communities to restrict sugar based items in the cafeteria. Not to be outdone, vendors
have discovered the illusion of health in sports drinks, pop tarts and other kid- centered nouveau sweets, but we
are trending toward better choices. That the representatives of the people see their stewardship as defending
profits over nutrition is sad and that the attack dogs are feverishly burning energy to discredit Michelle Obama's
gracious work leaves me disappointed in the education of elected leaders who defy and deny science.
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139Recommend
anthony weishar
Fairview Park, OH 4 days ago
As a parent I was always amazed at the mix of starch, sugar (corn syrup), sodium and chemicals that was being
passed off as food for school children. The first lady is correct in limiting the amount of potatoes in school
lunches. By definition, a starchy tuber, it is a carbohydrate bomb. One serving contains a child's full day
requirement for carbs. We need more healthy reforms, like you must be 18 or older to buy fast food. Karl Rove
and Chris Christie are the poster boys for the Republican notion of a healthy diet.
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1Recommend
Phyllis Mazik
Stamford, Conn. 4 days ago
From 1977-1998 I witnessed junk food and poor lunches served at public schools. How can we wonder why
there is so much drug use when children's bodies crave nutrients but the children turn to other substances? How
can children learn well in school when they are poorly fed? We spend a fortune on education but squander
everything when a child is not nourished properly.
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1Recommend
Maud St James
Texas 4 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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And what business are our children of hers or, for that matter, the government's? What children eat is the
responsibility of the parents - no one else's. Government and Mrs. Obama (an unelected and unqualified person)
have no business in deciding what children eat. Children are the responsibility solely of their parents.
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3Recommend
Mark
NY 4 days ago
The constitution? "Promote the general welfare".
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3Recommend
DR
New England 4 days ago
Way to miss the point. We're talking about school lunches, when kids are at school their parents aren't there.
I notice that many comments like yours come from red states with poor health stats and high rates of obesity.
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3Recommend
BobDR
Boston, MA 4 days ago
The problem is we don't understand basic nutrition. We think we do but if we really did people would be much
healthier and could lose weight easily. The only thing we are left with is eating what taste good which puts on
weight quickly. I look at my close relatives and most live into their 90s and pay little attention to diet??? M
Obama is not qualified to push any particular agenda. Until we know parents should rear their children not the
State.
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1Recommend
DLP
Brooklyn, New York 4 days ago
I'm sure Michelle Obama began Let's Move with the finest motives, but as the film Fed Up clearly points out,
she HAS caved to the food industry. I have to wonder if this OpEd is a direct reaction to the film, which
portrayed her not only in a negative light, but came close to ridiculing her by using multiple clips of her with
bold graphics displaying what has actually not been achieved, and where we are in terms of food consumption,
health, childhood obesity and so on.
•
Recommend
rebecca1048
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Iowa 4 days ago
I see nothing wrong with allowing mothers to purchase white potatoes through WIC. Me doubts (giggle)
potatoes are responsible for our childhood obesity rates --- try fast-food burgers, nachos and cheese-laden
pizzas, first, and leave the humble potato alone. And, why on earth would we make school lunches less healthy?
They should have been healthy to begin with - making them less healthy says much about those in Congress.
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Recommend
Eliot W. Collins
Raritan Borough, NJ 4 days ago
When I was a kid growing up in the 50's and 60's, there were quite a few fat kids. Now that I am in my sixties, I
see even more people my age who are fat as well. Face it, we are a fat country. It's not a recent phenomenon,
and it's not just the children. I have even noticed a new trend towards fat acceptance.
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Recommend
Rich
Falls Church, VA 4 days ago
Exactly what business is it of any political office holder - or his wife - of what parents are allowing their kids to
eat? That Americans have become so infantilized that they look to politicians to guide or make their most
personal choices for them is the reason why this country is in decline.
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4Recommend
DR
New England 4 days ago
Parents are free to pack a lunch for their kids but if taxpayers are helping to provide school lunches it makes
sense not to give kids food that will cost taxpayers money down the road to treat obesity related illnesses.
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3Recommend
Rich
Falls Church, VA 4 days ago
You can buy all the junk food you want with food stamps, but I don't see you guys beating the drum to save
taxpayers obesity-related illnesses for them. Oh right - because they vote.
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So, basically those who have some control over their financial destiny can buy whatever kind of soda and candy
they want on the taxpayer dime, but poor kids with zero control over their station in life until adulthood must
eat their peas and carrots, which they hate.
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1Recommend
N.M. DeLuca
Chapel Hill, N.C. 4 days ago
RICH, The county is not falling apart . What has fallen apart is the sense is of community responsibility . What
has fallen apart is the understanding of a democratic society and representative government . It has been
replaced by a mean spirited , anti-intellectual ideology.
intellectua
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3Recommend
Felicity Swayze
Vermont 4 days ago
Beware of "whole grains." According to the book Wheatbelly, modern wheat, i.e. that grown in the last 20 years
for very high yield, is extremely high in glycemic load. One slice of whole grain toast has the same glycemic
load as a Snickers Bar. The author attributes a significant part of the rise in obesity in the last two decades to the
FDA assertion that whole grains are good for you. Modern wheat also goes to the addictive centers of the brain,
creating a compulsive need to keep eating it. Try eliminating wheat products from your diet and you will be
amazed at how quickly the weight goes off. I know, I did it. I continued to eat all other carbohydrates.
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Recommend
NYT Pick
WB
San Diego 4 days ago
If the government is providing the free lunch, then the government gets to control that lunch. It seems that the
focus is only on the poor, inner city "food deserts". What about the rest of America?
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13Recommend
lh
rochester, ny 4 days ago
As it should be. And this is in the interest of "the rest of America" too.
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Recommend
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FS Director
California 3 days ago
You make a good point! I have a higher income district with students that don't appreciate being forced to take
food they don't want, and have to pay more for less due to the way the guidelines are set up. Most of what you
read in the new Fed guidelines is guided towards low income students. That is not to say all of our food should
meet a flexible set of nutrition standards, but when they are paying for it, especially high school students should
have more choice.
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Recommend
RA
New York 4 days ago
Everyone should be eating healthfully not just people living in "the poor, inner city 'food deserts'".
•
Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
I pay for my kids lunches. 25 more cents per meal this year then last I might add and they come home hungry!
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2Recommend
Randall Reed
Charleston SC 4 days ago
The "rest of America" (a) does not go to bed hungry, and (b) will benefit from a better balanced lunch. Even
rich kids can perpetuate an unbalanced, nutrient-poor, diet if left to the devices of corporate greed.
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1Recommend
Mike
Florida 3 days ago
The whole food desert idea has been so debunked. There are fruits and vegetables in Every grocery store in the
country. And it's not a 'free lunch,' I help pay for it, as do you in taxes, assuming you pay any. Nothing is "free"
that the government provides. Somebody pays for it!
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Recommend
Doodle
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Fort Myers 3 days ago
It's a start. Remember how the Republicans screamed when New York City tried to limit the size of soda?
It comes down to big corporations wanting to make money off of us by catering to our every whim and desire,
no matter how unhealthy they are; and we fight to reserve the rights to make our own mistakes -- until we arrive
at medical bills we can't afford to pay.
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Recommend
manderine
manhattan 4 days ago
With midterm elections this year, it could behoove the voters those in congress and the senate who appose
offering nutritional food for school children and who are supporting cheaper fast food companies to be made
available for our school age children.
I have a feeling they are one and the same as those who apposed the ACA.
This is an issue that voters with families can rally around and vote FOR something that directly immediately
impacts them.
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2Recommend
lisa
nj 4 days ago
I commend the First Lady for pushing for better nutrition for our kids. I'd rather pay for programs that help
bring good nutrition to individuals than having higher medical costs later on.
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6Recommend
Laurence Soronen
Albany, NY 4 days ago
Would someone please advise Mrs. Obama that the science is settled: The obesity/diabetes epidemic has largely
been caused by the overconsumption of carbohydrates and "added" sugar which was encouraged by misguided
government policies and attacks on supposed overconsumption of protein and saturated fats.
Can she please stick to WH gardening and leisure travel on the taxpayer dime?
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7Recommend
gen3benz
moms basement 4 days ago
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Laurence,
How would we divert attention away from the dying vets in the poorly run VA or the massive $17.5 trillion debt
if she did that?
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3Recommend
ARR
Houston, Texas 4 days ago
I applaud Mrs. Obama's efforts to fight childhood obesity, but let's be honest about WIC rather than singling out
white potatoes. WIC also subsidizes fruit juice, specifically, orange juice which is basically liquid sugar with a
few vitamins! We should not be encouraging kids to get sugar in any form, let alone as liquid candy. When I
pointed this out to my Hispanic housekeeper who is very concerned about her overweight young daughter, she
replied, "How can juice be bad for her? The government gives it to us by the gallon?" Everyone should see
Katie Couric's new film "Fed Up" and see what passes for school lunches these days. It's totally different from
when we went to school and is quite the wake up call for all Americans.
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2Recommend
Bert Floryanzia
Sanford, NC 4 days ago
Consider the mushroom.
We humans, down through the ages and by trial and error, searched for plants that would strengthen and sustain
us.
On that search we ran up on mushrooms. Some tasted good and were good for us, some were a slow poison and
made us sick, and some outright killed us. And then there were the ones that made us feel real good.
Well, these days it seems like the food industry has found a way
to combine the tasting good and the feeling good part, which is
kind of addicting, with the sickening and slow poisoning part.
I don't know why they do it, but if a hostile foreign power were to get our children to eat these same badmushroomy kind of junk foods, we just might consider it an act of war.
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3Recommend
PGNYC
Queens, NY 4 days ago
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I work in a school the food is being thrown out and children go hungry. I would like to also know since Ms.
Obama said she wants this as a mother what is served to her children at their private school.
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3Recommend
PeteM1965
Scarsdale, NY 4 days ago
PGNYC what the ruling classes feed their children is none of our business. We should do what we are told and
shut up.
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5Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
No one who is really hungry throws away food.
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2Recommend
Ted
Charlotte 4 days ago
This column perfectly illustrates why the government is too involved. Bickering over whether potatoes - a
staple of the western diet - should be included in food programs is ludicrous. Please, we can't force everyone to
do what's right for them.
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5Recommend
DR
New England 4 days ago
We can keep our tax dollars from being spent on things that are wrong for people.
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Recommend
Sara
Cincinnati 4 days ago
We need to teach people how to cook those vegetables. To many Americans, vegetables mean boring, steamed,
and not tasty. All you need is a bit of olive oil and a sprinkling of salt, a roasting pan, or a simple skillet. Once
you get accustomed to good, wholesome food, you will rarely crave junk. Junk food, especially sugar laden
processed foods, should be imprinted with the same warning labels placed on cigarettes. They certainly kill lots
of people today!
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John B.
Georgia 4 days ago
Stupid! It's lack of exercise that creates obesity. As a child I ate all the "bad" things and was always skinny. We
had recess and we played tag, dodge ball, etc. Now the libs believe it's too "dangerous" or someone might feel
bad if they aren't picked for a team. That's life.
We didn't have video games. We went outside and played cowboys and indians, cops and robbers, or army. We
used sticks as guns. The problem isn't the food, it's the parents who allow their kids to sit in front of the TV or
computer for hours on end because it "keeps them quiet and occupied". It's the parents that allow school boards
to stop recess or playtime. A school in New Zealand started letting kids have recess where they could run, jump,
and play as they wished. They found that bullying went way down and the kids were more attentive in class.
We don't need government telling us how to feed our kids. Next they will start removing kids from homes that
serve pizza or other "bad" foods and send them to "re-education" camps for brainwashing...oops! sorry, we
already send them there and they are called "government schools"!
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4Recommend
DR
New England 4 days ago
As a child you didn't have all of the additives that are in so many modern foods. You probably had better access
to fresh produce as well.
Why does the idea of healthy food for school kids bother you but not the idea of people making money pushing
junk food for kids?
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2Recommend
bmiller
Philadelphia 4 days ago
Please, stop blaming "the libs" and the Obamas for everything! I commend Mrs. Obama for her efforts on
behalf of children. You may not want government teaching you how to feed your kids, but many parents and
children can use guidance on issues of nutrition. As to what you did back in the day, that was then: this is now.
And this "lib" agrees with you about the benefits of exercise.
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3Recommend
The Pooch
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Wendell, MA 4 days ago
Exercise is important, yes. But if people (on average) are more sedentary, shouldn't they be satiated with fewer
calories, instead of more?
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1Recommend
GG
New WIndsor, NY 4 days ago
Your stance is completely unsupported by science. I understand your frustration that if a large corporation feels
that school children are better served by eating vats of sugar and fat, and they can just 'play more' who are we to
question their right to profit.
Her position is absolutely correct, school lunches should be nutritious. Of course you have the right to pack lard
and pixie sticks for your kids should you choose to.
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4Recommend
sophia smith
upstate 4 days ago
My kids always brought packed lunches--this was in the '90s, but our house always received the monthly
newsletter which announced, among other things, the menus for school lunch. Reading these lists offered the
same frisson as reviewing the front pages of tabloid "newspapers" in the grocery-store checkout line or gaping
at a traffic accident scene. One favored "entrée" was listed as "pork gravy." Not pork WITH gravy--pork gravy.
The kids are now 29 and 25, and long gone. [Many of their classmates are still around our small village--never
having left, not for college, nor for a job. And not a few such young people are manifestly obese. Some have
children--but not spouses--of their own now.] We still pay school tax, of course, but don't receive a newsletter
anymore--probably the menus are now on-line--but I certainly hope that school lunches have changed. Maybe
I'd better go check on the website!
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1Recommend
NYT Pick
John MacCormak
Athens, Georgia 4 days ago
Nobody wants kids eating a pound of chocolate, but I find Mrs Obama patronizing. "Junk food" is a moral, not
a scientific, term. Food can be classified in many ways - fresh, high in vitamins, low in carbohydrates, fried,
raw. But if it is food, it is not junk. The moral, as opposed to scientific, basis for her judgments clouds the fact
that "healthy food" is not an exact science. More, counseling against certain foods can be dangerous when those
foods may have benefits we don't know about. Nutrition and body weight are complex issues about which
science understands much less than you would suppose from the First Lady's confidence.
I researched nutrition-related issues and the history of the narrative on nutrition in the US for my MA. I was
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surprised at how little science supports the Manichean conclusions of promoters of "healthy" lifestyles. I was
also surprised to learn that the policy focus on "healthy" eating as opposed to ensuring that poor people don't get
food to eat goes back to the 70s. The newly set up Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs,
initially set up to study hunger, was focusing, by the 70s, on what it called "diet related to killer diseases." In
other words, not poverty, but consumerism.
Orwell noted that the well-off eat small portions of bland "healthy" food because life meets their high human
expecations in so many ways. For the poor, Orwell noted, something tasty may be the only bright spot in the
day.
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Alex Moon
Louisville 4 days ago
I agree with MacCormack. There does appear to be inaccurate, or even blatant error, in determining just what
constitutes 'junk' food. But, additionally, one read nearly weekly a horror story about some busy-body school
authority who trashes a child's sack lunch due to their personal opinion that peanut butter or bologna
sandwiches did not constitute 'healthy'.
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1Recommend
Mary
Texas 3 days ago
John, thank you for actually doing some research on obesity. Unfortunately no one can hear you over the din of
mythology that obesity is caused by eating to much and exercising too little.
We have known through more than 60 years of research eating more fuel than a person can expend through
physical activity is HOW people gain weight, not WHY they gain weight. There are lots of things in the
environment that can cause people to gain weight through eating more or moving less, including:
- intrauterine growth stunting (prematurity; maternal hypertension, cigarette smoking, under-nutrition). Some of
the kids who used to die before birth or early in the postnatal period are saved now, but they pay a "heavy" price
for their early deprivation. And we subject them to more episodes of nutrient and energy deprivation as we try
to whip them into a more pleasing shape.
- environmental contaminants (BPA, phthalates, dioxins, atrizine, heavy metals [fluoride, mercury].
- medications - such as insulin, TZDs, beta blockers, statins, and metabolites that can end up in our water.
- weight loss, especially in children and adolescents (food restriction promotes adipose tissue expansion when
adequate energy becomes available again).
- adenovirus-36
- autoantibodies to melanocortin receptor 4
- altered gastrointestinal microbiome
We aren't going to solve the obesity problem focusing on school lunches and recess. If obesity were that simple
we would have already solved the problem.
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1Recommend
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MN
Michigan 4 days ago
Junk food can be defined by the ratio of nutrients per calorie. Junk food is much lower than natural foods like
fruits and vegetables.
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1Recommend
CatherineWalsh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom 3 days ago
John, as a clinical dietitian, academic nutritionist and exercise physiologist specialising in obesity management,
may I respectfully disagree with your statement that junk food is a moral, not a scientific, term.
Junk food most certainly is a scientific term. Everything that we eat and drink can be - and is - classified on a
scientific basis. In this context, the prescient scientific concept is that of 'nutrient density', which can be defined
as: (1) the ratio of nutrient content to total energy content of a food; (2) macronutrient energy:total energy
content; and (3) nutrient content:individual's nutritional requirements. Foods that are calorie-rich but provide
few or no nutrients are referred to as 'empty calories' and it is these foods that are classed as junk foods, based
on the scientific analysis of their composition.
It really is imperative that we attempt to educate children to understand - and, if at all possible, opt for! - the
nutrient-dense foods that are appropriate to their age, developmental status and physical requirements. I salute
Ms Obama for her efforts.
Is your MA thesis available online? I should be most interested to read the primary findings, as an
understanding of the social narrative of obesity is central to an appreciation of the field.
Sincerely,
Catherine
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1Recommend
avwrobel
pennsylvania 4 days ago
Sorry John, 'Junk food' is not a moral term. Junk food describes high caloric, high salt, often high fat content
foods that don't contain much in the way of nutrients and vitamins. And 'healthy' foods are just that - foods that
contribute to our good health. But you don't seem too concerned about solving the huge problem of 1/3rd of the
world being overweight, which is going to cost us all trillions of dollars in the coming years.
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2Recommend
Eyes Open
San Francisco 3 days ago
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I wouldn't call gummy bears food.
I'm afraid we're getting what we deserve, as long as we don't
fight the politicians who make it possible for teenage boys to buy guns,
but impossible for public schools to provide nutritious food that
might help them grow up less crazy.
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1Recommend
Brian
Texas 4 days ago
Kids may be getting more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in their school lunches, but that doesn't
necessarily mean they're eating them. I would expect to see a pile of green in the trash on Broccoli Tuesday in
the cafeteria.
And "companies rushing to create healthier products" is pure folly. It's not much of a challenge to create a food
product healthier than potato chips. It's no secret that eating food as close to its natural state as possible provides
the greatest health benefit. Getting more fresh-food retailers into underserved areas is a great start, provided the
populations of those same areas utilize those resources. Unfortunately, we have become a society of
convenience. Cooking from scratch can be too time consuming, especially in single-parent households or
households where both parents work. It's much faster, and easier to nuke a frozen lasagna, put it on the table and
call it a home-cooked meal. But it doesn't have to be that way. Planning out the week's dinner menu in advance,
putting some meals together the night before (providing the convenience of "heat and serve"), the use of slow
cookers, etc. allows families the opportunity to walk past the frozen food aisle, and return to the true homecooked meal using fresh, not processed, ingredients.
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1Recommend
gphx
Centralia, Wa 4 days ago
Forcing people into one size fits all diets by law isn't very smart. As an example she states a goal is to reduce
'sugar'. Sugar is a carbohydrate. There's more sugar in orange juice by volume than Coca Cola. Some fruits and
'healthy whole grains' contain as much as cookies and cupcakes. If a child already is a Type II diabetic it'd be
difficult to find anything more unhealthy than to get them to eat more fruits and grains. While the fresh greens
are correct, otherwise they need lots of proteins, and these can easily violate the fat content mandates. Basically,
the government has no business telling people what to eat because what is good for most may be disastrous for
others. The fact 10% or more (much more in minority neighborhoods) of kids are lactose intolerant and made ill
by milk is a good example. If the government forces a lactose intolerant kid to drink milk or a diabetic to eat
carbohydrates they're poisoning them. Not that I wouldn't have welcomed some of these changes as a kid but
people shouldn't be forced to eat anything. An individual simply knows their own requirements better than the
government.
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4Recommend
Frustrated Tax Payer
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All over New York 4 days ago
There are lots of opportunities to improve the diets of all Americans, not just school age children. As a country
we are surrounded with a variety of choices to be made on a daily basis regarding the foods we consume.
Healthy CHOICES are always better. The real issue is why do we need to have the contents of school meals
dictated by Washington? Why do we need to have local choice at the school district level overridden and
dictated by Washington DC? Each year school districts develop a variety of programs that define the
educational opportunities to be offered in the district along with the associated costs and put that proposed
budget up for a vote in the community. The community decides if they want to support the proposal. In a similar
fashion, the local community should be in a position to dictate what is served in the school district cafeterias, if
soda and candy machines are in the schools, etc. Just as they decide if they want to purchase new school buses,
fix the roof on the high school, expand the athletic program, etc. Having Michelle Obama and the Washington
bureaucracy dictate school lunch content overrides the local control we all desire to have in the decisions that
affect our day-to-day lives the most. If Michelle wants to be an advocate for healthier choices in schools that is
fine, just don't force compliance with her beliefs through DC mandates.
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3Recommend
MKD
Louisiana 4 days ago
As a mom and a public health nutritionist it is astounding that offering kids more fruits, vegetables and whole
grains can be considered controversial. Big food spends big money to sell their processed, high profit market
items. The result is obese and overweight children. If we think we spend too much on health care now, watch as
we treat more and more kids for type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Not only is this sad, but these kids
appear to be resistant to common treatments that work with adults.. The National Academy of Sciences was
designed to provide the government expert advice. Congress should listen to their recommendation.
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7Recommend
Hondo
Minnesota 4 days ago
The problem isn't that it's being "offered." The problem is that it's being "forced," i.e. the kids are required to
take fruits or veg that they have no intention of eating. "Plate waste" has increased, costs are becoming
unmanageable and paying students are opting out, schools are dropping the program, etc. Not allowing someone
to use WIC/SNAP money to buy a bag of potatoes? That is simply ridiculous and should give you a glimpse
into the problems with big government solutions.
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1Recommend
DR
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New England 3 days ago
Hondo - Simple solution, set up a buffer. More than one person here has mentioned that this is what their
schools do. The kids can take the fruit if they want it. See how easy that is?
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1Recommend
NYT Pick
Maria Rodriguez
Texas 4 days ago
We are stuck in an economic system whose sole variable for success is profit. If an idea or a product generates
profit, it is deemed successful no matter how bad it may be for health of any kind. If it is not profitable it is
deemed a failure right away. That's the market god. The attacks on the nutrition plan is no different. Besides,
who are these kids who are being affected anyway? They are the kids who depend on these meals because at
home they may not even get enough to eat. Are school kids the only customers of the potato interest? Surely
they are not. There may be a time when you can provide choice to children about what they should eat, but it
isn't when they are too young to understand, or when their empty bellies will naturally go to the food that makes
them feel full. Do we as parents let our kids decide their diet? I think not for surely they would be choosing
macaroni and cheese and a can of soda with potato chips. But alas, when Bloomberg wanted folks to sell
smaller soda products, everyone screamed about socialism. These are the same people who then will complain
about providing affordable health insurance. These are the same people who suppose that everyone is able to
make sound decisions, and as we see daily, that is not the case. To wit, the existence of government and
committees and boards, etc. etc.
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34Recommend
TK
Indiana 3 days ago
If the potato lobby is in it for a profit, what makes you think the arugula lobby is not. Everybody who sells
anything, healthy or not, they do it for a profit.
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1Recommend
shrugged
Ohio 3 days ago
The free market in this country is self-correcting over time to provide the highest quality solution at the lowest
competitive price. Profit is the reward. If something isn't selling - you have nobody to blame but he consumers
who vote with their dollars.
Bloomberg failed because (1) it was a socialist action that many objected to, (2) it was not applied equally to all
businesses in New York. There were stores restricted from selling 32oz sodas beside other stores who were
permitted to sell them. (3) it didn't change behavior as one could by two 16 oz drinks instead of one 32oz drink.
DUH!
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Recommend
FS Director
California 3 days ago
What the public seems to not know is that soda has not been allowed in schools for many years. Also- these
guidelines apply to high school students that are driving, voting and planning their futures but don't get to
decide what they are eating- not just the little ones...and not just low income. They are asserting this one all
students, but of course private schools like the Obama's go to would be exempt.
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Recommend
Rose
St. Louis 4 days ago
Three important and lasting legacies of President and Mrs. Obama will be (1) a more peaceful world with
diplomacy over war the way, (2) a healthier population because of the ACA, and (3) the end of the obesity crisis
for our children.
I look at the Republican Party of today and wonder what can they be thinking. How do Republican convince
whole groups of people to vote against their own best interests and the interests of their children? Such a
mystery!
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12Recommend
Rose
St. Louis 4 days ago
After posting this comment, I read the Maya Angelou's 1991 op-ed reprinted in today's NYT. She answered my
question: "The advice Machiavelli offered, which has been used so successfully against the powerless and
which interests me today, can be paraphrased into: Divide the masses that you may conquer them, separate them
and you can rule them."
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3Recommend
NYT Pick
Chris Jordan
Columbus, Ohio 4 days ago
Stop with the social engineering already. I'm a part time fitness instructor and a full time dad. It's my job as a
parent to decide whats best for my children not the government's. Educate them so they can make informed
decisions but give them the choice.
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45Recommend
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RDeanB
is a trusted commenter Amherst, MA 4 days ago
Indeed -- but the choices need to be available in the schools. And without standards, price will dictate what is
available for your well-educated kids to choose from.
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4Recommend
Emily W
New York 3 days ago
Unfortunately, many children simply can't make rational, informed decisions because it is not yet an age
appropriate skill. Early childhood, elementary, and even middle school children need not just information but
guidance- and even rules- in order to choose and act well. Yes, the parents need to take responsibility for this at
home. But this doesn't mean that we can let kids fend for themselves at school.
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4Recommend
Reader
Chicago 4 days ago
You do have a choice: send your kids to school with bagged lunches.
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4Recommend
augias84
New York 3 days ago
that may work for you, and nobody is telling you what to serve your children. But it's not a secret that many
parents are not feeding their kids properly, just giving them junk food, microwave pizza, and candy. Public
schools are run by the government and the government gets to decide what food is served there.
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1Recommend
Bob C.
RI 3 days ago
You have a choice -- pack a lunch for your kids. Nobody is forcing anyone to purchase lunch at school.
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4Recommend
Gordeaux
Glen Ridge 3 days ago
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But if the parents whose job it is to decide what's best for their children are doing a bad job, should the children
suffer? I have no problem with the government stepping in to help the parents whose performance is harming
their children. It's akin to child abuse and the government should do what's best for the children.
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2Recommend
Liz
Greenville, SC 3 days ago
How do kids get a choice? Healthy food is either available at school or it's not. The question is which would
you rather your kid have access to: healthy food or junk food?
If you want your little darlings to have a choice, send a lunch with them and pack it with Hostess cakes and
Coke all day long. That is your choice.
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2Recommend
seamus009
Wash., DC 3 days ago
How is a child supposed to make an informed choice from the limited options presented to them on the school
menu? You can exercise your freedom of choice by packing your children's lunches.
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3Recommend
Barbara
NC 3 days ago
You should be very happy that the government cares about kids' health. What informed decisions can preteenagers make when considering candy versus fruit? Stop being so anti- Obama!
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1Recommend
PeteM1965
Scarsdale, NY 4 days ago
Why are schools feeding children in the first place? That is the question we should be asking. It's time that
parents take some responsibility, I know that is a forbidden word in the liberal lexicon, and provide their
children with lunch.
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4Recommend
Joseph
albany 4 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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I am a conservative/libertarian anti-big government guy - except for this issue. Kudos to Michelle Obama. I
understand that as the wife of the president she can't single out unhealthy food and drinks such as fruit yogurt,
cereal and orange juice. But maybe one day there will be a politician who can.
And I'm not talking about Mike Bloomberg, who completely blew it with his counterproductive attempt to ban
large sodas. We don't need bans. We need education and persuasion. Refined sugar is bad for you. Period.
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9Recommend
Gorzabozo
Louisiana 4 days ago
Why do so many of you abdicate your parental responsibilities to the government? The federal government
should not be dictating to the schools what to serve in the cafeterias, rather this should be up to the local school
authorities with input from the local community. If the locals want 'healthy foods' then they should pressure the
school board, etc...and if they don't get what they want simply run for the office themselves. Its called selfgovernance and has been proven the best method of governance for centuries. Giving carte blanche power to the
feds to mandate 'healthy foods' does nothing except give a vast bureaucracy more power, control, and our
money. Besides, if the feds have all this power via a First Lady, what's to prevent the next preening,
sanctimonious Marie Antoinette Obama wannabe from reversing all the 'healthy food' initiatives with a wave of
her bulky, never-accomplished-anything-in-her-life hands as Moochelle has done?
Think for a minute; but that is nearly impossible for Leftists, isn't it?
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8Recommend
JustAGuy
flyover country USA 4 days ago
To all you posters who wax ever so superior about school healthy lunch for your kids, there is a solution: head
to the supermarket, buy the food you want your little ones to eat and make their lunch. Problem solved!
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6Recommend
Sally Ann
USA 3 days ago
I would if I had kids in school. But as a citizen I am concerned about all the children, not just mine. I care
because they will die at younger ages than their parents or grandparents if changes are not made. I care because
the cost of obesity (and related diseases) are incredibly high. And I worry that parts of our nation are turning
into the people from Wall-E: fat, lazy, dumb. Just check out the NYT Interactive maps for poverty, education,
and health. It greatly concerns me that members of Congress would sell out their constituents for campaign
contributions.
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Recommend
DR
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New England 3 days ago
Great idea. Will this absolve those parents of picking up the tab for the obesity related illnesses for the people
who ate junk food?
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1Recommend
Sajwert
NH 4 days ago
Addressing the school lunches is well and good. But...there are many, many children who take their lunches to
school every day. If the parent packs potato chips, thick P&J (heavy on the J) sandwiches, a pack of applesauce
WITH sugar, and a little box of sweet juice or chocolate milk, just how does that enter into the childhood
obesity issue?
Proper eating with some fruits and vegetables, little or no salt, easy on the dessert begins in the home. A child
not given that advantage is NOT to be even remotely blamed if he turns his nose up at fruit that isn't already
mashed and sugared up, or looks at lettuce or greens as if he had an alien on his plate.
I agree that our First Lady has done a marvelous job of putting out front and center the problem of childhood
obesity, but too often and obese child has an obese parent, and THAT is why many balk at the change in diet.
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3Recommend
NHThinker
New Hampshire 4 days ago
Federal government influence can be overbearing. Providing funding with serious strings attached breeds
discontent and grousing. If the Feds just provided subsidies for the healthy food to the school systems and just
left it at that, there would be much less grousing. No, the Feds feel they need to have undue influence on portion
control and limiting access to non-healthy food instead of letting local school systems, parents and maturing
children making those good decisions themselves.
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FDK
New York 4 days ago
I am glad Michelle Obama is standing up to the food industry's lobbying efforts in Congress. A noble and
hopefully not totally valiant fight.
However, it's hard for me to trust the government's data collection efforts on childhood obesity. I have a kid in
public school and year after year they measure the children's BMI on the Department of Education's instruction.
This effort yields deeply flawed results on both ends of the spectrum. My 7-year-old son is a tall, strong, healthy
boy who runs around all the time and is basically a bundle of muscles who doesn't stop running around. He and
many kids like him in our school were labeled "overweight" or even "obese" according to the BMI
measurements. This information is sent home to the parents with no comment or explanation, which is kind of
upsetting, but that's the least of it. The data then enters some big DoE system to be used for what? To judge
whether or not the obesity epidemic is abating or not? It doesn't make sense. BMI is not the best measure
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obesity maybe even for adults, but clearly problematic for children.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106268439
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Oscar
Idaho 4 days ago
What's wrong with allowing individuals and parents - along with their local officials - make their own choices?
We don't need the First Lady or Congress to tell us what to do and how to do it. This is the entire problem with
Government assistance. Ultimately, the government - Whitehouse, Congress, Democrat, Republican - all want
to control what we actually do and the choices we make. This isn't about nutrition, it's about control.
I appreciate the First Lady's efforts. I want to believe she has the best interest of the children at heart. But she's
not an elected official and should not control our tax dollars or government programs in her capacity.
And we, as free people, should be wary of anyone of any party who wants to control all aspects of our lives
including what we eat. Yet another of the many reasons homeschool, private schools, and organizations with no
government affiliation or assistance are on the rise.
The poverty gap is quickly becoming a freedom gap. Those who can afford to avoid government programs and
assistance are the only ones who can 'afford' personal freedom and liberty.
Are we really concerned that a struggling mother might buy potatoes with her WIC money, or that a school
lunch program might buy a bag of potatoes?
We the people need to stop fighting about which party we want to control us and regain control of them.
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Charles
Tallahassee, FL 4 days ago
The problem is not potatoes, the problem is that it allows people to buy french fries which are fried and
unhealthy and lead to obesity and future health care costs that you and I and our children will end up paying for.
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Kathy Mast
Sacramento ca 4 days ago
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I see them all the time. Fat parents with fat toddlers. Toddlers! With all the educational resources on food and
the problem so widespread, perhaps we aren't looking at the whole problem. 1. Should food be available in gas
stations and 99cent stores? 2. Eating disorder are treatable. Because of the ACA we now have the chance to
intervene. When obese parents are seen in preventative care, a history including their children, must be done
and then the obese parent can add the tool of psychiatry to his/her arsenal against this disease. It's not easy and
with obesity often comes other unhealthy lifestyles, so let's get to the underlying issues...
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3Recommend
Kevin
Chicago 4 days ago
It's a shame that not one of the 22 comments that I read actually spoke to the realities of the push back about
children's lunches being regulated by the federal government. Instead, the folks who believe themselves to be
more enlightened, (NYT readers) bought into the partisan food fight Michelle Obama created and is stoking
with this article. The reality is that despite record spending per capita on public education, many schools simply
cannot afford to meet the regulations. There have been successes with this program, but they have been at the
local level. (http://healthland.time.com/2013/08/29/why-some-schools-are-saying-no-tha... Besides, the USDA
was pushing an unhealthy diet for decades before it was modified and it still isn't healthy. OUr government has
proven over and over it's in no position to tell me what's healthy.
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Joseph Huben
Upstate NY 4 days ago
The red states are the homes of the most obese, poorly educated, healthcare consumers in the country according
to the CDC. These red states also boast the most poorly paid. No surprise that their reps are against healthy food
in schools.
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Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
healthy eating is expensive. Until you have ever tried to feed a family of four on 100 bucks every two weeks I
would suggest you have no idea what you are talking about. Mrs. Obama demonstrated eating healthy when she
spent $70 on half a grocery bag of organic produce. I laughed at her. I spend $70 and get a whole trunk of food
by shopping at aldis and using coupons. If only I paid less in taxes I could have more money for food...
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NYT Pick
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Cranios
Ohio 4 days ago
I'm a Republican, in fact a very conservative Republican, and what MO is saying here makes sense. I would
love to see kids eat healthy food. Frankly, I think thought that there are two challenges that didn't exist a
generation ago: First, the kids' parents don't eat healthy foods or even have family dinner times, everyone is too
busy with "activities", not to mention the inevitability of work (working long hours DID exist a generation ago,
but people still had family dinners). Second, too many TV choices and video games instead of playing outside
or with friends inside. Third, the easy-divorce culture and single parent households which are more likely to not
have family dining or home-cooked meals.
I wish I had a prescription for what to do to fix these ills that are a result of societal decline. I support healthier
lunches but I know that is a very small Rx for a huge, huge problem.
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memosyne
Maine 4 days ago
The Rx may be small but we CAN DO IT ! I am a liberal Democrat and I am worried about many of the same
things that worry you. But some of our problems are very very difficult to solve. School lunches are easy: they
require only determination and money.
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Recommend
goodspkr
Denver, CO 3 days ago
The prescription is that we actually listen to the science. We have all grown up with the fat is bad carbs are
good. It turns out it isn't so.
After reviewing more than 4,000 studies, the authors were persuaded that green vegetables helped ward off lung
and stomach cancer. Colon and thyroid cancer might be avoided with broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts.
Onions, tomatoes, garlic, carrots and citrus fruits all seemed to play important roles.
In 2007, a major follow-up all but reversed the findings. While some kinds of produce might have subtle
benefits, the authors concluded, “in no case now is the evidence of protection judged to be convincing.”
The reason for the change was more thorough epidemiology. The earlier studies tended to be “retrospective,”
relying on people to remember dietary details from the distant past. These results were often upended by
“prospective” protocols, in which the health of large populations was followed in real time.
The hypothesis that fatty foods are a direct cause of cancer has also been crumbling, along with the case for
eating more fiber. The idea that red meat causes colon cancer is shrouded in ambiguity. Two meta-analyses
published in 2011 reached conflicting conclusions — one finding a small effect and the other no clear link at all.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/22/science/an-apple-a-day-and-other-myths...
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SayNoToGMO
New England Countryside 4 days ago
Feeding our children should not be a political game.
From pre-school on, health and nutrition must be incorporated into daily teaching. When I see an overweight
child, it breaks my heart. That kid cannot possibly be enjoying life to its fullest.
Teaching your kid how to prepare a healthy meal is a lesson that will last his/her lifetime.
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Troy McDaniels
AZ 4 days ago
How about forcing parents to be parents? When I was a kid my parents made me eat things that were good for
me. They made me go outside and play (that wasn't much of a fight). Many parents today give their kids what
they want to eat. Many parents today let their kids sit on their rear end playing video games all day.
There is nothing wrong with the first lady promoting healthy eating habits, but she is overlooking the cause of
the problem...parents. Of course the left and right prefer government control the individual instead of the parent
so I'm really not surprised all the narrow minds cheering her.
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James
Kearneysville, WV 4 days ago
Many parents today are addicted to the chemicals and additives in junk food, and go to fast food restaurants
almost on a daily basis. They have no clue as to what healthy or real food is. Just look at the long lines at
McDonalds.
You want the Federal Government to force parents to be parents? Read most of the comments to this article.
They want the libs, and the Feds out of their lives. I guess having ALEC dictate to them is fine, since ALEC is a
right wing creation.
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Maxine
Chicago 4 days ago
Reality. Parents aren't responsible for children's health now a corrupt, incompetent government is. Let's ask vets
if this is a good idea. Why are we listening to this woman? Has she been elected to any office or does she have
an advanced degree in nutrition? Like her husband she is a child of privilege and a creation of the Chicago
Democrat machine. She has never had an adult, non-political job in her whole life and has no life
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accomplishments of note. So I ask again why are we listening to her on this issue?
That liberal Democrats bow before and give any credence to her pronouncements is a glaring example of the
lack of reality and irrationality that have the Democrat Party in a death grip. Did she even write this? The
People are sick of crazy dictates being issued from Washington. Our new national motto should be "Mind your
own business!"
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DR
New England 3 days ago
Right on, let's do things the Republican way. Let's let big business pollute our air and water and provide us with
substandard food. While we're at it let's make sure that we don't have health care to deal with the consequences
of all of this. Live free and die right?
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Dan
Michigan 4 days ago
Government is too big. If parents are concerned, pack a lunch.
Do we really want the Federal Government deciding what to feed our kids for lunch?
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Jennifer C
Silver Spring MD 4 days ago
Are you against all school lunch guidelines (including the prior unhealthy ones)? Or just these particular
guidelines pressed by Michele Obama?
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Sally Ann
USA 4 days ago
Um, yes we do. We want regulations so the junk food industry gets out of the school lunch program. But as
Mrs. Obama points out, there are members of Congress who are trying to lower those standards of nutritious
meals and disregard the recommendations by the Institute of Medicine.
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2Recommend
In the Middle
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Utah 4 days ago
Michelle Obama and the liberals are laser-focused on healthier school lunches and banning certain foods from
the WIC program. Great! I think those are wonderful ideas and should be supported. However, how many of
these kids (particularly those that live in poverty) will return home after school only to stuff their faces with
chips, soda, and candy from their kitchen pantry? Later, for dinner, their mom serves them tasty microwave
dinners or cheesy burritos or Hot Pockets or whatever else easy-to-prepare freezer food was on sale at the
grocery store. Follow that up with a big bowl of ice cream. Here's the kicker: all of this junky food was
purchased with tax-payer funded EBT cards (ie, food stamps). Working in a grocery store all through college, I
was astounded at how much junk food was purchased each day using EBT.
The liberals blame conservatives for only caring about saving money on this issue. They're right! However, I
argue that liberals are more concerned about saving votes than doing the right thing and establishing limits on
the types of foods that can be purchased with EBT. To me, this bickering and finger-pointing comes across to
me as hypocritical and childish.
Grow up, all of you! Let's have a logical, adult conversation about the issues instead of just throwing blame
around. If you want kids to eat healthier off the tax-payer dime, then you have to encourage their parents to eat
healthier, too. That means changes to EBT.
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Jennifer C
Silver Spring MD 4 days ago
Junk food is far cheaper than healthy food, which means you can fill your family's stomachs on the rather
measly subsidies currently provided to poor families. Buying healthy would squander that money quickly. An
adult conversation would entail a discussion about how to make healthy food less expensive. Possibly we could
start by ending subsidies for corn, sugar, etc.
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1Recommend
In the Middle
Utah 3 days ago
Measly subsidies? My sister in law has 3 kids and receives over $850 per month in EBT assistance. Do you call
that measly?
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Sara
Cincinnati 3 days ago
It is such a myth that junk is cheaper than healthy food. Please stop propagating it and educate yourself! You
can eat all kinds of legumes, vegetables in season, fruit in season, whole grains, and lean meats on a budget. I
was raised in a family of 12 and none of us were obese. We never ate chips, store bought sweets, or soda of any
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kind and we certainly could not afford McDonald's for all of us so that was a rare treat. My mother worked and
she cooked and we helped. Stop repeating this lie.
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BD
is a trusted commenter Ridgewood 4 days ago
If Mrs. Obama hadn't sold out the entire campaign to big agra-business and McDonalds I would have more
compassion for her argument. Processed foods like those apples in bags at McDs or mini carrots are not healthy
for our environment or our bodies.
Allowing Frosted Flakes but not real potatoes is absurd. Cereal with ground wood pulp that makes it "high in
fiber" is not healthy. A bag of potatoes of course should be part of WIC. It is a staple food for a low income
healthy diet.
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kindenver
colorado 4 days ago
to all of you praising this ridiculous "healthy" program. You all must not have kids. First of all, the older kids
are still hungry, the portions are tiny. You cannot force kids to eat what they don't like, they won't get used to it
and eat it when they get hungry, they will wait until they get home. I have a child that will only eat broccoli.
She won't even look at another vegetable.
When Obama first got into office he and Michelle said American kids were starving and they all needed free
breakfast and lunch, now they are all obese. How can they be both? Public school kids should get they same
yummy foods that the Obama kids get at their school. I guarantee there would be less waste.
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DR
New England 4 days ago
It's possible to be obese and under nourished. Fatty, starchy, sugary foods will make a person gain weight but
won't nourish them properly.
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Recommend
Morgan
New Orleans 4 days ago
It's true that doctors have little time to devote to discussing diet and nutrition with their patients. Worse yet, few
medical schools even meet the bare minimum of hours of nutrition education recommended by the Institute of
Medicine.
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In response, Tulane University Medical School has created The Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, where
medical students learn about health and nutrition in the context of learning how to cook. In turn, those medical
students teach free cooking classes to the New Orleans community. Not only do these medical students learn
about nutrition - they also learn how to have effective, realistic conversations with their patients about the
practical aspects of planning meals, choosing recipes, and eating the foods that best contribute to health.
Already a half-dozen other medical schools have licensed the curriculum to teach their students: it's clear that
this is an idea whose time has come. I look forward to the day that as a part of an overall physical, my physician
asks me what I had for breakfast.
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Recommend
Micoz
Charlotte, NC 4 days ago
There's nothing wrong with Mrs. Obama advocating healthy eating, as a service to families. But when she
crosses the line from friednly advice to federal dictates for every local school system in America, she takes the
good idea to a malicious level.
Do we still have freedoms in America, including the freedom of what we eat? Is the right to eat potatoes and ice
cream guaranteed in the US Constitution? I'd say it is. In the 10th amendment which says, "The powers not
delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people."
The power and freedom to determine what to have for lunch belongs to us, not to federal bureaucratic dictators.
If you don't give a flip about the constitution, don't care. But if you worry about a massive government always
grabbing for supreme power to interfere in the private lives of American, this goes way to far.
The president is always chipping away Constitutional protections, in favor of greater government control. This
food thing is a small part of anti-freedom ideology. But it is a tangible way to get people ever more used to
over-reaching federal power.
When the freedom to eat what we want is gone, how long will it be before these government control freaks
come after the First Amendment, as they already have the Second? If I were running the NY Times, I would
worry about that, unlike the current editors who embrace every federal control.
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3Recommend
B
USA 4 days ago
I am a taxpayer and I have no children. When I pay taxes, I first pay for kids’ sugary lunches, then when these
kids become obese and develop type 2 diabetes, I get to pay for their medical care. So I first pay to cause the
disease and then I pay for the cure? Don’t you think I should have some say? Let school children eat carrot
sticks!
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6Recommend
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GMoney
Chicago 4 days ago
yessir, good old american freedoms. freedom to get snookered by corporate agriculture. freedom to be murdered
by the nra. freedom to get stuck up by wall street. freedom to be blackened and drowned by the energy industry.
freedom to be sentenced to death by corporate healthcare death panels. freedom to be poisoned by freedom
industries. yessir, good old american freedoms.
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Jennifer C
Silver Spring MD 4 days ago
You don't seem to have a problem with the current federal dictates.
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FarmerRedWhiteAndBlue
Maine 4 days ago
Our Federal Government is given it's authority by our Constitution. Our Constitution stipulates in the tenth
amendment that the powers not delegated to the United States(Federal Government) nor prohibited by it are
reserved to the States or the people. The right to feed our children what we want and to educate them as we see
fit and to expose them to the religeon that we choose is ours. The Obama's believe the Federal Government
should be able to dictate to the people as they see fit, ignoring the Constitution. If we continue to allow this,
how long will it be before we must comply with some Federal rule or regulation from the time we take our first
breath until our last?
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3Recommend
Jennifer C
Silver Spring MD 4 days ago
You are sadly uninformed if you think we are feeding our children what we want to. We're feeding them what
the big-ag industry makes available, which is junk that feeds their profits and starves our kids of nutrients while
inundating them with salt, sugar, and fat. You're fighting for the right to stay misled and poorly-served by
corporations that benefit lavishly from government programs and laws.
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Reader
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Chicago 3 days ago
Argh. No one is forcing you to feed your children anything. If you want your kids to develop diabetes before
they're out of their teens, you can send them to school with a bag full of pop tarts and tell them not to buy the
school lunch. But I see no reason why MY federal taxpayer dollars should be put towards buying your kids junk
food in school.
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3Recommend
B. Rothman
NYC 4 days ago
Penny wise and pound foolish are the (mainly) Republican members of Congress. They cut funds for the VA at
the same time that millions of newly discharged or aging Vietnam Nam soldiers came in need of care. Now
these same members want others to resign for the inability of insufficient numbers of doctors that they caused.
Likewise they seek to cut food money for those on food stamps and they seek to cheapen the food requirements
in our schools. Shall anyone inform these learned dopes that the obesity these foods help to foster increases
diabetes and diabetes is one of the biggest causes of heart attacks, loss of eye sight, general ill health and early
death? Overweight itself, even without diabetes costs our society in work days lost and other associated health
problems. When you cut access to nutritious food you are cutting your nation's ability to compete. Those who
should step down are the Congressmen and Senators who continue to believe, despite all evidence to the
contrary, that cheap food is equivalent to nutritious food, that limiting money for VA health care workers during
a time of increased need can lead to more "efficiency." By all means save money but don't think that cutting
costs now is going to save money in the long run. We will pay for this as individuals in long term poor health,
in shortened lives, in children whose IQs will be stunted by inadequate vitamins etc., in a lost ability to compete
in business and otherwise. Vote them out.
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PierreP
VA 4 days ago
Well, you did get one thing almost right - voting - but what will probably happen is that there will be more of
these terrible, constitutional toting republicans. Some of us would rather make our own choices rather than have
the government do it for us. With you, we have little choice - with us, you can eat brussell sprouts or fried
chicken. My life - my choice - your life - your choice. Get it?
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Recommend
SJG
NY, NY 4 days ago
The problem with looking to Government to solve the problems with our country's diet is that we ignore the fact
that Government is the problem with our country's diet. The dominance of corn, the rise of agribusiness, the
dominance of fast food, the engineering of food, it all has it's roots in Government regulation and programs.
Michelle Obama is right to point out the handful moves the Government appears poised to make that will hurt
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our diets. But she neglects the wealth of Government policies (from subsidies to incentives) that dwarf these
measures and are the true root of most of our dietary problems.
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Jeremy
Kansas 4 days ago
I understand and appreciate the intent of the new standards, but I have a couple big problems with them: 1.
Schools are not composed of units of children. The "average" child's nutritional requirements makes the
statistics easier, but it doesn't reflect real life. Our schools are not composed enitrely of "average" children. Why
is a 6'2" 220 lb football player with a 4% body fat given the same lunch as a sedentary 5'1" 160 lb
marshmallow? Please show me evidence-based research to back up this decision. Some kids are obese. Others
aren't. Only in DC is this not understood. 2. For all the hoopla about healthier lunches, "a-la-cart" menu items
which include every piece of calorie-dense junk food imaginable are still available to those kids who can afford
it. For those kids who have higher caloric needs, the extra four slices of pizza may be a life saver (if they can
afford it and if it is available at their school). For the marshmallow who just threw away his "healthy" lunch, it's
just more unnecessary calories. 3. Like all of DC's one-size-fits-all solutions, this lacks choice and flexibility.
Give parents and schools flexibility in addressing the problems listed above. Acknowledge what is obvious to
those of us who spend time in the school cafeteria: each kid is different.
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marian
phila 4 days ago
Bravo First Lady! Your efforts are appreciated by honest people of good will- which of course eliminates most
Republicans whose only allegiance is to the corporations that pay them corrupt money and not to our childrenwhether it be the issue of healthy eating, climate change, income disparity or any issue that is not important to
the 1%. They also will do anything to make the Obama administration fail in every way imaginable regardless
of who gets hurt.
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3Recommend
AB
Maryland 4 days ago
One has to wonder about the Republicans. Healthy school lunches, healthy eating, exercise translate into
healthier Americans, not to mention health care savings. The GOP don't oppose healthy lunches. They oppose
the black First Lady and her uppity, sensible, intelligent ideas--that actually work.
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8Recommend
Eric
Fenton, MO 4 days ago
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It's a slippery slope, all these small, "how can you not be in favor of this" prescriptions, incrementally adding
more to government's control over the individual. That approach hasn't been working too well for this country.
Here's hoping the political pendulum swings libertarian. I'd far prefer living where health and wealth are revered
and achievable, rather than enforced and redistributed.
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8Recommend
Jennifer C
Silver Spring MD 4 days ago
Why should wealth be "revered"? That's the root of many of our problems.
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Jack M
NY 4 days ago
The fact that I live in a country where we can publicly, directly, and strongly disagree with the first lady's
opinion makes me proud and overwhelmed with the blessing in my life.
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2Recommend
Bill Weinkle
Florida 4 days ago
Unfortunately, our current nutritional standards are based on bad science and produced the obesity epidemic we
enjoy.
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4Recommend
mmmlk
italy 4 days ago
Aren't there parent committees to oversee the school lunch menus in the US? Mothers and fathers who come in
taste! Every time I read about what is served in American school cafeterias my blood curdles. I remember when
ketcup became a vegetable, peanut butter and jelly a main dish and about pink sleeze-(not the name?) I think
that students should bring their lunches to school. They won't die if they don't have a hot lunch. Or they can
bring soup in a thermos dish.
I would like to see the same trash served up to our congressmen? Give them a taste of what their eat in school.
But their kids probably go to private schools with chefs.
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Recommend
C Wolfe
is a trusted commenter Bloomington IN 4 days ago
The conservative opposition to providing wholesome food in schools has everything to do with Mrs. Obama's
endorsement. It reminds me of how liberals demanded that books be removed from schools because Laura Bush
made literacy her cause.
Oh wait … no, I guess there really is no equivalent to how irrationally the right has politicized nutrition.
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A
Philipse Manor, N.Y. 4 days ago
Believe it or not , I teach 3,4 and 5 year olds cooking in a class in Northern Westchester. When I hold up a
bottle of light golden liquid and ask them to tell me what it is they all say "Olive oil"! It took a while, but now
they recognize this healthy alternative to butter. We make mini burgers with shredded carrots and zucchinis
hidden inside. We sauté chicken tenders in olive oil, herbs and garlic with mini carrots on the side. Just
yesterday we made individual pizza from whole wheat pita,and a sauce made with garlic, scallions, herbs and
tomatoes. The pizzas had a face fashioned with sliced olives for eyes, carrot nose and a green pepper slice for a
smile. During the class we also sing along to pop music I have on a playlist. While things are cooking, the kids
color pictures that I bring in that have something to do with what we are preparing. I have a rule, no one can say
"ew" until AFTER they taste what we make. They have fun, are entertained, and learn, in a very simple way, to
make good food. They feel proud when the food is served and best of all THEY EAT IT! The parents are often
stunned that their children ate some of this fare. The classes are filled every term with a waiting list. There's a
reason for this. Kids can be guided to eat right and if they have fun in the bargain, the whole experience can be
a lot more palatable. Maybe cooking healthily should be a new course in elementary and preschool education!
Build it and they will come.
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DR
New England 4 days ago
You made my day. Thank you.
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Recommend
CommonSenseSenior
Dallas 4 days ago
It is very simple on why children today are (in general) more obese than than their parents were in their youth.
Activity. If you're a baby boomer you probably weren't allow to sit in front of the TV after school or until your
homework was done. You had to be outside and active. You didn't not have a computer or Ipad to which you
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were glued to hours on Facebook, video games. You probably took your lunch to school and had at least a bowl
of cereal before you headed out to school. No free lunch programs, no junk food vending machines at school, no
First Lady bashing American on their fat kids. Active, creative play (outside) has been replaced by passive,
sedentary activity for the most part by attachment to devices, TV, video games, social media entertainment. Just
a sign of the signs. First Lady Obama beating up on healthy foods is not going to change a mindset of self
indulgement, self gratification that began 15-20 years ago. It begans with strong parenting and accountability.
Pure and simply.
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The Pooch
Wendell, MA 4 days ago
If people (on average) are more sedentary, shouldn't they be satiated with fewer calories, instead of more?
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SarahK
New York 4 days ago
I noticed in a prior article about the school lunch program that the lobby group for the cafeteria
administrators/food suppliers was called "The School Nutrition Association." That's a laugh. I'm sure if they
could get away with selling candy bars and Diet Coke for lunch, they would.
Go, Michelle!
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4Recommend
Charles
Tallahassee, FL 4 days ago
If you think cigarettes should be regulated, then you should think the same for junk food.
And we talk about accountability and responsibility for consumers, what about accountability and responsibility
for the people who work at these corporations and know they are selling harmful products?
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6Recommend
wgowen
Rochester MN 4 days ago
Poor nutrition in school lunch programs is simple to understand: follow the money.
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4Recommend
Rob
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Providence, R.I. 4 days ago
Is there any greater threat to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness than the health and well-being of our
populace, especially our young children, the future strength of our nation?
Is it wrong for the First Lady of the United States to want all of our young people to have a chance to get off to
a good start and have their best interests in mind? Don't we want all of our leaders in government to set policies
that take a long-term view that also work for our immediate lives?
The First Lady's agenda and interest is simple and clear: what is good for our children, with scientific evidence
to support it, is also good for our country.
What are the $elf-intere$t$ of the anti-science, obstructionist Congresspersons who are trying to fatten
themselves and our children?
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4Recommend
Rico
NYC 4 days ago
Yes, it's time to stop Big Potato and their henchmen in the House of Representatives.
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5Recommend
Kate
New York 4 days ago
Edicts gone wild. WIC should ban white potatoes? Potatoes are a cultural as well as nutritional mainstay. It
would be like banning greens or mango or something else. Yes, you may need more than potatoes in your diet,
but you also can survive on them quite well.
Some nutritional facts are in order:
Amount Per 1 Potato medium (2-1/4" to 3-1/4" dia) (213 g)
Calories 163
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.2 g 0%
Saturated fat 0.1 g 0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 13 mg 0%
Potassium 897 mg 25%
Total Carbohydrate 37 g 12%
Dietary fiber 4.7 g 18%
Sugar 1.7 g
Protein 4.3 g 8%
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 70%
Calcium 2% Iron 9%
Vitamin D 0 µg Vitamin B-6 30%
Vitamin B-12 0% Magnesium 12%
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*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending
on your calorie needs.
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Reader
Chicago 3 days ago
No one is banning potatoes. It's a question of what you can use federal assistance to purchase. Mrs. Obama
notes that the reason she is in favor of not permitting people to use WIC to purchase potatoes is that many are
already eating enough of them, and not eating enough green vegetables. Basically, it's a question of what foods
WIC dollars should subsidize and she's saying they should go towards the foods people aren't eating enough of.
I really cannot believe how successful Fox News has been at twisting the question of school lunches and dietary
standards -- which has always been part of the federal government's policy agenda -- into a question of
"freedom". Give me a break.
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3Recommend
brock2118
Springfield MO 4 days ago
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.
I think a lot of schools have been watching the salad bar remains going down the recycle bin. That costs lots of
money.
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7Recommend
Mustafar
Washington 4 days ago
Maybe it's the hypocrisy in all of this that just has to make you laugh, but regardless, I don't know that there is
anything funnier than taking away kids' choices for food, especially considering that it's the "pro-choice" party's
doing.
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6Recommend
Rocky
Tampabay 4 days ago
I didn't realize the First Lady was a board certified dietitian/nutritionist? Isn't she breaking some sort of law like
practicing medicine without a license or something?
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8Recommend
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manderine
manhattan 4 days ago
Names please of those congress people who vote against offering healthier food to our public school age
children.
The voters want to know so WE can make a choice what is best for US.
And just their names in political ads this summer!
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Chester K.
New York City 4 days ago
Now what is the covert purpose of this article, which I doubt was written by Mrs. Obama? Pushing buttons to
attack Republicans.
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6Recommend
depressionbaby
Delaware 4 days ago
"Healthy food" thrown away doesn't do much good.
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Zen Dad
Charlottesville, Virginia 4 days ago
The House Republicans who are working against American children must be named and shamed!
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5Recommend
B
USA 4 days ago
Respectfully, Mrs. Obama, I wish you would give up the crusade against the humble spud.
When I was a child, my Irish-American mother put potatoes on our dinner plates every single evening.
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Spaghetti and meatballs? With a side of potatoes. Chinese takeout? With a side of potatoes. Pizza? Don’t forget
to eat your potatoes. Not hungry? Just eat one more bite of potatoes.
Of course, we only ate spaghetti, Chinese takeout or pizza on very rare special occasions. (How exotic!) Every
other evening, we ate standard Irish-American fare, which consisted of one serving of lean meat, one serving of
a green vegetable, one serving of some non-green vegetable, and a big pile of mashed potatoes.
A major problem with the so-called “standard American diet” is that Americans have become disconnected
from their families’ traditional ways of eating. Traditional ways of eating tend to work. My mom’s traditional
meals (with LOTS of potatoes) worked for my siblings and me - we were always at the tops of our classes, we
all now hold advanced degrees in STEM, and some of us still eat our potatoes. Not one of us is overweight.
The potato is a key component in a traditional diet that works. Should we stand in the way of nutrition and
tradition simply because some people eat too many fries?
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Respectfully
NY 4 days ago
Anecdotes about one's childhood diet are meaningless when we are talking about scientific, data-driven results.
Sure, lots of potatoes for you and your siblings may not have had any deleterious effects on your current
physical well-being. But how does that in any way negate Mrs. Obama's point that, on the whole, providing
access to potatoes over other foods would prevent many people from getting the nutrients they need?
I ate a lot of PB&J and Mac n' Cheese growing up -- perhaps too much. But, thankfully, I've never been
overweight. Does that mean we should start substituting PB&J for fruits and vegetables?
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6Recommend
B
USA 3 days ago
@Respectfully in NY, please read more carefully what I wrote. I am not arguing that my anecdote is proof of
anything. (As a scientist, that is against my very fiber.) The anecdote is for context and a bit of humor; it is not a
justification for anything.
My *actual* argument, with which you may disagree, is that Americans’ departure from traditional diets is a
problem. People who eat traditional diets tend not to be overweight, and it doesn’t seem to matter which
traditional diet one happens to eat (plenty of scientific studies to back that up). The potato happens to be the key
component of one particular type of traditional diet. Without the potato, that particular traditional diet falls
apart. I am not saying that the potato itself is such a great thing, but that this traditional diet - taken as a whole is.
Are you arguing that the traditional Irish-American diet is unacceptable? I would take it over the “standard
American diet” any day.
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Jp
PA 4 days ago
The amazing thing is that she ridicules Congress for declaring that "the sauce on a slice of pizza should count as
a vegetable in school lunches", not on the basis of the absurdity that CONGRESS has anything to say about
school lunches in the first place, but based on nutrition. Through and through, the premise is clear: government
needs to govern what you eat.
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5Recommend
CG
Illinois 4 days ago
With all due respect, Mrs. Obama, it is absolutely none of your business what any of us eat, or how much we
eat, when we eat, etc. Talk about government overreach -- proclaiming, then legislating, what we and our
children can and cannot eat is going too far.
Other first ladies have occupied themselves with laudable goals that did not involve big government intrusions
in our lives -- working to end the scourge of drugs in our society and improving literacy among children and
adults. But that's not enough for the wife of Obama -- while he is busily expanding government's power over
individuals in record ways, his wife is equally busy doing the same thing. It is disgusting.
I am so glad that the Obamas term will be over in a couple of years and I devoutly hope that we will elect a
reasonable President who actually believes in limited government and in the Constitution. It will be a breath of
fresh air after the tyranny of Obama.
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7Recommend
Reader
Chicago 4 days ago
No one is legislating what you can eat. The point is we shouldn't be putting federal taxpayer dollars towards
junk food for kids or families when that creates more health problems and thus more costs down the road. It's
just stupid policy. Not to mention how sad it is to see how obese our children are and to imagine the health
problems they'll struggle with for their lifetimes. I am so grateful to our First Lady for the important work she's
doing.
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3Recommend
Okie
Oklahoma 3 days ago
"The point is we shouldn't be putting federal taxpayer dollars towards junk food for kids or families when that
creates more health problems and thus more costs down the road. It's just stupid policy."
Perhaps then you support stricter rules limiting food stamp purchases to healthy foods only?
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Recommend
DazedAndAmazed
Oregon 4 days ago
What is the purpose of our government?
If our government exists primarily to promote the health and general well being of American citizens Mrs.
Obama is clearly correct in promoting healthy foods and unbiased, science-based health education in schools.
On the other hand, if the primary purpose of our government is to promote the welfare and profitability of
corporations and narrow agricultural lobbies there are big problems with what she is advocating here.
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6Recommend
Greed Isinallwalksoflife
Austin, TX 3 days ago
Our government is here to assist in keeping citizens safe. That is their primary purpose, not providing financial
assistance or making decisions for individuals or corporations. As free people, those things are supposed to be
taken care of by ourselves.
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Recommend
John
Iowa 4 days ago
How ridiculous that some parents need the government to tell their kids what they can eat. How spineless some
are to want a government with the power to mandate the content of their child's lunch. Why can't we have two
sets of rules? Let the weak and clueless parents sign up to submit their lives to government regulation. They
need it. Allow those willing to take responsibility for their child's health make their own rules. It's past time to
start customizing laws for the responsible people in our country. Why should intelligent people be governed by
laws for the stupid? The movement has already begun with changes concerning people's sexual behavior and
marijuana use. Next up for reform: seat belt laws, mandatory school attendance and personal food choice.
Intelligent people don't need a nanny state.
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5Recommend
DR
New England 4 days ago
Take a look at the obesity stats around the country. Apparently there aren't enough intelligent people out there
making nutritional decisions.
That would be fine if those people paid 100% of their own medical costs for obesity related illnesses but they
don't, too many of them stick taxpayers with the bill.
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Recommend
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Juan Archer
Atlanta 4 days ago
Real life joke: How can you tell who the vegetarians are at a party?
Not to worry, they will come and announce it to you.
Our Parents punished us by, "grounding" ... translation is, no outdoor activity for a specific period of time.
Parents today punish children by taking away electronic privileges. With regards to children, body weight is like
a bank account, if the quantity of deposits exceeds the withdrawals then the account increases.
Now, society is creating inactive couch potatoes that are raised and educated in a system where everybody wins,
trophies for all, no losers, fair share, blame others, wealth envy, drug boys with ADH-ABCDEFG (cash cow for
big pharma & Drs). So today many children are overweight, lazy, and most are focusing on diet as the culprit!
Solution - Stop trying to make children be vegetarians but coach them on diet choices while letting them enjoy
and experiment in their growth years. Put lots of emphasis and spend plenty of time with them on physical
activities in/outdoors and get them involved in competitive sports as toddlers and their youth and obesity should
not be an issue!
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2Recommend
lrichins
nj 4 days ago
Sorry, but congress is to blame, and specifically the house, and anyone with half a brain can see why. Take a
look at food prices, and what do you notice? That processed foods, heavy with fat, salt and sugar, are a lot
cheaper than fresh vegtables and fruits, whole grains and so forth. That supersize meal at McDonalds is very
cheap, and why? Hamburger buns that are cheap because the are full of HFC (heavily subsidized), hybrid wheat
(heavily subsidized), fries (potatoes, heavily subsidized), and cheap hamburger meat (cheap bc cattle are fed
with cheap corn (subsidized heavily), and pumped full of hormones and antibiotics (which congress has
specifcally allowed them to do).
The problem is that the farm interests, specifically the agri businesses, but especially the farm state
congressman, are supporting the junky food you see in schools and in low income neighborhoods, because those
foods make a lot of money for corn farmers, wheat and soy farmers, and companies like ADM and Cargill. The
issue with WIC and potatoes is only the tip of the iceberg (potatoes are heavily subsidized).
School lunch programs, handcuffed by tight budgets, find that the cheapest foods are also the cheapest and that
is the direct result of congressional choices. The reason for junk food is the vendors that put the machines in the
schools pay the school for the right, which helps relieve budget stress.....
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5Recommend
DR
New England 4 days ago
Another reason that fast food is so cheap is because we're subsidizing the work force.
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1Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
Eating healthy is expensive. Our health insurance costs went up $1600 a year this year and we have to make
cuts. On top of that, energy costs have also gone up, my taxes have gone up, gas is way more expensive then
five years ago... and I am making the same money I was 5 years ago. America is in decline and the richer keep
getting richer. No wonder most of Wall Street voted Democrat!
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2Recommend
PE
Seattle 4 days ago
It almost seems to play like a Charles Dickens novel. In this country, with so much wealth generated, there is
actually a faction trying to stop efforts to make school lunches healthier. It boils down to our core values as a
nation. What are our priorities?
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3Recommend
Gerty Hofmann
US 4 days ago
I'm (sigh) far removed from my school years but still struggle to break the hold of established snacking patterns.
Although my communal workplace strives to provide healthy veggies and other locally grown organic goodies
(most of my communaleagues are vegan), I often guiltily sneak out to the food trucks and fat food shops. This is
a perfect example of how government must step in and correct a market failure making our kids sick. I salute
Mrs. Obama for her bravery in taking on Big Snack.
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2Recommend
LPL
Salem 4 days ago
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I appreciate your passion for promoting nutritional meals for better health, Mrs. Obama. Please also direct that
passion towards mandatory GMO labeling, so that we can make informed choices about whether or not we wish
to consume foods prepared with genetically modified ingredients.
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6Recommend
Hans Christian Brando
Los Angeles 4 days ago
For the organization's admittedly noble goal of helping children to eat better, the irony of the name Let's Move!
is that the larger culprit in contemporary childhood obesity (like kids eating junk is something new?) is lack of
physical exercise as kids crouch over their video games and electronic devices.
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2Recommend
Tsultrim
CO 4 days ago
This will date me, unfortunately...not unfortunately for me, but for our society...I remember the vending
machines when I was in 7th and 8th grade. They contained milk, cornnuts (that was the worst thing), apples,
other fruit, sunflower seeds, things like that. There were no cookies, candy, or chips. We bought from the
machines regularly and enjoyed what was in them. So why is this now seen as a problem? What's the
underlying motive in Congress to destroy our children's health? That's a question we need to be asking, and
loudly.
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1Recommend
TheMule
Iowa 4 days ago
Having the federal government decide on the minutia of what should be in school lunches is like have the CEO
of a Fortune 500 company decide how the office supply cabinet should be stocked. This is getting absurd.
The first lady is basically taking the latest dieting fads from the upper class society she lives in and trying to
micromanage the lives of every child in the US with it. It's just plain idiotic, annoying, and an improper use of
federal government.
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6Recommend
nerdgirl5000
nyc 4 days ago
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First Lady Obama is absolutely right and I applaud her for not caving and doing the right thing.
Along those lines, there's one other thing that should be addressed: With the new Affordable Care Act's Federal
Guidelines, testing for glucose is no longer paid for, unless you or a family member has gestational diabetes.
Given how many people have diabetes in this country, glucose and cholesterol testing should be a free part of
every person's yearly blood labs.
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3Recommend
The Pooch
Wendell, MA 4 days ago
Fat per se is not the problem. Naturally-fatty whole foods (e.g. egg yolks) are also nutrient-dense and quite
satiating to the appetite. Processed foods with added fats are a mess.
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4Recommend
PatTheRat
DFW 4 days ago
Children are definitely thinking more about what they eat - primarily because they are hungry all the time
thanks to this "Let's Move!" initiative. You do not gain a lifestyle change by forcing children to starve; you do it
by offering them well-balanced meals that they enjoy.
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2Recommend
AB
Maryland 3 days ago
Those of us who had stay-at-home moms in the 1960s and 1970s can remember summers spent playing outside-all day. Pick up baseball games, dodge ball, races, riding bikes. And most of this occurred in the street or on
borrowed fields that we cleared ourselves. Our mothers would have to call us home for dinner. Activity is a
good thing. Only in the "up is down" Obama-hating world would someone be offended by common sense. If the
first lady had written a piece about the beauty of gluttony, TV watching, and inactivity, the right would have
used that as proof that she's a lazy good-for-nothing.
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4Recommend
John
Kansas City, MO 4 days ago
I seem to remember a lot of creamed chicken, macaroni and cheese, fried fish sticks, and chili and big cinnamon
rolls in our school lunches in the 1960s. Where was this outrage then?
It's naive to think that kids aren't going to eat "junk food" outside of school. The drive-through windows at the
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Taco Bell and McDonald's near my house are busy all the time.
Why don't we get serious about the bigger problems of public schools: stagnant achievement despite years of
"reform," and inner-city schools, which, at least in Kansas City, Missouri, have been allowed to rot and become
cesspools of staggering incompetence and waste, over the last five decades?
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4Recommend
Ambrose
NY 4 days ago
I think Mrs. Obama nails it in the final paragraph:
"The bottom line is very simple: As parents, we always put our children’s interests first. We wake up every
morning and go to bed every night worrying about their well-being and their futures."
And that is why we'd like more limits on the power of unelected know-it-alls to dictate what our children can
and cannot eat.
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6Recommend
Mikey
New York, New York 4 days ago
Good plan. Let's give the kids food they won't eat (and throw in the trash) to cure obesity. Why don't we just
eliminate lunch break and save the money.
Of course, your children don't have to deal with this since you send them to private school. oops, sorry, i
probably shouldn't mention that since you progressives love public school so much (and oppose vouchers which
would allow poor children to go to decent schools.)
I'm still waiting on you to give in and tell the school admins to "let them have cake."
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5Recommend
DR
New England 4 days ago
I no longer have children in school but I pay taxes. My tax dollars end up footing the bill for obesity related
illnesses, so it's in the best interests of taxpayers and government to make sure that kids are healthy.
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2Recommend
Greed Isinallwalksoflife
Austin, TX 3 days ago
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They wouldn't if the government didn't insist on taking over healthcare. That is exactly what they want. Take
over healthcare and then they can tell you how to live in all ways because they are the ones footing the bill.
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2Recommend
oip4woier
USA 4 days ago
My opinion is I lost my medicine to Obamacare because I can no longer afford to pay for it - the new insurance
sees to that. I don't qualify for food stamps or electricity aide because I "earn too much" at a thousand dollars a
month. So thanks to this administration I really do now have to decide between medicine and groceries. I know
what it is like to be poor and go grocery shopping and potatoes are cheap and reasonably healthy. So the
brilliant editors of this paper want to take away ALL of the cheap food? You realize, of course, that the reason
these women aren't buying the colorful vegetables isn't ignorance it's because even with WIC they have to make
their government aide stretch and they simply can't stretch it that far, right?
And as far as schools go they can't afford to buy the healthy vegetables either? They have so much to spend per
student and as it is they have met Michelle, who isn't an elected official and therefore has no right to be setting
policy in the first place, by making the meals smaller. So the kids are complaining about being hungry at school
where they weren't before.
Not that this will ever get printed - the NYT only prints comments that agrees with it. They stopped being "All
the news that's fit to print" a long time ago.
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6Recommend
CLee
Ohio 4 days ago
We should be as concerned with what our children eat as with how they test on standardized tests. They might
not like the healthy food at first, but given time, they will assuming that we, as parents don't wimp out and go
for the junk. School lunches should be healthy just like the content of the lessons should be appropriate and the
hallways safe. Let them eat the junk on their own time and on their own dime. Go for it Michelle!!!
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3Recommend
MAT
Henderson, NV 4 days ago
I remember when ketchup was classified as a vegetable under the Reagan administration. Try as they might,
nothing the GOP does today can trump that.
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2Recommend
SE
Texas 4 days ago
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If I agreed with the diet the WH is promoting for kids, I might feel differently about the whole thing. Research
is showing that too many carbs is bad for health, especially in the form of sugars. I have lunch with my kids and
see what is being served in their school, and I am saddened by the fact that this diet does nothing to really
address the factors that cause obesity and long term illness like diabetes. Sure, there are salads offered - right
alongside ice cream, cookies and 1% milk. No wonder the kids are hungry - there are little to no healthy fats in
these meals, but there are a lot of empty carbs that cause insulin spikes, which lead to fat storage. I suggest the
First Lady read books by Gary Taubes and Dr. Robert Lustig before trying to come across as a nutritional
expert.
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5Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
I agee. Mrs. Obama had never had a nutrition course. For one thing, they are trying to ban chocolate milk. My
kids drink twice as much low fat chocolate milk as they do white milk. I encourage it. Calcium is extremely
important at young ages because the human body stops absorbing it in the low twenties. After that you are
simply doing calcium maintenance. Why try to get kids to stop drinking milk? Also, every time they add a low
fat item to the menu... all you have to do is look at the label and realize that they up the sugars and calories to
make it low fat.
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4Recommend
pat durk
chicago 4 days ago
There is nothing wrong with talking about eating better and exercising more. What the First Lady has done is
take taxpayer money and used it to benefit everyone but the children. If you haven't had a Michelle Obama
approved lunch you shouldn't comment on here. It's double the price and it is not appetizing. I ate terrible when
I was young, but I also ran and played and didn't sit in front of the tv. Michelle Obama's girls are slim, they eat
pizza and nachos and all sorts of banned foods that public school kids do not get to eat. It's about getting back to
recess and play and talking to kids about why eating right and exercising is important. None of that takes
billions of dollars.
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7Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
our school lunches went up 25 cents a piece and the kids are begging to take sack lunches. The extra money
doesn't hurt the wealthy elitists like the Obamas but with multiple kids in school it is definitely hurting my
finances.
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3Recommend
DR
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New England 3 days ago
Whatever it takes - So give your kids a sack lunch.
Who do you think ends up footing the bill for all of the obesity related illnesses in this country? It costs a lot
more than the small increase in lunch prices.
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2Recommend
pat durk
chicago 3 days ago
Obesity rates have gone up since she started this. The government and taxpayer money can't stop obesity.
Parents need to be the ones who turn off the tv and set an example for their kids. My kids were allowed to play
Nintendo two hours a week (on the weekends). They are slim young men who enjoy outdoor activities.
Healthcare costs are high for a lot of reasons, not just obesity.
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Recommend
A. Stanton
Dallas, TX 4 days ago
Until the country gives people better things to like, the people will like junk food.
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2Recommend
fallsvillager
Falls Village, CT 4 days ago
Did I read this correctly? Mrs. Obama thinks that people on food stamps should not be able to buy a bag of
white potatoes? Aren't white potatoes--mashed, boiled, baked, roasted or added to Irish stew or an Indian curry-a very affordable food that is part of a well-balanced diet?
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18Recommend
jsb
Texas 3 days ago
No, you did not read the article correctly. Mrs. Obama is asking that the government follow the council of the
Institute of Medicine, who says that, while potatoes are nutritious, Americans already eat potatoes in sufficient
quantities. They recommend not adding white potatoes to the WIC program because there are other nutritional
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deficits that need to be met. Remember, the purpose of WIC is to provide children with nutrition, not food.
SNAP provides food, WIC provides nutrition.
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6Recommend
gottago3
Conroe, TX 4 days ago
The problem isn't with potatoes. The problem is with Michelle Obama and her insistence that she be taken
seriously. If she had read up on potatoes as much as she has running her mouth, she would have found that
potatoes are actually good for you. That's called running your mouth before engaging your brain.
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14Recommend
Lisa
Virginia 3 days ago
One more time for the cheap seats: the issue with white potatoes is the effect on your insulin response. Should
you choose to eat a simple baked potato with black pepper and plain yogurt once a week--you will be fine. The
issue for many is that they eat more than one a week, and when they do, they eat it with butter, salt and sour
cream (get the picture?). So for WIC to endorse these, rather than a food that can be eaten with abandon
(greens, radishes, beans, sweet potatoes--which don't have the same insulin response, etc.), is problematic.
Your response is not informed--and reinforces the need for someone who is to use the position to get the word
out.
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3Recommend
The Pooch
Wendell, MA 3 days ago
Adding butter or sour cream to the baked potato slows digestion, and the resulting blood sugar/insulin response
is lower than baked potato alone.
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Recommend
Lisa
Virginia 3 days ago
Not true; we do clinical research all day long watching and measuring grehlin responses and insulin responses
to measured food intake. White potatoes with 1 Tablespoon butter (or margarine, doesn't matter) has the same
insulin response in the blood regardless of time to digest. But, lets go with your premise, now you've added
butter and sour cream (I can give you one or the other, in small doses--and, again, you'd be fine if you do it less
than once per week, don't smoke, exercise vigorously at least 30 minutes four times a week, etc.), so added fat
and calories---why? The potato is good for you...when eaten alone.
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Recommend
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bkay
USA 4 days ago
Children usually model the eating/exercising habits of the adults in their family. And the adult obesity rates
have doubled since 1980 from 15% to over 34%. Thus, until and unless adults value healthy eating and exercise
and create that habit in their children, childhood obesity will probably continue.
Also, there are many other factors that contribute to the lack of healthy eating and sufficient exercise, including
poverty. There is little access in the inner city to fresh fruits and vegetables. And processed foods are higher in
calories and cheaper than healthy foods. They are also made to taste better by way of high fat, sugar, salt, thus
hooking the eater into becoming addicted to that kind of food.
Also, even though Mrs. Obama has the time and capacity to be concerned about health, in these difficult
economic times the majority of families who fail to eat healthy or exercise, have too much on their plates, other
than food, with which to deal, like paying bills and keeping a roof over their head. Health is understandably the
furtherst from their mind.
In the US African Americans have the higest age-adjusted rates of obesity at 47.8% followed by Hispanics at
42.5%. And these statistis probably go hand in hand with the sad impact of poverty.
So, even though Mrs. Obama is to be lauded for her interests and attempts to make a difference in the area of
health. The problem is part of a much bigger economic/cultural/social picture that must also be addressed.
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1Recommend
EC
Maryland 4 days ago
The problem with weight in this country can be directly correlated to the corn subsidies that Al Gore actually
did invent. In the early/mid 80's, the corn subsidies went into effect. Immediately afterward, the food industry
switched from sugar to corn syrup, from potato based dextrose to corn based dextrose - everything that could be
made out of corn in any single way, was. This is despite archeological and medical evidence showing the effects
of corn on the human system. Many Native American skeletons show wear on the bones from weight as well as
horrible teeth from the amount of corn in the diet. Medical science shows the effects of corn syrup versus sugar
- corn syrup makes you gain weight far more quickly and makes it harder to loose. Today, read any label in
fridge or pantry - it will say corn syrup, dextrose, fructose-glucose, or corn starch in almost everything. Even
that oh so healthy subway sandwich has tons of corn in it - in the meat (dextrose), the bread (corn meal, corn
starch, corn syrup), and the seasonings (corn starch). This is all directly tied back to Al Gore's corn subsidies
but still, nothing is being done by the Democrats to get rid of these outdated laws. Instead, they add another
bandaid, like forcing "good" food down our children’s throats. Who is to say that that food is "good"? Mrs.
Obama? The government? These are the same people that created the problem. Fix the issue by getting rid of
the corn subsidies.
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9Recommend
Pope Urban II
Newport News, VA 4 days ago
Just like the drug and diet industry, she ignores physical fitness, which is much more critical to public health
than weight.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2014/...lly-unfit/
"overweight and obese children were less fit than those who had a healthy weight; only 30 percent of
overweight children and 20 percent of obese passed the minimum standards to be called fit. But even so, only
54 percent of children with normal weight had adequate levels of cardiorespiratory fitness."
Only 54% of normal weight children are physically fit. Parents and culture are to blame, not the schools.
Parents are helicopter parents and won't let their kids go out alone and are too lazy or preoccupied to go out
with them and supervise. It's easier to put on a movie or video game and they can have peace without worrying
about something happening. I live 5 miles from where I grew up. The courts and fields we used to play at every
day are now completely vacant. It wasn't unusal for us to come home and devour an entire family sized bag of
Doritos and a 9 piece Chicken McNugget meal w/supersized fries and not a single one of us was fat or unfit.
We have our kids drugged up on antidepressants and ADHD medicine and they are developing crazy allergies
and can't make it through a season without a flu shot. Sufficient physical activity is known to alleviate all of that
better without the side effects.
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8Recommend
Lisa
Virginia 3 days ago
Hence the 'Let's Move' Campaign...since 2009.
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5Recommend
Dave
Albuquerque, NM 4 days ago
I give credit to Michelle Obama for promoting healthy eating and exercise. However having the Federal
government force these guidelines on local school districts is not how this country should be run. They can
provide information on nutrition but what kids get in local school districts is none of the Federal governments
business.
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8Recommend
Chris Hill
Seattle 4 days ago
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The problem a lot of people are overseeing is that, this is a public school system. It's controlled by the
Department of Education, so by default, it is the government's job to control school lunches. However, the fact
that the president's wife is involved in this is a complete mockery to the whole system. It's hokey and stupid.
What we need is more school CHOICE. We need to take the system OUT of the hands of the DoE. That way
parents can voluntarily create a natural market demand for schools that offer better lunch options. When we
accomplish that, we won't have to worry about one dietary rule that effects all children.
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7Recommend
tankette
Oklahoma 4 days ago
Words from an unelected person trying to push her personal agenda down the throats of free people. Stay out of
my kitchen, my lunch bag, and off my lunch plate.
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11Recommend
Bevan Davies
Maine 3 days ago
You are not correct when you state that this is Michelle Obama's "personal agenda." The Children Nutrition Bill
was passed in Congress in 2010, making some important changes to school lunch programs.
There are plenty of "unelected" people who make known their opinions about public policies. That is their right.
Are you angry because Mrs. Obama is a well-known public figure, or is there something else to your hostility?
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5Recommend
TEJ
New York, NY 3 days ago
This "unelected person" has every right to express her opinion the same as you do. You have the right to ignore
her, as you no doubt will. She's not in your kitchen, that lunch bag, and she's not on your plate. You can
continue to stuff yourself with whatever junk you want, nobody's going to stop you. She is as free to express
herself as you. Disagree? Go ahead, no one's stopping you.
I applaud her efforts, and I wish her well.
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4Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 4 days ago
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Mrs. Obama... I would so agree with you if it weren't for the hypocrasy you display. First of all, our govt spends
2 billion a year on food stamps purchasing soda. Just last week I followed a woman who paid with her "quest"
card who bought 6 cases of pepsi. She also purchased numerous boxes of the generic $0.25 boxes of mac and
cheese. Living on a budget I frequently buy these as well because my kids love them and I can actually get them
to eat them. Unfortunately, I cannot afford soda. If I do occasionally buy it I buy the generic brand in diet. You
really want to help kids to eat healthy then by all means please stop using my tax money to pay for regular soda,
ice cream, chips and candy bars! Otherwise, please stop messing with my kids lunches. Because of you I now
have to pay $0.25 more per day and my kids are eating less! This is nothing to you but the extra money their
lunches are costing me is hurting my finances!
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9Recommend
yourmakinmecrazy
Boston 4 days ago
For kids, being overweight is all about lack of activity, not about diet. Kids have eaten junk food for generations
without becoming overweight. What has changed, is that today kids do written tests in gym class instead of run
around, they get home and their parents want them in the house "where its safe" from the boggy man where they
sit and play video games - rather than play outside and ride their bikes.
Stop stressing about a bag of chips. That ain't the cause....
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10Recommend
Lisa
Virginia 3 days ago
No illness or disease, except lung cancer from smoking, is caused by a single factor. Nothing.
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3Recommend
Dave
Dallas, Tex. 4 days ago
I pack my kids lunches myself - have for years. Those complaining should do the same. Not to rain on
Michelle's parade, but even her 'healthy' selections pale to my hand-made lunches. :)
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10Recommend
Maxine
Chicago 4 days ago
The government cannot accomplish its constitutional, core functions with effectiveness and efficiency and
without massive waste and staggering incompetence. Yet, led by someone's unelected, unaccomplished wife
they want to control and dictate what and how much kids eat. Irrational liberal Democrats applaud an demand
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more government. Swell. Perhaps Michelle and Harry Reid can develop a massive program to build
infrastructure to the moon to import green cheese. It is very healthy.
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10Recommend
Kathy rose
Minneapolis 4 days ago
The Republicans will do anything to make Michelle Obama (hence the President) look bad including lack of
concern for our children's health. The one and only reason for government is to protect the weak. Shame on
those politicians who think only about themselves and their political future. Brave to the first lady for her stellar
efforts to promote nutrition and health in this country.
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5Recommend
sam felton
new jersey 3 days ago
" The one and only reason for government is to protect the weak" Where is that 'protect the weak' in the
constitution?
What are you even talking about ???
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6Recommend
The Serferdude
nv 4 days ago
Occam's Razor states that when presented with multiple solutions to a problem
the simplest solution is most likely the best choice! Ergo: Put an onerous tax on all sugars,problem solved!!
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4Recommend
Teacher, Mrs.B
Coppell,TX 4 days ago
Why is this even being debated? OH that's right, corporations that contribute to politicians count on schools and
the such to buy their no nutritional value food to fill our kids lunch trays. Shame on you Congress for making
the health of our kids a political volleyball.
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5Recommend
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Hondo
Minnesota 3 days ago
No, it's being debated because schools are losing money on these programs. Millions of "paying students" have
abandoned the program and plate waste is up (kids are throwing away what they are "required to take" but have
no intention of eating). Some of the kids aren't getting enough calories and are buying junk off school grounds.
The debate is about whether to allow schools to fix the problems / amend the programs or if the top down nanny
state solution will be reinforced, regardless of the failures.
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Recommend
Mike Clarke
nj 4 days ago
When is the First Lady going to push to make it illegal to purchase junk food, such as soda, chips and donuts,
with food stamps?
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9Recommend
Elliot
Chicago 4 days ago
Mrs. Obama, what people eat is not your business. We are not so stupid that we need you to pick for us. Mind
your own business, eat what you want to eat, and leave us alone.
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14Recommend
Okie
Oklahoma 3 days ago
"We are not so stupid that we need you to pick for us."
Actually, we (the US at-large, no pun intended) are quite stupid, with shocking obesity rates being exhibit A.
Sadly, my state is a shining example of this.
This is the Great Problem with Liberty, having the freedom to be as fat and stupid as you wish. If people want
the government to take care of the ignorant masses (with healthcare, school nutrition, etc.) it requires sacrificing
our freedom of choice. I would hope responsible people reject this.
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4Recommend
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Lisa
Virginia 3 days ago
It is not about being stupid, it is about being informed. Perhaps you are, or perhaps you are not. Either way, we
all end up in the same pool of sick when it comes top the bottom line of healthcare dollars spent (whether you
are in Medicare, VA, private or the new health exchanges). If you develop Type II diabetes, high blood
pressure, blindness from retinopathies, amputations from diabetes complications, or become obese---we all pay
for that. As a nurse, I always wish that folks with the 'stay out of my health business' attitude got one shot at
choosing their health plans. Once you choose (and then live your life and the consequences mount), you cannot
go back. You cannot come to the hospital or clinic as a result of any of your choices--because you have chosen
to believe you live in isolation, rather than in a society.
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3Recommend
TEJ
New York, NY 3 days ago
Hey, Elliot! Calm down! Take a tranquilizer! She's not picking anything for you - don't worry, you can still stuff
yourself with all the junk you want. The
First Lady is trying to do what's right for this nation's children, and I applaud her efforts, and encourage her to
keep fighting the good fight. She has a lot of people in her corner!
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8Recommend
Elizabeth
Virginia 4 days ago
I am completely on board with healthy school meals. WIC and the food stamp program, however, need revision.
Since we're all about the nutrition, recipients of these programs should be prohibited from buying sodas, candy,
sodium-laden microwave meals, sugary cereals and the like. What's wrong with buying a sack of potatoes?
Recipients should purchase more raw foods to cook (potatoes, beans, flour, meal, etc.). My grandparents raised
twelve children on beans, potatoes, cornbread, and whatever veggies they had canned or frozen. None of their
children have ever been obese. I just don't like my tax dollars going toward soda and chips. WIC is more
restrictive, but food stamps have few health-based restrictions. Let's make all recipients of federal food funding
abide by nutritional guidelines, not just our students. What good does it do to provide only low fat milk and
wheat bread at school when the food stamp program is facilitating soda, chips, and cookies at home? This
scenario is what my grandmother would colorfully describe as "gagging at the gnat and swallowing the
elephant."
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6Recommend
yorkyfan
virginia 4 days ago
I listened faithfully to my nutritionist in the eighties to limit fat. Fat was bad-complex carbs were good. Eat lowfat yogurt! Eat low-fat salad dressing! Eat whole-grain breads! Eat brown rice! Unfortunately I developed type
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2 diabetes. And ,until watching "Sugar-The Bitter Truth" by Dr. Robert Lustig and reading Gary Taubes' "Good
Calories, Bad Calories", I did not realize that my low-fat diet, recommended by the USDA at the time, was
accelerating my development of diabetes. Nutritional "science" is terrible science and "recommendations" by
any government entity are dominated by politics not science. So I would take MIchelle Obama's words with a
grain of salt (no pun intended!) and pack my own kid's lunch.
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14Recommend
Lisa
Virginia 3 days ago
Hmmmm....sounds like you are actually agreeing with what she is saying. The USDA is part of the government
and those recommendations (the ones regarding lowering fat in the diet to which you refer) were based on
science, but the food industry, supported by policy from Congress, substituted the fat that was removed from
food with sugar--which is why you developed Type II diabetes. That low-fat dressing and yogurt you ate is
filled with sugar.
You are essentially throwing the baby out with the bathwater in your analysis. Once again, the food industry
(potato growing states and their lobbyists, as one example) in addition to Congress, are ignoring the science,
just like what happened in the 80's.
Nutritional science is not 'terrible', we just need to educate people on how to interpret the results so they can
make informed choices, even when the government cannot.
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3Recommend
NYT Pick
yorkyfan
virginia 3 days ago
There is very little quality science in the field of nutrition. And the US government recommendations for a lowfat diet (rather than a low sugar diet ) in the late seventies/early eighties were directly responsible for the
obesity/type 2 diabetes/high blood pressure/heart disease epidemic that plagues us today. And, trust me, type 2
diabetes is no picnic for me. And you expect me to trust Michelle Obama?! Don't get me wrong. I admire and
support the Obamas. But rather than specific guidelines based on questionable science, let us stop food
advertising during programs for children 12 and under. Let us stop subsidizing the mass farming of corn and
start supporting small family farms growing a variety of produce. Let us tax all sugar-sweetened beverages
(including juice!) Let us fund the nutritional science of the highest scientific caliber and make that research
available to parents so that parents ultimately make the decision.
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24Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
I had the same problem... the govt's food pyramid was terrible for me. (Guess who paid for the studies to
support it? Post and Kelloggs!) I have taken to eating naturally... a low carb, paleo diet and my blood glucose,
cholesterol and LDL's have all dropped. (even though I am eating more meat!) The real problem with obesity
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began when regular soda and refined flours were introduced. Unfortunately, the bulk of food bought with food
stamps are high in refined sugars and flours! Just last week I saw someone buy 6 cases of Pepsi with her quest
card. So unhealthy!
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Recommend
Chinaman
China 4 days ago
Bear in mind that an average school lunch contains the equivalent of a double handful of sugar. So we feed our
children this massive dose of sugar and then complain when they get hyperactive. When the get hyper, the
school system medicated them to hide the effects of the sugar overdose. Why? Who profits? The drug
companies for sure! The children, never! Virtually all of the young men committing mass murder these past few
years were on medication. If we need an investigation, this is certainly one I would back, particularly if the drug
companies, unions, and school administrators had no part in it.
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4Recommend
marklaporta
New York, NY 4 days ago
The problem Republicans have with scientific fact and responsible action toward school nutrition is nothing
new. In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan got away with saying "ketchup is a vegetable." As I see it, this flat out lie
should have been an impeachable offense, not merely because it was deceptive and clearly a nod to special
interests, but because of the real, demonstrable damage it has done to American children.
The sad fact, however, is that we live in a society that refuses to take anything seriously except corporate
profits. At the same time, I would be very interested to see the lunch menu at the schools attended by the
children of our grossly overpaid CEOs. Would we see tater tots and pizza, would we see the same level of
obesity, the same threat of diabetes?
Of course not. Because in our unequal society good nutrition is only for children of parents who have "earned
it," either by inheriting wealth, using the US economy as their private gambling den, or rigging the system, as in
the healthcare and insurance industries, to produce massively redundant profits on products and services
delivered decades ago.
In fact, the real obesity problem doesn't stop with our children's bodies. It extends to the unimaginably supersized greed of the 1% and the fact that, apparently, you cam bribe a member of Congress for peanuts.
But what, I wonder, will corporate leaders do when, a few generations from now, Americans are too poor, too
sick and too weak to shop?
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7Recommend
Chris
Kansas City, Missouri 3 days ago
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White potatoes are just about the cheapest and most filling healthy food you can buy. Add in rice and beans, and
you can eat healthy and quite cheap. This terrible advice Michelle Obama is giving.
Read Matt Fitzgerald's "Diet Cults," and you might learn something.
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10Recommend
sallyb
wicker park 60622 3 days ago
Hello! She isn't saying not to eat potatoes (except fries – skip the fries!). Rather, the idea that WIC money
should be used for fruits & green veggies. Recipients can and do buy potatoes on their own – they're plentiful,
filling, and inexpensive.
Anyway, she does not legislate, she just raises awareness.
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2Recommend
NYCLAW
Flushing, New York 3 days ago
Over the years, the junk food, fast food, cigarette industries and our healthcare system have conspired and
created a vicious circle for the Americans. The first three industries have created and expanded an endless
customer base (including targeting our children) for the healthcare industry while our governments sit and
watch this slow-motion disaster unfolds.
The First Lady's minor attempts to reverse this powerful trend have been countered fiercely by the lobbyists.
Like Rome, our downfall as the first republic and the greatest republic may be the result of the acts of domestic
enemies rather than our foreign foes.
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7Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
Most large empires collapse because they get too big and cannot sustain the debt... which we are well are on
way to doing! With troops in 132 countries and record welfare we are spiraling down as we speak. Whether or
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not we allow moms to choose whether or not they feed their kids potatoes is simply a distraction from the real
problem!
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Recommend
Tracy
Chicago 3 days ago
You cannot out-exercise a poor diet. This simple advice was given to me just yesterday by an MD at
Northwestern University's Lifestyle Medicine program. Yes, we need to bring back P.E. - but health truly starts
with the fuel that we choose to feed ourselves.
Good habits start in childhood. I remember the school lunches of my day - candy and salty snacks were readily
available in the vending machines, as was soda. Hot dogs, sloppy joes and tater tots were the most popular
entrees. Of course, my former school district is one that has opted out of the new standards because the
possibility of losing the revenue from the junk food and soda in the vending machines is just too great.
Part of the problem is that our school lunch system is managed out of the Department of Agriculture, home of
subsidies for the corn that produces high fructose corn syrup. The other problem is that due to decreased school
funding - the lunchroom has become a new profit center.
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8Recommend
Casey Brown-Myers
The Great State of Texas 3 days ago
Congressional Republicans are responding to the schools that are losing money because of this initiative. Has
Michelle ever been to a lunch room in our schools? I eat lunch with my child on a regular basis and I see kids
dump their fruits and veggies into the trash every time. 90 percent of them don't eat the 'healthy' sides. Are we
supposed to judge Michelle's intentions rather than the results?
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10Recommend
Jennifer
Phoenix, AZ 3 days ago
The carbon footprint of Michelle's healthy lunch program could be reduced considerably if they would truck the
veggies directly from the farm to the landfill.
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5Recommend
Mike
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Florida 3 days ago
The number of people in this comments section who are glad the government is taking this up for them so that
they don't have to bother is astounding! If you want your kids to have a nutrient rich lunch, provide it! And how
Dare Congress allow women to purchase white potatoes! I am aghast as such pro-choice thinking by the
Republicans! Everyone knows that people are too stupid to think for themselves. How can they allow women to
make a choice about what they do with their own bodies! We cannot allow that! (sarcasm off)
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10Recommend
TS
Planet Earth 3 days ago
It is comical to see people support a program that takes decisions about what YOUR child eats away from
parents.
If Mrs. Obama was serious about this she would focus attention on educating parents - if that is the root of the
problem.
Thing is, the school lunch program at HER children's school is nothing close to what she is pushing on the
'ordinary folk's children'.
It seems like Mrs. Obama adhers to the old saying "Do as I say, not as I do"
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12Recommend
TR NJ
USA 3 days ago
Michele Obama, a clear voice for our children. Let us listen, learn, take action. To keep our children healthy and
strong with proper nutrition is to love, protect and care for them. Surely our legislators are capable of that.
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7Recommend
njwpvt
homeless 3 days ago
I really hope that that is sarcasm!
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4Recommend
Chaz1954
London 3 days ago
The liberals commenting here do so in a greatly comical fashion. Ignoring the fact that there will always be
those who have more than others (no society has ever survived with redistribution as its foundation) we get to
the crux of the problem. Here we have person, whom some of you have called heroic and patriotic, making a
stance that the govenment makes better decisions for individuals than individuals do. Now, I know that is true
for alot of liberals, but are we not tired of this farce?
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10Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
Right, we should let big business make the decisions for us. Look how well that's working.
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8Recommend
Greed Isinallwalksoflife
Austin, TX 3 days ago
How about we let neither of them make the decisions. The states should decide what to do with the school
lunches in their state.
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2Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
Greed Isinallwalksoflife - Have you seen the obesity rates in red states, the same states that are denying people
health care?
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1Recommend
AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 3 days ago
Chaz1954 London:
The liberals commenting here do so in a greatly comical fashion.
***
It's not so much that they don't realize the issues raised by the government's trying to control what people eat,
it's that they don't realize why people would have a problem with it. To them, the problem is the always the
opposition, never the principle.
This is the state of liberalism in the US today.
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Recommend
Nora01
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New England 3 days ago
I sometimes think that we could increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables if we went back to planting
better seeds and harvesting them when they were ripe. I love fruit, but there are several I no longer eat because
they have been destroyed by factory farming. Examples: apricots (so wonderful once-upon-a-time) are woody,
dry, mealy - yuck! Strawberries are large as your thumb are flavorless, woody and crunch? What happened to
incredibly sweet, small, juicy ones? Peaches? Same thing. So they can't harm apples too much but too many
others are more flavorless "cardboard" than fruit.
Isn't a shame that an entire generation - at least - has never tasted really sweet, juicy, delicious fruit?
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10Recommend
Eliot
NY, NY 3 days ago
Farmer's markets, or your local organic food store, can be good places to buy good old-fashioned tasty fruit.
People should give their families that kind of food at least some of the time, just so they know what real food is
supposed to taste like.
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Recommend
RCB53
Savannah 3 days ago
Thou shalt not pay for a potato.
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1Recommend
nowadays
New England 3 days ago
Eliminating soda and candy from the schools is of course a very important step. But the problem goes beyond
what children consume in the schools. When asked by parents if their babies will become fat, our pediatrician
always answers that the children will likely be fat if the parents are fat, and thin if the parents are thin.
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3Recommend
Weedpuller
Yuba City CA 3 days ago
As an elementary and secondary student I don't recall having the money in my pocket for candy, etc.
Hint?
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1Recommend
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
My children's school took soda and candy out of the vending machines ten years ago... it has had ZERO affect
on childhood obesity.
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Recommend
keith
washington, dc 3 days ago
We need to find a way to get the kids to eat healthy food. Right now my children skip school meals since it is
not very good. Most of their friends also reject the "healthy meals" I would choose food that are in the middle
so the kids at least get something they can eat.
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5Recommend
Dave
People's Republic of Illinois 3 days ago
We need to have govt get out of our school lunch programs. Allow the schools to purchase locally and they will
cook nutritious meals. Currently schools are required by Obama's regime to purchase high fat, high sodium &
high glycemic index foods. The idea that those of either political party have no interest in developing a quality
school lunch program is completely false. The local schools don't need the First Lady to dictate her agenda to
them.
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7Recommend
dmzrn
Traverse City, MI 3 days ago
So, now the Federal government is a potato monitor. Give me strength.
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17Recommend
Daisy
New York 3 days ago
Want your children to eat wholesome foods at school? Send them to school w/healthy lunches. Don't care? Let
them eat school lunches, which are probably on a higher nutritional par than what your children eat in school.
Problem solved - and very substantial amounts of tax dollars saved - w/out any intervention from Michelle
Obama.
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9Recommend
WhoootOwl
Denver, CO 3 days ago
EXACTLY! Thank you! What children eat is the responsibility of their PARENTS, not the government. It is
alarming how many Americans lack confidence in their own parenting skills/rights/responsibilities, having been
sabotaged by incessant institutional undermining into believing the false narrative that government is the
answer. I don't tell Ms. Obama what to feed her children and I don't need or appreciate her telling me what to
feed mine. Government bureaucracy does not and cannot, possibly love, care for, and be emotionally invested in
a child in the same vital, nurturing manner as a parent. Our children know this. What don't we?
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3Recommend
Brian
Colorado 3 days ago
Main responsibility for kid's being overweight is the parents. I've seen many overweight kids and their
overweight parents keep giving them candy. The parents are the biggest influence. Not government.
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10Recommend
Can O'Korn
Inacan 3 days ago
How amusing that all these people think it's the schools job to feed your kids and teach them proper nutrition.
If you want your kids to eat healthier food then pack a lunch for them.
School food has always been bad. it's nothing new. If you think the junk food now is bad you should have seen
what they were serving in the 60's and 70's.
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11Recommend
Kevin Trainer
Ventura,ca 3 days ago
Really? We are having a "discussion" on whether or not WIC pays for potatoes?
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8Recommend
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Dennis Brady (BradyReports.com)
New Jersey 3 days ago
Why is the Federal Government involved in the local business of what school districts feed their children for
lunch? The states should reject Federal Funding for such programs it is a local and state issue and should not be
dictated from an "Unelected" bureaucrat from Washington. Both parties should go back to the principles of
"Federalism" and the States should realize the "Golden Handcuffs" of Federal Funding can turn to chains
robbing them of their responsibilities and freedom to the whims and the dictates of the Federal Government.
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9Recommend
Sherry Jones
Washington 3 days ago
Ah yes. We should leave it up to the states to decide how to treats its most vulnerable, its children. Just like it
was left up to the states to decide whether to expand the Medicaid program to the working poor. If it were not
for the fact that the states are cesspools of righteous judgment, selfishness, hate and deep-seated prejudice
against minorities (these comments ooze with disrespect borne of prejudice), and would rather feed a school
child cheap, unhealthy junk than feed her a healthy lunch, I would be all for leaving it up to the states. But the
fact of the matter is, some states would sooner kick their most vulnerable citizens into the ditch. States simply
cannot be trusted with the school lunch program.
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4Recommend
Whatever it takes
Virginia 3 days ago
LOL says the woman whose children probably go to private school and who has unlimited income for
groceries! Obama's policies have caused me to pay $60 more a month for my childrens' school lunches and they
are constantly begging for a bag lunch cuz they are hungry! And guess what... I now have to spend less on
groceries at home which means more 25 cent boxes of mac and cheese!
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Recommend
Dennis Brady (BradyReports.com)
New Jersey 3 days ago
So you would rather have local school policy be dictated by unelected bureaucrats then by the local school
board that is elected by the parents of the children they serve. Our founders knew that the best government is
local government that is closest to the people. Top down dictates from central government planning never
works A free people at their local level know what is best for themselves.
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Recommend
DR
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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New England 3 days ago
Whatever it takes - You might want to take some classes in money management and nutrition. I grew up in a
family that struggled financially and I've been poor, none of us ever bought processed food. We ate well and
were never hungry.
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Recommend
Jerome
chicago 3 days ago
I applaud Mrs Obama's efforts in this area. However, having lived on the far west side of Chicago, I challenge
the suggestion that "food deserts" are a function of all poor city neighborhoods. My reasoning may open me to
being accused of racism but I will muster the courage to be so charged. I am simply reporting my observations
for the potential betterment of a bad situation. There were two neighborhoods near me, one to the north on W
Fullerton, one to the south on W North avenue. W Fullerton was Hispanic and low income. The many stores
there, supermercados, had fruits and vegetables of every kind piled high and beautiful, and very affordably
priced. They were packed with families buying fruits and vegetables every day. To the south was the majority
black neighborhood of 5300 W North Ave, where there was not a store to be found that sold fresh produce. The
only food there was was prepared food, mostly fried chicken, Chinese fast food, and BBQ. Why do low income
Hispanics search out and buy fresh produce in great amounts, while that same produce is not even offered in the
low income black neighborhood? Both are inner city, low income neighborhoods. No, there is something else
going on, and if you want to solve this problem you must figure out why there are no stores trying to sell piles
of fresh fruit to the folks on 5300 W North ave. I suspect it is a problem of little demand in that community.
Maybe that's where you need to start your efforts. But what do I know.
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6Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
That's nice to hear. This isn't the case for the rest of the country.
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Recommend
BurghBob
Pittsburgh 3 days ago
I agree with Michelle Obama that we have to put the full force of the executive branch against obesity. I suggest
more action. Instead of just school lunches extend it to the millions of food stamp receipients. She could bar the
use of food stamps on anything not on her 'Healthy List'.
Kids eat lots of food at home, so banning, soda, chips, candy, ice cream, sugar cereal, red meat from the food
stamp program could have a big impact not only for childrem but also for adults. We not just be 'doing it for the
children'.
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This is something the President could do with just his phone and his pen. I am sure those on food stamp would
welcome her learned input.
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4Recommend
NYT Pick
Judyw
cumberland, MD 3 days ago
If a child doesn't like what is served in the school caferteria they will either throw it out and bring lunch from
then on, of if they are older they will go somwhere and buy something they want to eat.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. You can't force children to eat food they don't like
-- so stop trying. if you can't come up with food they want to eat, maybe you should stop trying and stop you
incessant lectures on the topic.
For those who will eat it, fine, - but stop forcing it down every child's throat and acknowledge a lot of what you
recommend is unapalatable to children and a waste of money for the school caffeteria.
If a school is throwing out so much food, they need to change their menu and it shouldn't require and act of
Congress to do so. It was a bad idea when the US starts legislating school lunch.
That is too much interference and it should be left to school districts to decide what is on the menu not YOU
and NOT Congress.
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23Recommend
HB
Boston, MA 3 days ago
Children eat what is given to them when they are hungry.
We are harming our efforts at promoting good eating habits by making calorie-dense and low-nutient foods (ex.,
the oily pizza slices) available at school cafeterias.
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7Recommend
Lise
NJ 3 days ago
JudyW,
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Do you honestly believe that a good response to unhealthy eating patterns is to make sure that nothing but
appealing garbage is available in the school lunches? That because kids like sweet processed things, that's all
that should be available in school lunches?
Really?
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5Recommend
wendytech
washington, d.c. 3 days ago
It is not difficult to provide healthy, nutritious and fresh food for children in elementary school. My daughter's
pre-school provided such meals for breakfast, lunch and snacks. Then when we hit elementary school--just crap.
Pizza, pasta, cinnamon rolls, fried everything. Not a healthy choice to be SEEN. I make my daughter's lunch
now, every day, but there are parents who can't, and their children deserve healthy lunches. Our school attracts
many international families from China, India, Russia, Japan--they are APPALLED at the junk we serve our
kids and call "food." In their countries, children are presented with healthy choices. Perhaps we can do as well.
Someday. Thank you, Mrs. Obama!
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1Recommend
KJS
Virginia 3 days ago
Thank God this country was not founded by people who thought if something is too hard, then we should not
even attempt it. First, the evidence shows that children are eating the healthy food even if it took a little bit of
time to get them used to the change. Second, the healthier food is healthy for them, so why wouldn't anyone
want to keep this program? Third, does anyone really think what is driving this push back is a concern about
food waste? If so, maybe they missed that part of school that taught critical thinking, and I have a bridge I want
to sell them...
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1Recommend
ironjustice
calgary , canada 3 days ago
Pizza sauce has tomato in it and herbs. Why anyone should think that it isn't good for you is anybody's guess.
Nutritionists and the government force the metal iron into all our foods, by law, a metal which is known to
cause oxidation, thereby destroying our much needed anti-oxidants. Sheer insanity accepted readily by those
people who can't tell pixxa sauce is good for you or adding metal to our foods is deadly. "The addition of a
variety of non-chelated forms of iron to milled grains and cereals may be the most serious mistake in the history
of human nutrition"
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3Recommend
Lonely Pedant
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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DFW, TX 3 days ago
Hostess Fruit Pies contain piece of fruit. So I don't understand the point.
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Recommend
goodspkr
Denver, CO 3 days ago
Actually the whole question of fats has changed. It appears going low fat is causing us to get fat.
In the opening plenary session, Dr. Walter C. Willett, a Harvard epidemiologist who has spent many years
studying cancer and nutrition, sounded almost rueful as he gave a status report. Whatever is true for other
diseases, when it comes to cancer there was little evidence that fruits and vegetables are protective or that fatty
foods are bad.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/22/science/an-apple-a-day-and-other-myths...
There is also evidence that vegans are less healthy than meat eaters.
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9Recommend
Vizitei Yuri
Bad Hombrug, Germany 3 days ago
The "approach" to solving the problem championed by Mrs. Obama is both problematic and commonplace of
all progressive initiative - mandate from the top, allocate no resources, claim credit for outcome that has nothing
to do with the initiative. When will we learn that legislating or mandating "proper" behavior never worked and
will never work. You have to do it the hard way: educate, build a roadmap that over time gets you where you
want to be. The actual outcome of this strategy has been waste of 10 of millions of dollars of food thrown away
by kids at the school cafeterias. Paradoxically, kids instead substitute school mandated lunches by fast food and
unhealthy choices brought from home or purchased from the vending machines. The decline of the obesity rate
started as a trend well before Mrs. Obama's initiative. For her to attempt to take credit for it is disingenuous at
best.
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11Recommend
Sherry Jones
Washington 3 days ago
Providing healthy food choices for school children IS education. It is teaching by example. I applaud Mrs.
Obama and everyone else who is working hard within the school lunch program to help children learn about
healthy food from the start.
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11Recommend
Vizitei Yuri
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Bad Hombrug, Germany 3 days ago
You have a right to applaud anything you choose, of course. However, I noticed that you were not able to
address the key points of my criticism. And I respectfully disagree that simply providing "healthy food" choices
is education. Pile on a bunch of spinach and offer it for lunch. It's a healthy choice, but it's also a dogmatic one,
for this is not North Korea and you cant simply MAKE the kids eat it. So what do you do then?
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2Recommend
Brooke
Granville, Ohio 3 days ago
This is comical at best. Try and imagine that not every child needs your advice. If Michelle's children were
athletes she would find that kids that swim 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening 6 days a week
need more than a carrot stick to get through the day. The lunch lines can be long at school - some schools have
20 minute lunches. We packed our kids lunches with as much food as possible. They had 20 minutes between
periods.
I would like to see from top to bottom how Michelle's plan works for the average school. I want to see wages,
insurance, benefits, Kitchen costs, cleaning supplies, purchasing, food cost and prep cost, storage cost etc..
And then walk through the lunch line with a child, standing in line for 15 minutes, help the child find his friends
he wants to sit with and eat for 2 minutes. Most of the kids want to socialize rather than eat - You can't force
feed them or will you?
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8Recommend
Rick in Iowa
Cedar Rapids 3 days ago
You seem to miss the point that we have an obesity epidemic destroying young people.
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3Recommend
manfred marcus
Bolivia 3 days ago
A healthier food program for our kids in school should be of universal acceptance, as is the ovewhelming
majority demanding background checks for acquiring weapons of destruction, I mean guns. But, as long as we
have the combination of willful ignorance in Congress, with the free flow of money from special interests filling
their pockets, no real change (for the better) can be expected. It is a shame and an insult to our sense of decency
and unnecessary harm to the next generation.
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6Recommend
JeffinLondon
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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London, Jeddah, New York, Hong Kong, Kuwait 3 days ago
Using the bully pulpit to encourage healthy lifestyle is great and commendable. But codifying 'good food' in law
and regulations is over reaching.
Why do the elites feel the need to tell the rest how to live? Who do they think they are?
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11Recommend
geezer117
Tennessee 3 days ago
They think they are our rulers, of course!
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1Recommend
Sue
California 3 days ago
You can eat whatever you like if you're paying for it. If the taxpayers are buying the food, then we deserve
some say in what we're buying.
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1Recommend
NYT Pick
LW
california 3 days ago
I teach in a rural school. 89% of our students are socio-economically disadvantaged. It is truly heartbreaking to
see that the majority of these students are significantly overweight, even in our Kindergarten classes. Schools
are providing fewer PE opportunities due to the overemphasis on testing. Teachers are pressured to take out
anything non-test related activities until the last month of school. In my own class of 32 this year over 18
students are above the norm for their age and height. Mrs. Obama's campaign is bringing great changes to
school lunches. No longer do we have meals like mac and cheese with corn, a roll and a piece of cake. Students
now have many choices and our salad bar has become very popular. I applaud our first lady for using research
based approaches to this very serious issue, and can see first hand on a daily basis, that it is working.
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134Recommend
idaho
idaho 3 days ago
You're applaud shows your ignorance. Hence making your statement irrelevant. Enough said.
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Recommend
NYT Pick
Jasmine
North Carolina 3 days ago
Has Michelle Obama even tried the food they give us in public schools? Although over half of my school has
free or reduced lunch, they leave during lunchtime to grab Wendy's or Bojangles. Also, public schools kick us
out around 2 so we can just wait and grab something better, while so much of this "healthy" food gets thrown in
the trash. What a waste.
Funny how she's trying to pin the "bible thumping bad republicans" against "science" without clarifying any
details about what it's all about- typical politician, it's revolting. Oh, and it's not working.
Overall, this is a weak attempt to undermine republicans. Instead of attacking Congress, why not own up to
your own program, work harder, and try to fix it?
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26Recommend
bishodavi
Tucson, Arizona 3 days ago
I have read and re-read Mrs. Obama's article and nowhere do I see her referring to republicans as "bible
thumping" and "bad." Which article did you read?
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5Recommend
RC
is a trusted commenter MN 3 days ago
While there may be some merit in "revamping school lunch menus", the claim that "the obesity rate is finally
beginning to fall from its peak among our youngest children" has been challenged by a recent study
(http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1856480&resul..., suggesting there may be flaws
in how the media have interpreted earlier data. Obesity is likely a complex problem, that requires further
research in order to identify causes and preventive or therapeutic strategies.
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8Recommend
Banzanbon
Brooklyn, NY 3 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Mrs. Obama, why don't you mind your own business and stop acting like you have the right to nanny other
people's kids. Your arrogance is stunning. Clean your own house and let other people live their lives. It's none
of your business what people eat!
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18Recommend
sallyb
wicker park 60622 3 days ago
What a mean-spirited comment!
Mrs O is using her position to educate & raise awareness of an important issue; she is not able to legislate. What
is arrogant about wanting a healthier population?
Bravo to her, and all who work toward making kids healthier.
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8Recommend
AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 3 days ago
sallyb wicker park:
What a mean-spirited comment!
***
More like blunt. The First Lady needs to hear it, especially since she's imposing something on the nation's
children. Remember, she's not everyone's mother. Just her own daughters'.
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Recommend
Ron
NJ 3 days ago
Michelle O calls her opinion on diet "science". It is not science, but rather consensus. For 40 years the federal
government has bought into the consensus on fat (it's bad) and whole grains (they're good). The science
disagrees. All refined carbs are bad, and whole grain powdery flour is a refined carb! Natural fats are not
making us fat either. This is science. And potatoes are naturally occurring starches, which in their original form
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are about as healthy as anything you can get in a government cafeteria! Yes, sugar is a refined carb and
shouldn't be in schools, but so is a bagel or a bowl of pasta! Michelle is off the mark here and should get back to
promoting exercise, which will not undo bad carbs, but has very little downside.
http://ibdst.blogspot.com/2014/05/fed-up-movie-review.html
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14Recommend
Lise
NJ 3 days ago
@Ron,
A nice whole potato, baked or boiled can be served up as part of a healthy meal. A package of Ore-Ida Tater
Tots or equivalent, is not a healthy food choice. That's what the potato lobby would like to enable WIC mothers
to buy.
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2Recommend
Ron
NJ 3 days ago
In Michelle O's piece she refers only to "white potatoes", not to any refined or processed derivative. I agree, the
farther you get from the original form, the less likely it is to be healthy. How would you feel about a real potato
fried in real tallow?
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Recommend
NYT Pick
Sharon
Minneapolis 3 days ago
I teach middle school. There is an unconscionable amount of sugar contained in the breakfasts and lunches in
this public school. There is no protein offered at breakfast that I have seen; pastries (even pop tarts), pancakes,
and muffins with sugar water (called juice) are typical. Even the meat at lunch is served with sugary glazes. A
little salad is offered, but drowned in salad dressing full of sugar and fat. You can see the effects on their
metabolism and behavior in the classroom. This directly affects learning and disproportionately affects those in
poverty for whom these are the main meals of the day. It is a civil rights issue.
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85Recommend
CSAG70
Texas 3 days ago
Sure, it's full of sugar, it's all in the name of letting children have their way and eat what they like, sweet sugar.
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1Recommend
Be The Change...
California 3 days ago
Keep up the fight! More fruits, veges, & wholegrains. More healthy dairy for protein - no Yoplait please. And
bring back gym - for goodness sake.
Now if we can only get the adults on board. Good habits start in the home.
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6Recommend
Aegius
Massachusetts 3 days ago
Wow.... Michelle Obama thinks that if you serve kids healthy food at lunch, they will eat it. Does she not
understand that kids are simply dumping all the healthy food in the trash. Kids would rather starve than eat the
fruits and vegetables offered. Schools across the country are reporting that tons of food is being wasted. It
happened when I was a child, and my child says the same thing happens today. Many kids are buying two
lunches because of this. Does Mrs Obama not understand that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make
it drink?
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13Recommend
Baltimore16
Adrian MI 3 days ago
So, we should let our children eat doughnuts and cookies all day, every day, because they taste better? Who is
in charge here? Step up and be a parent.
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6Recommend
Aegius
Massachusetts 3 days ago
Doughnuts and cookies is a bit of an exaggeration isn't it? While I can supervise healthy habits at home, I have
no control over what happens at school. Kids are dumping all the healthy food directly into the trash. They are
not consuming it. There are plenty of news stories from schools complaining about all the waste. Kids are
simply starving.
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Recommend
Holden Korb
Atlanta, GA 3 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Have you no vision?
1. Something tells me kids buying 2 lunches aren't being subsidized by tax-dollars.
2. Changing behavior takes time; just like an airplane needs some runway to take off.
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3Recommend
Mtonepa
PA 3 days ago
Being a Parent means, if you want your kids to eat right, then you make sure they eat right. If you don't like the
choice at school send them with the lunch you approve of. Being a parent does not mean you should engage the
government to take care of your kids nutrition, take responsibility.
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Recommend
Rick in Iowa
Cedar Rapids 3 days ago
Seriously? It sounds like your kids are spoiled.
It is up to parents to teach the children healthy lifestyles. Not let them eat whatever junk they choose.
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2Recommend
matthewd
Fresno, CA 3 days ago
What might be better is to let kids pick what they want to eat each day, and offer more choices. This is probably
much harder to pull off for the schools, but if kids are able to pick what they eat, they are going to eat it. A
simple example: two of my kids will eat salad, but do not like ranch dressing. If the school serves salad with
ranch dressing, they will not eat it. If the school offered a choice of dressing, one child will pick thousand island
and the other will pick raspberry vinaigrette and the salad will be eaten.
Vegetables are served every day in my kids' schools; on the days when carrots are served, I know one of my
kids is going to eat them--but on the rest of the days, he is not eating the cucumbers, brocolli, and celery that is
served. Same thing with the fruits.
Kids do starve and either wait to eat until after school or find a way to eat processed junk food during school
recesses/breaks and even during class. They also trade food at lunch time, so all of the careful work that goes
into creating nutritionally balanced meals is really going out the window. These are realities, and top down
"solutions" need to take them into account.
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Recommend
Walt Peterson
USA 3 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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If kids were told by the fit and slender athletes and entertainers whom they idolize that they need to eat healthy
to be like them, it might have some effect.
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2Recommend
geezer117
Tennessee 3 days ago
Have you seen the menus of the Obama kids' school? Chef-prepared high cuisine that I would order in a fancy
restaurant. Typical Liberal - rules for thee, not for me.
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4Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
Generally that's how life works, you pay more, you get more. People who send their children to private school
still pay taxes to support public schools.
If you'd like public schools to offer gourmet food, feel free to lobby for that.
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1Recommend
Lonely Pedant
DFW, TX 3 days ago
When you have as many people gunning for you as the president's family does, you will chose a similar option
for your children.
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3Recommend
kat
Washington, DC 3 days ago
It's been a while since I was in school, but I still remember how hunger and tiredness overwhelmed all else and
made it impossible for me to concentrate on what was going on in the classroom. I wasn't starving; I ate a box
of dry sugary cereal every morning. The sugar rush took me right up to first period and then I'd reliably crash
before lunchtime.
Kids don't know what's good for them, and I really appreciate your effort to surround them with better options.
It's tough in this world of powerful lobbyists and reluctant bureaucracies, but keep fighting the good fight.
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8Recommend
Maritxu
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Colorado 3 days ago
Why don't we go back to the way we used to do things before the Federal Government decides to take control of
the food our children eat at lunch? It is clear the underlying problem is the "school lunch" programs. Parents
know best what their children will and will not eat and so why doesn't the child bring his/her lunch from home?
At least the parents can put whatever fruit or vegetable the child will eat in the lunch box and control the fat
content. There won't be a big slab of greasy pizza or carb-laden spaghetti or cupcakes dispensed by the school
for lunch instead. Also, how about getting these kids out on the playground 2-3 times a day to burn calories?
There is little to no organized playground activity, so rather than run races or chase balls, these kids sit around
on the sidelines and look at their I phones. The physical ed teacher ought to be thinking about physical activity,
not giving lectures on potato chips. Get moving folks.
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3Recommend
MDS
Chicago 3 days ago
Here we go again! I live in Chicago now but I am originally from the Bay Area. (The First Lady's piece
conveniently fails to mention that both towns have great food scenes.) The movement toward healthy food
reforms has for years challenged many of my deeply closeted assumptions about food. So I decided to conduct a
thought experiment to test whether reform can work. I recruited 24 participants. 8 were the control and left their
diets unchanged. 8 adopted what I can safely call a reformed diet, eating only clearly unpalatable and health
foods, such as quinoa and lentils. 8 acted as our gustatory plutocrats, gorging on high-priced, endangered
seafood such as caviar and Chilean sea bass, aka Patagonian toothfish. The results? At the end of a full day of
rigorously supervised changes, no statistically significant difference between the groups. Nor any discernible
effect on food markets or consumer behavior generally. The lesson? Michelle Obama and the rest of the elitist
dietary fascists can say all they want about our diets but the changes they argue for so hysterically will have no
effect. It is mere mandication or worse. The great gourmand Chester Henry has said it best, "If it tastes good,
eat it."
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DR
New England 3 days ago
You call healthy food unpalatable and then expect us to listen to you when it comes to nutrition?
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Mark
New York, NY 3 days ago
I am all for good nutrition, but insofar as the issue about potatoes is whether women are allowed to purchase
white potatoes with WIC money: According to The Joy of Cooking, 1975 edition, "white" or Katahdin potatoes
have less starch than Idahos, and there is another kind, "California long white," which is "moderate" in starch.
JOC goes on to say, "In recent years, potatoes have been maligned as over-caloric--although they are only equal
in this respect to the same-sized apple.... They are full of B, C, and G vitamins, plus many minerals and even
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some high-class protein" (p. 317). Is this no longer what the best science tells us, and/or does it not apply to the
kind of potatoes the proposed legislation is about?
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3Recommend
W
NYC 3 days ago
I think you missed the point. This is not about comparing what potatoes do and do not contain. It is about
serving less of them so more FRUIT and VEGETABLES are consumed.
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Todd Fox
3 days ago
Au contraire: I think she got the point. Fast food french fries at every meal is a problem. But outlawing potatoes
in the misguided belief that it will prevent people from eating french fries is.
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1Recommend
Mark
New York, NY 3 days ago
W: If we are talking about buying raw white potatoes with WIC dollars, I have no idea why Frosted Mini
Spooners and Maypo Maple Flavor are allowed but white potatoes wouldn't be.
https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/acceptable_foods_card...
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Recommend
BobK
OKC 3 days ago
>>Our leaders in Washington should do the same.<<
With all due respect to Mrs. Obama and her husband and their laudable ongoing efforts to effect Change to an
untenable status quo, to what "leaders" in Washington might she be referring?
The same gutless huntoons whose bought-and-paid-for stance supported by well-funded special interest groups
such as the NRA leads directly to the continuous spectacle of mass murder, morbid obesity, air travel security
"theater" and the out-of-control downward spiral of a once great nation?
"Come Senators, Congressmen, please heed the call . . ."
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Good luck with that.
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woohooman
Seattle 3 days ago
Why would any parent want Congress OR Michelle Obama to decide what's best for our kids?
The government has a horrible track record when it comes to the best interest of the individual.
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5Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
Right, let's have big business decide what's best. That's been working really well.
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5Recommend
allyn totino
Guatemala 3 days ago
I am so pleased to see that Michelle Obama is not backing down. She has fought tirelessly to make sure our
children have a chance at a healthy life. The problem is that the House of Representatives, not parents or any
knowledgeable or caring people, will be determining what our children will eat at school and how much activity
they will be allowed. Republicans and some Democrats will of course ensure that their corporate sponsors get to
dump their disgusting food into the school cafeterias. They do not care about our children because their children
will never have to eat the stuff. They will never base decisions on scientific evidence because they no longer
believe in science (as if that disbelief can change the facts). Their decisions are based on hate and greed. They
should be in prison, not in our government.
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9Recommend
Jim
Chicago 3 days ago
Maybe the parents should decide what their children eat, not some bureaucrat. Is anything keeping you from
attending a school meeting and voicing your opinion? Do you really need the federal government to say what
your child eats? Why do you insist in leaving the welfare of your child in the hands of corruptible politicians?
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HT
is a trusted commenter Ohio 3 days ago
I am amazed at the number of conservative commenters here who are opposed to limiting WIC funding and
federally subsidized lunches to the purchase of healthy foods. Do you honestly want your federal tax dollars
spent to buy French fries or school lunches that consist of things like a soft pretzel and nacho cheese? Because
that's what we're talking about here -- and not whether Michelle Obama is telling you what to put into your
child's lunch bag or dictating how you spend your own money.
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7Recommend
Chris Mallory
Kentucky 3 days ago
School lunches are no business or responsibility of the Federal government.
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3Recommend
Jim
Kentucky 3 days ago
The government has to stop trying to control our lives and personal choices. This Healthy Reforms program
must be stopped, because the government employees whose jobs will rely upon the continuation of these
programs will lie and/or create fake "success" statistics to justify the ongoing expansion of these programs (look
at the recent testing scandals and the VA coverup).
They gain control incrementally. Why...if this program works so well for kids, why don't we expand it for all
adults? Why don't we have cars that drive themselves to keep kids from crashing as they text their friends
(millions die every day, you know). And why don't we tax people per mile driven (a use tax)--effectively
negating any personal savings you may have been counting on when you bought your Prius?
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1Recommend
Lonely Pedant
DFW, TX 3 days ago
Relax. No one can make you healthy without your permission.
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4Recommend
Rocket
Chicago 3 days ago
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At age 34 I'm still trying to lose that 20 pounds I gained 20 years ago when I was a high school freshman eating
chocolate Pop Tarts and Coke from the vending machine for breakfast everyday, and then a "chicken" (maybe?
probably pink slime, it was the 90s) sandwich, chips, and Hi-C for lunch. And I was a smart and dedicated
student who got As in health class! Expecting kids to make healthful eating choices on their own when adults
can barely do it is unrealistic. So I say BRAVO to all efforts to push them towards doing so.
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5Recommend
JoS. P. O'Brien
London, England 3 days ago
I'm sure Mrs. Obama's intentions are good but she has no business telling parents, school children and least of
all congressmen and women what must be eaten in the public schools. All choices should be made at the local
level by the parents and teachers involved.
Mrs. Obama is acting like Eva Peron. First Ladies should stay out of politics. Talking about nutrition is fine,
imposing it as mandatory at the federal level is at best a mistake and a waste of time and tax payer money, at
worst it smacks of Liberal Fascism or Peronism.
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1Recommend
peta
costa mesa, ca 3 days ago
By contrast, the prestigious Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., where many politicians have sent their
children to school, serves school lunches designed by chefs. This week, for example, they might enjoy meatball
subs, BBQ wings and ice cream, in addition to chicken curry, deviled egg salad and the “Chef’s Choice.” Other
options on the exclusive menu include:
◾Crusted tilapia
◾Herb roasted chicken
◾Pesto cream & garden-fresh marinara sauce
◾Roasted edamame & ****ake mushrooms
◾BBQ sliders
◾Pesto pasta
◾All-natural rosemary chicken
◾All-natural beef nachos
◾Baked three-cheese lasagna
◾Pepperoni flatbread pizza
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4Recommend
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Carole
San Diego, California 3 days ago
Our family had and still has cereal for breakfast, peanut butter sandwiches and a glass of milk for lunch, and a
dinner which consisted of salad, meat, fish or eggs, potatoes and a vegetable. Cookies were always available, as
were oranges or whatever fruit was in season. I don't know how you get children to like raw vegetables, yogurt
and so forth for lunch at school, especially when they want to stuff something down and go play.
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Recommend
idaho
idaho 3 days ago
I am from Idaho and I work at simplot biggest producer of potatoes, our company is the main employer in this
area and if she gets her way she will be hurting our economy tremendously. Thousands would lose their jobs in
this already bad job market we have over here. Thanks Michelle.
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1Recommend
Cathleen P.
New York, NY 3 days ago
Would it be possible to shift your crop to more nutritionally dense vegetables and keep the schoolchildrenmarket? Aren't you responsible for the choice to not do that?
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4Recommend
MB
Berkeley CA 3 days ago
Anyone who has worked with kids and seen the way the eat(!) appreciates the importance of putting healthy
food in their path rather than junk. Kudos to Ms. Obama for pushing this forward, children everywhere are
depending on her.
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6Recommend
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Joey Stalin
STL 3 days ago
Overreaching Federal Government. Always there for people too lazy and too ignorant to raise their own
children properly.
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3Recommend
Taz
,CA 3 days ago
As a parent, I trained my children to eat vegetables from the get-go--it's the parents responsibility not
government's job. Healthy eating should start at home from the minute the child is born. But American parents
are fat, lazy, stupid and plain dumb. To this day, my children love their veggies preferably raw because I, as a
parent trained them from the get-go. They'll take candy but always in moderation....they don't crave it.
In the American culture, sugar is the first item shoved into a baby's face--the birthday cake. When my son
turned one, I made a small cake just for him while the rest of the family had the bigger cake. The child was
quite happy to play with his cake like play dough and I was fine with that. Then my fat stupid American sisterin-law shoves his cakey hands into his mouth. How stupid is that! Leave the kid alone.
Then at pre-school and throughout their school life, from October through Easter, it's one big Candy Fest.
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, Easter. In my former country in Asia, we never had candy
passed around in the class. Nobody gave a rip if it was Christmas or Valentines. Our cafeteria had independent
vendors cooking Chinese noodle soup, curry noodle soup, rice with sambal & cucumber slices and sliced egg.
The snack store was filled with nutmegs, preserved plums, pumpkin seeds, roasted chick peas, fresh water
chestnuts, cut fresh pineapple slices with chilli and soy sauce. The American child is truly deprived over here.
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Tarmangani
Nebraska 3 days ago
I can't help but think of that corny movie, Demolition Man. Where everything that the government thinks is bad
for you is outlawed. It is not the government's job to oversee your feeding, housing, health care, finances,
income, education or anything else in your personal life. I know that we want others to be cared for, if need be,
but that should be our jobs. Not the government's. It would be in the Constitution if it were their job but it is not.
The founders believed strongly that the government is NOT a charity.
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3Recommend
Sherry Jones
Washington 3 days ago
On the contrary, even in early American communities there was always a public official in charge of the poor.
There will always be people who are far below average capacity in every skill and background necessary for
success. The only question is, how are we as a society going to help those that can't help themselves, such as
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poor school children. Shame on those who imagine this has never been the function of government. It always
has been that way, because it is a duty that should be shared by all.
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2Recommend
NYT Pick
MIWingman
MI 3 days ago
The government caused this obesity epidemic when they came out in the 1980's and told everyone to eat "lowfat" which translates to "more sugar".
Processed foods, including grains (e.g. wheat), are the worst. I'm not an Obama supporter, but what food
manufacturers/processors are allowed to bring to market is criminal. That's right -- criminal.
For example, the worst food you can give to your child -- breakfast cereal -- any breakfast cereal, no matter
what the package says. It is all very bad and loaded with sugar. But many parents think because it is "whole
grain" and "low fat" it is good -- it is not. Give them eggs instead and watch the fat fall off of them.
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JT
Boston 3 days ago
"The government caused this obesity epidemic when they came out in the 1980's and told everyone to eat "lowfat" which translates to "more sugar".
1. In what bizarre language does "low-fat" translate to "more sugar"? It's not a zero sum game. Low-fat
means.....less fat.
2. How did the government "cause" food companies to optimize their foods around a balance of salt, sugar and
fat? The companies chose to formulate their products....and many people chose to buy them.
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1Recommend
augias84
New York 3 days ago
the idea that grains make you obese is preposterous - not all cereal contains a lot of added sugar, and people
have been eating diets consisting mostly of grains for millennia without being obese. Italians have a very high
life expectancy even though most eat pasta every day.
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Recommend
Cas
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CT 3 days ago
You are right. But this is not what the new school lunches are doing. They decided instead to limit the amount
of protein. Which makes me conclude that the nutrition guidelines are the blind leading the blind. Since the
government has been killing Americans with the food pyramid for decades, maybe they should stay out of the
business of school nutrition.
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Recommend
John
CA 3 days ago
But whole grain foods -- unlike processed -- are very good for you. Think bulgur, brown rice, quinoa, barley,
spelt topped with beans and spices.
The low-fat advice promoted by Ancel Keys was very spot-on in the 1950s, the problem is the food companies
co-opted the low-fat movement by offering "healthy" processed foods, which, of course, weren't much better
than the high-fat foods Americans were already eating. The key is to eat whole plant-based foods.
Interesting note: Ancel Keys lived to be 100.
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Recommend
Okie
Oklahoma 3 days ago
A good night's sleep is also essential to a child's health and well being. Perhaps the government should institute
mandatory bedtime?
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2Recommend
AMD
Florida 3 days ago
As a substitute teacher, I have witnessed students throwing away the most unappetizing selections mandated by
Mrs. Obama's overreaching attempts to decide what kids should eat. Here is a news bulletin for her...parents are
responsible for their children's diets...not her. In terms of real problems facing this country and families today,
this First Lady has totally wasted her time and platform on vegetables and snacks...why not focus on the critical
problems of child abuse, young girls pregnant in high school, the dependent behavior of some teenage girls on
loser high school guys...Way more important than worrying about potatoes...
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3Recommend
jstan442
greensburg 3 days ago
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i don't need the gov. or anyone else telling me what i should eat myself or feed my kids--are we a free country
or one that is patronizing and totalitarian-it is no ones business what i food i eat--elitists pl go away!!!!
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2Recommend
TK
Indiana 3 days ago
I can see it now. Michelle, or whoever wrote this, is paving the way to make the case that Republicans are "antiscience". As in, "we rely on current science to tell us what is good for kids". "Republicans want to give kids
choices in what they eat". Therefore Republicans are anti-science just like they are on global
warming.Remember where you heard it. You will hear it again in November.
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3Recommend
PD Quig
San Jose 3 days ago
It's one thing for First Mother to use a pulpit to raise awareness, but it's quite another thing to use it to coerce.
Parents are responsible for their children--at least until the left's ultimate vision is secured--so why not let them
decide what to feed them? I realize that it's a radical concept for this crowd to trust and empower people.
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3Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
Parents can pack a lunch for their children, no one is stopping them but if food is served at school, it should be
healthy.
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Recommend
benh
USA 3 days ago
I cannot argue with what Michelle Obama says about nutrition. At all. I am rather conservative in political
issues, but she is spot on here.
The problem goes WAY beyond the current Congress which the Obama admin likes to blame for roadblocks.
The problem is Washington DC itself. It is nothing more than a corporate oligarchy housing lifelong political
cronies who seem to get 50 year senate and house seats, playing the payoff game with all those corporations and
nonprofits who have set up shop around the Beltway in order to get on the government-subsidized payday plan.
How many government "contractors" do we know who are not overpaid and under worked? How many
companies forgot how to run a sharp business model because they live off government business contracts? How
many corporations get to write legislation on things like nutrition, social issues, consumerism, etc etc through
the pens of their highly paid beltway lobbyists?
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Our government is chronically sick, obese and out of touch with reality. It is identical to our culture. It needs to
be placed on a low fat (remove the gravy from DC), high fiber (move the stagnant sludge out of the system like
old senators), low alcohol (keep the legislators and lobbyists out of the bars) diet with more physical activity
like working... for the constituents rather than the oligarchy.
Both parties share the blame here. Michelle needs to address reality in DC, because she is now part of the
problem by trying to nail Congress alone.
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2Recommend
stephan
boston 3 days ago
Dear Michelle,
Who are the said "...some members of the House of Representatives"? Call them out by name please. That'd be
the empirical approach.
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1Recommend
Healthcare For All
Simsbury 3 days ago
Thank you, Mrs. Obama. Our society will benefit from improved health in many ways. The money saved from
lowering the rates of illness and chronic disease will help the economy for decades to come. Active and fit
adults will keep our country strong, and children will learn that healthy eating will lead to a full and meaningful
life.
Children may want fast food now, but we can help to change their wants by supporting these nutritional
programs now. It may take awhile to achieve this. Eventually change will come.
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4Recommend
Ramil
Chicago 3 days ago
When I was young (in India) my parents though coming from a poor background, always made sure that we
kids ate healthy food and vegetables. They cut corners on everything else - Clothes, Eating out, Movies,
TV/Cable, sports, vacations, even purchase of house. Everything was on table. But spent every single penny on
just 2 things - Healthy Food and Education. Today I am doing very well because of that only. I wonder when
the parents in USA who have much more money than most of the world will take responsibility of their own
Kids' Health and Education?
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1Recommend
DC
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NJ 3 days ago
Only brainless people can argue against this argument.
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6Recommend
justme
woebegon 3 days ago
I am most sympathetic to the First Lady's desires to improve not only the food choices of our children, but of all
of us. Nevertheless, we can only do so much to force veggies and lean proteins down those little throats.
I'm all for education about nutrition - and the availability of healthy choices. Yet, when I hear of expensive food
being tossed so kids can eat candy bars and other junk, this does not seem wise. Foods that aren't terrible for
children, yet are more appealing, should be offered if the alternative is the waste of tons of food most will not
touch.
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3Recommend
NYT Pick
carlA
NEW YORK 3 days ago
The processed food industry is supported by government tax dollars.
And that is why it is cheap. What is not cheap however, is treating children with diabetes and other obesity
related illnesses. Children will eat healthy food if they are exposed to it. I should know, I feed school children
for a living. They are now choosing brown rice over white and chowing down tofu. Asking me for soups like
chick pea vegetable or butternut squash.
Mrs. Obama: keep up your efforts and do not be discouraged by naysayers.
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80Recommend
NYT Pick
jadefa
California 3 days ago
The most inactive, unhealthy and overweight children in America are on public assistance and the free lunch
program, that's the governments fault. The entire Let's Move initiative is contradictory to the much larger Let's
NOT Move government initiative called social welfare.
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18Recommend
Nina S
baltimore 3 days ago
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When I was in high school in the mid-70s, I started skipping a 'regular' lunch and chose to have a 'Tasty Eclair'
for my regular lunch. And had trouble staying awake for afternoon classes. And I bought and ate candy bars at
the after-school concession stand. Funny, I was skinny no more. Fortunately, I wised-up after awhile and started
eating healthy foods like I was served at home, by taking my lunch to school. But not all people do get wise, or
even have a reference for what decent food is. I applaud Michelle Obama for her efforts to encourage healthful
eating. It feels like SUPPORT, not an IMPOSITiON!
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8Recommend
EDC
Colorado 3 days ago
Hooray for Mrs. Obama. A true adult.
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9Recommend
nearboston
nearboston 3 days ago
Let me get this straight.... one in three kids is obese, but at the same time, one in four goes to bed hungry.(if I
believe THAT propaganda.)
Seems like we have an almost perfect amount of calories floating about, we just need better distribution.
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Recommend
Eugene Gorrin
Union, NJ 3 days ago
Just as the Republican/Tea Party obstructs and demeans President Obama at every turn on everything - even
things that they themselves proposed and supported years ago - and deny climate change and evolution despite
science and facts, etc., they're now obstructing and demeaning First Lady Michelle Obama and her campaign
against childhood obesity and junk food.
I'm reminded what head counsel for the US Army said to Senator Joseph McCarthy at the Army-McCarthy
hearings in 1954: "Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"
The Republican/Tea Party should be asked those same questions because they have been engaged in the same
McCarthy-like tactics for years.
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6Recommend
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Jim
Chicago 3 days ago
Michelle Obama is doing more to counteract the liberal bias our children are constantly subjected to in public
school then anything the conservatives have done. Children are recognizing the long, arrogant, know-it-all arm
of the progressive left inflicting themselves into their lives. Keep it up Michelle, you may just cancel out all the
hard work of your husband to turn our entire lower-middle class into state-dependent zombies. If our children
now see what progressive oppression really can mean, there may be chance for this country. The more I read
about children saying, "get out of my lunch", the more hope I have that we may survive the Obama regime.
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6Recommend
Noreen
Ashland OR 3 days ago
If children are demanding unhealthful food, it is because they have been taught, by already programmed parents
and food industry ads, that bigger is better. Most human bodies crave sweet, but in the huge quantities we eat
today, it is not a natural nutrient. It is not the spoonfuls you may add to your coffee, it is the cups full added to
industry-prepared food. Read the label, support First Lady Obama. She is right. Teach your children right -their lives depend upon it!
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6Recommend
Patty W
Sammamish Wa 3 days ago
Corporations allowed into our school lunch programs have undermined our school children's health. Our
healthcare costs are driven by not tackling what's wrong beginning with what we put into our children's mouths.
It would seem like a no-brainer to give America's children healthy food not high fat, sugar-laden, high
carbohydrates and processed. Our kids are getting type 2 diabetes younger and younger and high blood
pressure. This is child abuse when we knowingly contribute to these diseases in children. If this country can't
even get it's act together by implementing healthy food in our school lunch programs then folks we've become
incompetent and downright lazy. Doggone it, America's kids deserve to be fed healthy and decent food to have
a fighting chance at a healthy life.
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5Recommend
NYT Pick
Mtonepa
PA 3 days ago
If you as a parent do not like what the school is offereing you can always send your kid to school with the lunch
you approve of. Why look to the government to provide your kids with their needs, do it yourself.
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7Recommend
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Maxine
Chicago 3 days ago
No, many schools inspect and or reject home lunches now.
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1Recommend
Steve Ky.
3 days ago
I wholeheartedly agree. There are, however, some well-meaning fools working in some north-of-here school
districts who are sufficiently full of themselves to actually throw away the lunches sent from home or otherwise
refuse to let he student eat them, and present the student with an ''approved'' lunch, I kid you not.
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1Recommend
Mary
is a trusted commenter Brooklyn 3 days ago
Remember what Congress is "beholden" to. It's not science, not nutrition, It's certainly not kids-especially of
meager means, and it's almost never good sense (see gun control). They are however taking marching orders
from Big Agra, Big food processors, not to mention a nation addicted to sugar, salt and white flour products,
courtesy of our food industries. But keep it up Michelle, individuals are listening.
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2Recommend
NYT Pick
taysi
Vermont 3 days ago
As an organic farmer whose children went to the local rural village school, I can attest to the importance of
school lunches. For nearly half the kids (some of whom came early for a free, nutritious breakfast), school lunch
was their first and often last nourishing meal of the day. Our cook was a strong believer in the importance of
nutrition for growing bodies and alert brains, and was creative in her use of the school's limited budget to buy
locally sourced and organic foods whenever possible, and ALWAYS GMO FREE! The school and its students
started a big organic garden that continues to be a part of educational and experiential learning (and an early
appreciation for delicious produce) to this day.
This GMO issue is the one important area in which the First Lady has remained silent, in spite of ample and
growing evidence (accepted by most of the developed and emerging world) that biotech and agribusiness GMO
foods have been major contributors to obesity, diabetes and other epidemic health issues. The pesticides used to
grow them are among the most toxic chemicals in the world, and can be found in the breast milk of all U.S.
mothers.
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It's time for her to confront her husband about his promise to protect us from corporations like Monsanto.
Instead, he has filled his administration with their executives and lobbyists, appointing them to powerful
positions. I do applaud and thank Michelle Obama for her efforts to get our kids and families moving again...
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3Recommend
George Davey
Iowa 3 days ago
Any blanket special diet designed to lose weight to treat fat kids that is also forcefully applied skinny kids is
very unethical. Schools should be allowed to present a wide variety of food choices to the students and they
should make those choices based on education not force feeding. Most of the fat kids in my kid's school have
morbidly fat parents training them how to eat bad. It is not a school lunch issue, it is a much larger issue of
educated and methodical parenting and sleep is a contributing factor. The other thing to note is the obesity map
of the US and the Food stamp distribution map are red in the same areas, so free food IS a large factor in
obesity. It is the elephant in the room nobody wants to discuss. Please let my two skinny daughters make their
own food choices and quit tying my school district's federal revenue allotment to supporting horrifically bad
ideas coming mainly from one person, Michelle Obama.
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Katie
Santa Cruz 3 days ago
I support beating the drums to activate the nation on the discussion of nutrition. Every person in society plays a
role to improve the diet of the nation and healthy school lunch program is a tiny fraction of the issue. As a
parent with economical means, I never allow my children to purchase the school lunch program because of its
lack of nutrition and fortification with additives like MSG.
A major overhaul in the SAD requires that each individual start taking accountability for what we are feeding
ourselves, our family, and feeding others. This begins with education. Why are the best paid health
professionals not trained in the most basic requirement for health advice - nutrition? Why do we prescribe drugs
for conditions that are best treated by better eating? Why do we insure prescription drugs, but not basic nutrition
education? We clearly have monetary interests clouding sound health practices.
Here's my call to action: unblindmymind.org
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Recommend
David
Cincinnati 3 days ago
Even a non-politician knows that actions in Congress are not to benefit the majority of people. They are to
benefit the politicians’ backers. Healthy food/lifestyle will not be part of any congressional action until the fresh
vegetable/fruit, healthy living corporations become major contributors to politicians. Until then, all high-minded
grass-roots attempts to improve childhood eating and lifestyles are doomed by the actions of Congress.
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1Recommend
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Matt Byron
Portland,ME 3 days ago
Imagine if there were fruit trees lining every house, park, school yard and urban roof top in America. How
much would that reduce obesity?
I'm daring everyone I know to plant 5 fruit trees spring. I can't think of a better solution to obesity. Fruit trees
are eco-friendly, cheap, low maintenance, and they last for decades. I dare NY Times readers to join the
Orchard Revolution and to plant 5 fruit trees this spring. Why do we look to others to solve this problem, when
we have the power to solve it ourselves?
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Recommend
Reuben Ryder
Cornwall 3 days ago
Our son brought a brown bag to school, and everyone wanted to eat his lunch, which was usually left overs
from the night before. We ate well and the head of the household is an excellent chef, in her own right. We
never did junk food, but we didn't rule out a happy meal every so often. We were not food zealots, but used
fresh ingredients and had respect for our diet. Exercise, though, was as big a part of our diet as the food. Man
(children and women, too) can not be thin by bread alone. It has to be coupled with regular exercise of which
our child and our family engaged in on a regular, daily basis. Which brings me to my point: we had the means,
will, and the knowledge, but for those that don't, it's an uphill fight. Look at the movie, "Food, Inc," and
remember the people who set out for a long hard day of labor and the reality of having to fuel the body's engine
on the meager funds that they had. Thoreau, who was a very hard man, but a humanist still the same, seemed to
believe that if you gave more money to the poor that they would just buy rags, and for such a bright man, he
never wondered why, for to him it was just a matter of taste. When this is all you know, perhaps no manner of
education will be able to substitute for the cold hard cash that brings one quality food. Today, we are grateful
for the few new leaves of salad that have sprung from our garden.
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2Recommend
Ricardoh
Walnut Creek Ca 3 days ago
I went to school in Los Angeles in the 1950s. At the ten o'clock break many of us bought a cinnamon roll. At
lunch the big seller was a macaroni, meat, and sauce dish that tasted pretty good. Of course we had to pay for it.
Nothing was free then. There were few over weight kids at the school. Get the government out of the schools.
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2Recommend
Sammie
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Texas 3 days ago
Good for you! We need better lunches for the kids of future America. Teaching them to be healthy at an early
age is extremely beneficial. To the people that say it's wasteful, then you need to think out if the box; kids will
eat anything if they're hungry. The lunch crew should ask if the child will eat it and if so then take, it if not then
don't take it. It's not the school's fault if the child doesn't eat, it is the child's and parents' fault. Children
shouldn't be fed unhealthy food, the adults need to lead by example and only provide healthy stuff. My
grandfather always said, "Take what you want. But eat what you take."
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2Recommend
CaptainSpaulding
Reality 3 days ago
I'm not upset that our government is packed with would be tyrants and oligarchs that want to control what we
say, think and now eat.
I'm upset at the otherwise good people who do nothing when the tyrants push their agenda.
The US Constitution NEVER gave the power of deciding what school kids eat to the 1st lady of the United
States (or any branch of the government).
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2Recommend
Tony P
Florida 3 days ago
Saying "Today, 90 percent of schools report that they are meeting these new standards. As a result, kids are now
getting more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other foods they need to be healthy" doesn't mean they are
actually eating the food. Much of it goes into the trash because they refuse to eat it. Many kids complain about
not getting enough food to eat at all. My son is in high school and he comes home every day hungry because
they just don't offer enough food. I try to make a good lunch for him to take instead. Many parents can't do that.
This is making the kids go hungry and causing waste for the schools, making them lose money that can be
better spent in other programs. Time to dump this policy and look at something that works.
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2Recommend
Bill
Michigan 3 days ago
The first place the White House should focus their attention on regulating are what the people on SNAP
Benefits are purchasing and make sure they are buying healthy foods. All food items have UPC codes and
unhealthy food should be restricted from purchase. The government spent $80.4 billion last year and estimates
are that $4 billion was for pop. I have seen families buying nothing but junk food with SNAP money and most
of the families were obese.
Only allow healthy, low sugar, high fiber food items to be purchased with SNAP Benefits.
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2Recommend
Greg Coladonato
Mountain View, CA 3 days ago
I think everyone agrees that sugar does little to no good for either kids or adults. But Mrs. Obama's reference to
research "that kids needed less .. fat in their diets" has me confused. Does anyone know what research she's
referring to? My understanding is that modern science doesn't have anything negative to say about children
consuming healthy fats like olive oil and nuts. Can anyone substantiate the claim that kids need less fat in their
diets? Is there science showing that cashews or walnuts are bad for kids (or adults)?
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3Recommend
matthewd
Fresno, CA 3 days ago
Based on this parent's experience the bottom line is this: kids come home hungry on a not infrequent basis, and
like little hobbits need a second lunch. The basic reasons behind this are: 1) The food that is offered at school is
unappealing/unappetizing, 2) Kids are picky, even if the food it good, they may not eat it, and 2) The caloric
content may simply be inadequate for their growing bodies.
Given that experience, is it any wonder many object to a top down one size fits all approach to school lunches?
With regard to the pizza sauce controversy, according to wonkblog, the First Lady is misinformed. The issue
was not whether or not tomato paste should be counted as a vegetable, it was whether or not tomato paste
should be counted based on volume or based on nutritional content. It doesn't take a nutritionist to know that
tomato paste is basically concentrated tomatoes (assuming no HFCS is added of course). Do raisins contain less
nutrients than an equal number of grapes?
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2Recommend
NYT Pick
Thi Ho
NYC 3 days ago
I grew up in an impoverished neighborhood of South Philadelphia. I distinctly recall skipping lunch during my
entire elementary school experience because the meals were so unappetizing: carb laden, defrosted junk. My
peers were also avoiding the school lunches, opting to purchase chips, soda and candy from the local corner
store instead. Now as a young adult, I marvel at how the adults in my school allowed for this to happen, for a
generation of children to go malnourished under their watch. How can continue to do this to our children?
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Teji Malik
Henderson NV 3 days ago
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When force the companies to sell Big Macs and the likes for $15.00 and above, then only we can curtail
obesity. And French fries should be $10.00.
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Recommend
k8earlix
san francisco 3 days ago
Gee it almost seems as if the GOP only cares about its citizens when they are yet to be born. After that, we must
fend for ourselves while they ratchet down spending on education, health care, a clean environment. It's almost
as if corporations are the ONLY people, and they only matter while they pour millions into politicians' pockets.
They should be ashamed, and they should be voted out.
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4Recommend
Yeeeecg
miami 3 days ago
While I admire Mrs. Obama's intent and goals, I am unsure why the First Lady (an attorney) is involved in
activities which are the responsibility of local school boarrds and their dieticians. Who is the "we" is she writes
about in her column who have crafted the standards for "revamping" the school menu program on a ntaional
basis? I am particularly concerned since the illiteracy rate continues to soar. National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP) exams indicated that 25 percent of eighth graders and 26 percent of 12th graders
were reading at the "below basic" level. Only about 70 percent of U.S. high school seniors graduate. - 30% of
graduating seniors are reading at an 8th grade level. These are more important school issues which will have
long term impact on the welfare and health of the nation.
The cost to schools to implement the program that Mrs Obama and her group created cost school districts $3.2
billion dollars in order to comply. Students began to reject the menus, so the school districts lost more money.
Demonizing the Republications for the Menu revamp failure seems irrational. And an unelected person (Mrs.
Obama) and her group mandating national eating habits in schools nationwide is troublesome. These should be
local issues, not something mandated by a few people in Washington DC.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues/issues408.shtml#sthash.m2O...
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1Recommend
renkentom
Fort Myers, FL 3 days ago
The biggest culprit in our present overweight youngsters is not in physical food being consumed but I would
venture to say that too much thumb activity on useless video games is the real problem. I can't believe how
many of good God given sunshine hours are wasted by our youth who are consumed by digital images prancing
around some do nothing game boards. Limit the time they can use these useless gadgets and get them outside in
the activities that allow them to sweat a little.
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2Recommend
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Eduardo
LI NY 3 days ago
The simple truth - centrally controlled federal lunch programs are a failure from the outset. The First Lady who
is qualified to teach us all about nutrition has determined that she is the authority on school lunch programs?
She ends her fanciful diatribe with - "As parents, we always put our children’s interests first. We wake up every
morning and go to bed every night worrying about their well-being and their futures." Really? Then why is it
that the government bureaucrats continually insist that breakfast, lunch and dinners should be offered to the
students five to seven days a week? Don't the parents care enough to feed their children? Does a High School
Athlete need a different level of calories than a art student? Does a 250lb male need a higher caloric meal at
lunch than a 95lb female? The First Lady's initiative is already a failure. Not simply because she is not qualified
to set up such a program - but rather, the government cannot implement or run such a program efficiently or for
the benefit of the populations they are trying to serve. The government is not the solution - in fact, the
government is more part of the problem. What is the relationship with the massive increase in food stamp
distribution that allows people to purchase "junk food" without having to worry about the inflated prices of the
high-fat, sugar laden food that tastes better than the Spinach leaves or Wheat bread? What a travesty!
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2Recommend
LCC
NY 3 days ago
Mrs. ObamaHere is your biggest dilemma. Your "sound science" (i.e. My Plate) is based on nutritional guidelines developed
by a political committee. This committee didn't have time for science - as noted by the committee chair. They
had to deal with a 'crisis' of heart disease.
Nutritional science is constantly changing, but the Standard American Diet hasn't unglued itself from the failed
lipid hypothesis proposed by Ancel Keys, initially in the 1950's. This has lead to the drive toward less fat in the
American diet. What happens when we take out one of the three main nutrients our bodies need? It has to be
replaced by something - and that something is carbohydrate.
The Standard American Diet recommends 350 grams of carbohydrate per day. It is mind-boggling. That equates
to nearly 30 Tablespoons of sugar each day (as carbohydrate is indeed a sugar). Our bodies are meant to hold
around 1/2 teaspoon of sugar at a time in order to support bodily functions and support ATP/brain function.
Anything over this and it is toxic to the body. Those diagnosed with type II diabetes typically only have around
1 1/4 teaspoons of sugar in the body in a fasting state.
But, you continue to support the USDA Dietary Guidelines - 30 Tablespoons of sugar in our bodies daily + the
"acceptable" 120 pounds of sucrose (added table sugars) per year. Add to that - the suggestion that around 30%
of our daily Plate should contain grains (more sugar, anti-nutrients and gluten).
LCC
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KPB
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Columbus, OH 3 days ago
Just once, can't we take the first step? With healthcare reform, with clean energy, with school nutrition, with
whatever - can't we just take the first step towards better outcomes without having to have the perfect solution at
the outset? Just once? Please? Can't we just simply try? Pertinent to this topic, who could possibly object to the
goal of ending childhood (and adult ) obesity? Can't we please just try?
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3Recommend
NYT Pick
Margaret Kearney
AZ 3 days ago
Mrs. Obama, as you stated, "As parents, we always put our children’s interests first. We wake up every morning
and go to bed every night worrying about their well-being and their futures." Parents and local schools are best
prepared to take care of our children, not a distant and out of touch government in DC. We have seen the lunch
menu at your girls' school and it looks very different from the one you are pushing on the rest of our nation's
children.
If you really want to improve our children's health, get GMOs labeled so we can avoid them, get the chickens
fed and processed with arsenic (now USDA approved for import from China) labeled so we can avoid them, get
toxins such as aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, etc. banned from our foods. There are so
many things that could be done to protect our health, but forcing a one size fits all menu on the nation's schools
is not among them.
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3Recommend
Rach
Missouri 3 days ago
It is not Congress' or the government's (or the first lady's) job or RIGHT to mandate what kids eat for lunch!
This is the role of parents and local school districts! This is the problem with the "progressive" left, they want to
mandate everything. Freedom is just that..Freedom. People who are free to make their own choices don't
necessarily make the best ones, but they still should be free to make them and suffer the consequences if they
are poor choices, and reap the rewards if they are good choices. Accordingly, the government should not be
expected to bail out people who have made poor choices. Leave us alone to live as we please. This is still
America the last time I checked.... at least for now. Big Brother is not welcome here!
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1Recommend
FS Director
California 3 days ago
Part 1- As a school Food Service Director that actually knows what is going on it frustrates me that Michelle
Obama is not only making this political, but making people who believe in free will and choice out to be those
who don't care about children or nutrition. Give me a break! Most of the public does not understand what she is
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pushing and she is slanting it in her statement. What they are asking is that students ARE NOT REQUIRED to
take a fruit or vegetable serving if they do not intend on eating it, not to NOT serve them at all. Please come see
the waste in the trash cans- who likes to be forced to eat something they don't want? That is the parent's job, at
home. Next year we are supposed to have 100% of what we serve be whole grain rich- meaning 50% whole
grain. That means pasta, bagels, tortillas, etc. All the "GOP" but not really just them (actually most people who
serve students and understand how restrictive these guidelines are- think grits in the south- not okay anymore)
are asking for is a waiver for those districts struggling with finding quality choices of whole grain items that
kids won't reject. Personally I would like to take it a step further and just maintain the 50% whole grain
guideline as it stands and give us some flexibility in menu design.
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2Recommend
AG
new york 3 days ago
I am baffled by some of the issues that repeatedly come up in these discussions. Children spend their lunch
money on candy and soda? WHY are there vending machines in schools that sell candy and soda? Get them
out! Older children skip the nutritious school lunch and go out to a fast food place? WHY are they allowed to
leave school grounds during the school day? When I was in school in the 60s and 70s, there was no school
cafeteria. All that was for sale were cartons of milk (for a nickel). We brought lunch from home, and ate
breakfast AT home, before school. I guess those days are gone, but I think it was better that way.
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5Recommend
Glenn
Kansas 3 days ago
This is a typical one size fits all failed government program. The thought process of this program is all wrong. I
get the fact that kids and even adults need to eat healthy and in many cases this may be the only meal some kids
get to eat. However you cannot continue to put a square peg in a round hole.
In your attempt to "fix" this problem that was not necessarily broken. The kids are expending enough energy to
work off what they ate for lunch. Now the kids are finding that this nutritious lunch does not contain enough
carbs to get them through a practice and do not have enough energy to perform at a high level. So they are
bringing food to supplement their so called "lunch" that the government has determined is sufficient for a kid
that does not do anything but sit in front of a TV after school and play video games.
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3Recommend
winoohno
priorato 3 days ago
"healthy" school lunches will not end the obesity epidemic in the U.S.
the kids are not eating the lunches and they are being thrown away -- wasting millions of dollars.
kids are not getting enough physical activity in school -- in fact, PE (physical education) is not offered for many
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school-aged children -- plus, kids are not allowed enough time on recess & lunch hour to run around.
this goes way beyond the Let's Move initiative -- just because the first lady feels strongly about it -- doesn't
make it right or effective.
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3Recommend
LB
Laguna Niguel, CA 3 days ago
I agree with Michelle 100%. No junk food for kids with tax dollars! I am a Republican and politics should have
nothing to do with nutrition.
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10Recommend
FS Director
California 3 days ago
Too bad she is not being accurate with that comment but just manipulating discussion and getting people like
you to buy into it. Food that is part of a meal (that some or all of it can be reimbursed by the government) does
not include "junk" food- whatever that might me to you. A la carte offerings - now called competitive food is
what she is targeting on this recent go round and students have to pay for it- there are no subsidies for snack
items...and snack items include water, fruit, sides of veggies, clif bars, crackers, muffins.- you know- all that
junk food. And if you are a Republican saying politics is not part of nutrition you would be opposed to the high
level of control and regulations she is setting.
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1Recommend
biggie winner
virginia 3 days ago
our son eats a healthy lunch because we pack it and on those days when he does eat the lunch room meal, he
picks carefully to include salad and a veggie. he loves veggies and fruits. he gets an occasional soda - root bear
or sprite, as a treat.
so, it comes down to this, parents need to teach their own kids on proper eating habits. there, i said it,
responsibility for proper eating habits is the parent's job not the school, not big business and not michelle. of
course, that means parents would need to set an example and stop eating all the crappy processed foods and cut
out sugar loaded sodas, cookies etc. if that happened big business would follow the trend and sell healthier food
without all the added salt, sugar, etc.
parents wake up, do your job and make your family healthier. michelle, the parents need to do their job. i did
not vote for you (i am democrat) and you do not hold any office - stop using your husband's office as your
personal soapbox. unless parents teach their kids how to eat healthy at home first, the "healthy lunch" at school
will end up in the trash can.
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3Recommend
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james
flagstaff 3 days ago
Unfortunately, we all pay the price if parents do not do their jobs, so I'd prefer to intervene, in the modest ways
we can, to reduce the future social cost of poor nutrition for children.
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4Recommend
gametime68
19934 3 days ago
Well I guess puttsy-ing in the White House veggie garden in designer clothes became boring. The VA scandal
has made that PR work impossible now because then she might have to answer questions about what she and
Obama have been doing for 5 years other than posing for photos. Now, its on to our schools and racism lectures
and fighting with local school districts over their budgets and food selections.
Guess it never occurs to liberals like the Obamas, who think lecturing everyone else is an actual policy, that
kids throw away food, they bring their own nutritious lunches that they then give away for snacks, and they will
always find a way to a piece of pizza.
Now, the woman uses the argument of making sure our hard-earned taxpayer dollars on school lunches are not
wasted. Really? We are asked to believe that a dysfunctional and inept White House that has wasted billions on
bad loans to energy companies, sold GM stock at a loss, handed out bonuses to government employees who
didn't have a problem with killing veterans to get them, and racked up over a billion on that Frankensurance
website and PR programs is now concerned about spending money wisely in the schools.
The Obamas have no credibility to be out here lecturing the country about anything.
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2Recommend
Mary
Clearwater FL 3 days ago
This from the woman that uses the argument of making sure our hard-earned taxpayer dollars on school lunches
are not wasted.
Over the president’s time in office, they have documented official Obama trip costs at $44,351,777.12.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/costs-for-obama-trips-top-44m-over-10m-alo...
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1Recommend
FS Director
California 3 days ago
Part 2: I am a former chef with a degree in nutrition raising teenagers. What we want is to FEED students food
they want to eat and will enjoy eating that will nourish them through the school day. Forcing them to take food
they don't want, manipulating calorie and fat %s to continue to force students to have to purchase and take food
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they will not consume does not make sense in any world. As someone else commented about what is our goal?
The Nutrition Program budget is inflating due to the new guidelines, but we have taken cooking out of schools.
This is not empowering students to learn and make educated choices, but just saying "we know what is best for
you- now do it". I am all for feeding students healthy food, but as we all live our lives with choice and
moderation (or we should) I think the focus is misdirected. She is just trying to save face. And waivers? Are you
kidding me? Obamacare (Healthcare for our children and families may I remind you) is full of waivers. Let it go
Michelle and work with the people that actually know what they are doing. In reading some other posts- yes,
there is always room for improvement, but districts can't be compared apples to apples. We are multicultural
with varying socioeconomic levels. We deserve the same flexibility and allowances they give on the education
side.
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Lisa
CT 3 days ago
The unheathy food companies and raw material cororate farmers(soda, junk food, corn syrup, wheat) might not
make every nickel they planned= more spending on Washington lobbyists= congress trying to weaken this
initiative.
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6Recommend
Radioyada
Atlanta 3 days ago
If you send children to government run schools you should not be surprised that government can and will tell
you and your precious little child what to do. After all...government knows best.
I always find it sad that people willingly let others make such important decisions for them. I guess existence is
more important than life.
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Recommend
TruSkeptik
South Carolina 3 days ago
"Our children deserve so much better than this". Indeed.
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5Recommend
shashy
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dc 3 days ago
This is the among the most insane arguments I have ever read. Women and children need FOOD. Potatos are
food! This is discrimination at its best and in its basest form--against the poor and sickly. Poor people are
believed to be too dumb to think for themselves and make good choices. My family is gluten free because
gluten makes us severly ill. Potatoes are consequently a major part of our diet since we cannot eat bread. But I
guess if I were on WIC or FARM I'd be starving for carbs. Yet another example of an elitest power player
thinking she knows what is best for anyone less educated than she.
MO discriminates against the poor and disabled.
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2Recommend
MilwaukeeWoman1
Milwaukee 3 days ago
Those eligible for WIC almost always are also eligible for food stamps (SNAP). They can buy all the potatoes
they want with food stamps. WIC exists to supplement food stamps for babies and toddlers to allow for
increased purchases of targeted foods such as fruits and vegetables. What's so hard to understand about that?
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3Recommend
AtTheMurph
Indianapolis, IN 3 days ago
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which
are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on
external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will,
for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in
the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order,
improvement, and prosperity of the State.
The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger;
those of the State governments, in times of peace and security. As the former periods will probably bear a small
proportion to the latter, the State governments will here enjoy another advantage over the federal government.
The more adequate, indeed, the federal powers may be rendered to the national defense, the less frequent will be
those scenes of danger which might favor their ascendancy over the governments of the particular States.
If the new Constitution be examined with accuracy and candor, it will be found that the change which it
proposes consists much less in the addition of NEW POWERS to the Union, than in the invigoration of its
ORIGINAL POWERS. - Publius
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Recommend
AG
new york 3 days ago
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Schools should teach kids, including teaching them about good nutrition. Schools should not be responsible for
feeding kids ... particularly not for free, since nothing free is ever really appreciated. Parents should be the ones
to feed kids. (If they assistance to afford it, or classes in nutrition to do it properly, I'm all for providing it.) If
parents fail to feed their kids, they should be charged with neglect.
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Recommend
JLL
Illinois 3 days ago
It just seems to me that if these restrictions are to prevent/reduce childhood obesity, why aren't the requirements
being implemented in other federal programs? It is a well documented fact that the highest percent of the obese
population is the lower income bracket. Many in this group are also on government food programs. Why does
the government still allow these individuals to purchase soda, candy, sugary cereals, frozen food with nearly no
nutritional value, etc. If the purpose is truly for bettering the health of the American population, particularly due
to obesity, shouldn't the requirements be made for ALL government tax dollars being spent on food programs?
Likewise, with single payer health programs. If we are truly heading to a single payer program, shouldn't all tax
dollars going to housing go directly to the landlords? That way, the money doesn't get spent on other things.
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1Recommend
Healthcare For All
Simsbury 3 days ago
Re: re food stamps,
If the government sets new restrictions by making only healthy food available, recipients of snap benefits will
not be able to purchase enougb food for a month. Junk food is cheep. I do agree about soda. I wonder if soda
lobbyists are behind that.
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1Recommend
Gary
DeVaan 3 days ago
I know that John Kline (R) Minnesota, who is the chair of the education committee is pushing to roll back
nutrition standards in schools.
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Cas
CT 3 days ago
Because of the volume of complaints from school districts about huge volumes of food thrown away, and
decreasing participation in the school lunch programs, by 1.6 million children, according to government figures.
But don't kept facts get in the way of your ideology.
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Your Informed Now
Behind Enemy Lines 3 days ago
So, we have Michelle wanting to change the diet of schools children with what she deems best. What about the
junk kids might be getting at home for breakfast and dinner? How will she solve that? Or, to put it in another
way, what difference will having one "nutritional well balanced (rolls eyes)" meal have, kind of like ordering a
Diet Soda to go with that Big Mac, Double Cheeseburger, Large Fries, and two Apple Pies!
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2Recommend
Katherine
New York 3 days ago
Well at least the kids will be getting one healthy meal a day. That's better than 3 unhealthy meals per day.
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2Recommend
Jay Wiener
California 3 days ago
Mrs. Obama is making a major contribution to society with her emphasis on healthy eating and her attempts to
curb childhood obesity. Unfortunately, she often promotes the Body Mass Index as a reliable way to determine
obesity. It is not. Several free online metrics are much more useful than the BMI. The waist to hips ratio and the
waist to height ratio each give more useful information than does the BMI, and www.weightzonefactor.com
gives a comprehensive, scientific analysis of weight and fitness. These tools are all valuable; I recommend
weightzonefactor.com for best overall advice.
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1Recommend
HJBoitel
New York 3 days ago
If congress relaxes the requirements for school lunches, we should start a movement for legislation that cuts all
subsidies to congressional dining rooms and food carts. i.e. congressional food services must, at least, charge
full cost, including personnel costs. If we cannot afford to subsidize food for our children, then we certainly
cannot afford to subsidize food for our legislators.
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12Recommend
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NYT Pick
AACNY
is a trusted commenter New York 3 days ago
There's something wrong when people ignore the responsibility of parents and jump straight to the argument
that it is the federal government's responsibility to impose healthy eating habits.
There is something very wrong with this picture. It is NOT a good trend for the nation. The less responsibility
parents have, the worse their children will fare. The greater responsibility handed to the government, the greater
likelihood that it will mess it up.
This is a trend that is moving in the wrong direction. I'd rather see Michelle Obama deal directly with those
responsible, ex., the parents, and not try to take over their responsibilities.
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5Recommend
MilwaukeeWoman1
Milwaukee 3 days ago
So....every parent should pack their kids lunch? Or every parent should go to school every day to see what is
being served in the cafeteria? Good luck with that.
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Recommend
TruthOverHarmony
CA 3 days ago
Would you prefer that the schools go back to the crappy food they've always served, supplemented by junk food
vending machines, so that the child of a parent who is taking responsibility to feed their kids healthy foods at
home will have those "forbidden" foods available at school to undermine what their folks are trying to do for
them? Great plan. I do agree we can't expect the schools to do it all, and that parents need to get onboard as
well. Often it's parents with terrrible diets and eating habits who pass that on to their unfortunate kids.
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1Recommend
NYT Pick
School Nurse
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USA 3 days ago
I am a school nurse and mother of three children (who have been through the public school system). I commend
Mrs. Obama for trying to instill healthy eating habits especially for Mother's/Babies (via the WIC program) and
for school age children in order to reduce childhood obesity: however, this is going to take tremendous effort
and will not happen for a very long time. Advances in medicine really take shape or are thoroughly instituted
when something personally happens to a political figure or actor/actress - then that particular medical issue is
addressed. It is very sad that "money" is attached to everything in life, and anyone who has a financial interest
wants to have input on how a project should be implemented.
At the school level there is so much waste that occurs. Even though the meals are balanced in portion and
meeting the five food groups, children still throw away unopened or unused food. It is a terrible shame
especially since there are so many people in poverty who can't afford to purchase quality nutritious foods. The
food that is wasted at the schools could help feed the impoverished. Also, there are too many vending machines
available to students in schools - these should be eliminated all together. We really need to get back-to-thebasics, providing home-cooked balanced foods and not rely on the prepackaged/processed foods that our "food
companies" supply to our schools. Educating everyone is the key element.
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TruthOverHarmony
CA 3 days ago
If vending machines were removed, kids eventually would get hungry enough and stop throwing out the "good
stuff."
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1Recommend
CSAG70
Texas 3 days ago
School lunches barely scratch the surface. Let's not forget when children gets home from school some have a
wide array of things to pack away into their little bellies. Then it's it in front of the game console to sit and play
video games. I admire MO for trying, however, I can't see how 5 lunches a week are going to make that much
difference when everything in a childs life begins at home, obesity, discipline, the list goes on.
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2Recommend
TexJal
Dallas, TX 3 days ago
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The last time I looked, it's the parent's responsibility to insure the child eats a healthy diet, not the school, not
the government, and especially not Michelle Obama. Tired of the nanny state intruding in our lives but then
again New Yorkers elected Mayor Big Bird and voted blue in 2008 and 2012.
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8Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
School lunches have been here for decades. Why shouldn't they be healthy?
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Obozo the clown
Anaheim, ca 3 days ago
She's just doing what democrats always do. Doubling down on stupid. The kids don't eat the food. Force them
to eat it. Who cares that 90% of it gets wasted and thrown away. Continue the stupidity. It's the democratic way.
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8Recommend
B
USA 3 days ago
In my family, we were taught that anyone who didn't like nutritious food was the stupid one. I guess things were
different in your family.
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4Recommend
Scott
Maryland 'Burbs of DC 3 days ago
Doubling down on stupid is the bumpersticker slogans spouted by the GOP.
Doubling down on stupid is not supporting education reforms that increase the access to education because the
uneducated believes the bumbersticker slogans and is part of their base.
Doubling down on stupid is ignoring basic scientific fact and embracing fringe theories because their base is
largely uneducated by a system they do not want to fun while they are feeding them bumpersticker slogans.
Doubling down on stupid is embracing areas in the rural south telling them the black man president is evil and
looking to take away their guns and freedom.
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4Recommend
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Brian
USA 3 days ago
Maybe had you gone about it all in a manner like an American instead of in a manner like a dictating
communist(aka "progressive").
But whatever..... like your husband you know it all..and its all our faults for not embracing whatever you claim
is right. SO tired of both of you.
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8Recommend
Steve
Charleston, SC 3 days ago
What's your solution then? I'm a healthcare provider and from my perspective, it's looking pretty awful...
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Recommend
deimos
Bristol TN 3 days ago
look what her kids are eating at school...
http://www.sidwell.edu/students/index.aspx
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1Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
What's your point? They pay money for a private school, mainly because of security concerns. People who pay
for private schools still pay taxes to fund public schools.
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1Recommend
Alan
West Virginia 3 days ago
" ... we have adhered to one clear standard: what works."
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Actually, no, you haven't. What you are doing clearly isn't working and is foolishly expensive as well. You can
lead a kid to a healthy meal but you can't make him/her eat it.
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3Recommend
TruthOverHarmony
CA 3 days ago
Alan: It's pretty similar to when you have young children and the parent (that's us grownups out there who are
supposed to be their parents and not their friends) are preparing and feeding them healthy food (ie. steamed
veggies, fruit, meat, fish and chicken that isn't fried or all sweet-sauced up) and they just don't want to eat it.
Guess what. If that's the only food being served in the house, eventually they will eat it. I have a neice who is
now 16. When she was 3 she somehow got the notion that "I want to be a vegetarian" (not a bad thing by any
means) - probably from a friend or a cartoon - and her parents indulged her and guess what, she grew up a
vegetarian. And drove the whole family crazy for years with her food demands. Drastic measures need to be
taken at a young age to combat the all-out assault the BIG food industry (and their "friends" in Congress) are
waging against our kids (and the rest of America.) That is an all-out effort to get as many of us as possible
addicted to their sugared-sweetened-processed products masquerading as real food. Sugar and flour addiction is
a real thing, believe me, I am an addict myself. Education does not work for food addicts, & many of those
obese kids & adults are actually addicted to the short-lived pacifying affect "comfort" foods provide them.
Nowadays, industry, and multi-tatooed TV chefs, are trying to turn just about any dish they prepare into comfort
food. Banking on the fact that we do not like any kind of discomfort.
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2Recommend
Doodle
Fort Myers 3 days ago
This is one clear example that illustrates the Republican Congress do not have in their heart the well being of
the people. What is so controversial about less sugar, less salt and less fat and more exercise in our lives?
The Republican politicians are willing to sacrifice even the well being of all our children so their big money
financiers can continue to sell us junks and poisons to ruin our health. They are short sighted, completely
without vision, and they lie. The Republican voters are fools to continue voting for them. But wait, maybe this
is just the way the Republican base like their politicians.
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5Recommend
Nye
Nevada 3 days ago
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The additives, preservatives, artificial sugars that were tested on lab rats and is known to cause cancers, obesity,
skins rashes etc, These things should never have been approved by the FDA. Now, all these additives and
preservatives etc. are in almost everything we eat. Michelle speaks about relying on using are current sound
science? Please notice that in the past 50 years that this so called sound science changes every 5-10 years? i.e
What was good/bad for us 10 years ago is now good/bad for us now? Our problems within our schools lunch,
education, physical education programs starts with lack of government funding. The same government funding
that we use to house illegal immigrants that are crossing our boarders every single day and we allow these
illegals to live here illegally, living off government funded programs. This article talks about kids not getting
enough to eat at home because their parents are too poor. Isn't there a government assistance for that? So what
this article really states, is that the parents are too uneducated to know what healthy foods to feed their children.
Is it the parents or governments responsibility to ensure kids are eating healthy? I know the answer do you? The
lack of education in our schools leads people to rely on government to create solutions to the problems that they
themselves have created. Although Michelle's intentions are good, she is not resolving the problem from the
source, & that is the silver lining in today's politics.
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3Recommend
John Doe
Amerika 3 days ago
Here's an idea: How about mom or dad teach their kids at home and then we can avoid all the finger pointing
and hand wringing about "school lunches"? Can't home school? Then how about packing your kids a balanced
lunch instead of rushing out the door in the morning with an empty stomach? Practice what you preach at home
by eating healthy at dinner time. Pass on Dominoes and McDonalds. Invite neighbors over more often for a
large meal to demonstrate that dinner time is just as much about friendship, good company and humor as it is
eating and drinking.
Our kids would gladly eat Thai basil chicken over chicken nuggets. We made the choice to invest the time into
preparing large hearty, delicious, eclectic and healthy meals and then storing them for leftovers on days that are
hectic. It's about what you as parents put on the table too. No, it's not easy, but if you cannot change their
desires and preferences through early conditioning and repetition, no degree of compulsion or threatening by the
time they are school age will work.
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1Recommend
wendy
colorado 3 days ago
There can be negative consequences to one-size-fits-all healthy food standards. I was a skinny kid who hated
plain milk. (Still do.) If chocolate (or some other flavored) milk hadn't been an option, I would never have had
milk with my lunch. Period.
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1Recommend
james
flagstaff 3 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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I applaud the First Lady's efforts and the real successes they are achieving. The problem, however, lies precisely
behind her statement, "We already spend an estimated 190 billion dollars a year treating obesity-related
conditions." Sodium-loaded foods, sugars, and cheap starches and fats are a very profitable industry, and the
pharmaceuticals that are then used to treat the resulting chronic conditions are even more profitable. Unless one
is willing to challenge and break that fundamentally profit-minded approach to nutrition and health, the
measures the First Lady advocates so passionately and effectively will remain contentious and always limited.
There are huge areas in our economy where the profit incentive works effectively to serve consumers, spur
innovation, reward entrepreneurs, and build our general well-being: health and nutrition, though, should not be
such an area, and one doesn't have to be (or be labeled) a Communist to say so.
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1Recommend
Jeff
Atlanta 3 days ago
The citation to evidence of actual results is to a study of changes in obesity rates in 2-5 year old children, none
of whom are eating public school lunches. In short, there is no evidence supporting a connection between the
administration's efforts to change school lunches and the obesity rate of people not in school.
Her comment that it is why "we know that when we rely on sound science, we can actually begin to turn the tide
on childhood obesity" is especially insulting because the "sound science" cited in the preceding paragraphs has
no connection whatsoever to the results which she states as proof that the science is effective.
This sort of gloss of science asserted as supporting progressive policies is typical, but here is a glaring case of
distorting a survey results to justify a completely unrelated policy. Might as well say, the obesity rate of women
over 60 went up since the polices were implemented (also true in the same survey) which is scientific proof that
when we listen to these experts' advice, obesity rates increase.
The government is not responsible for you being fat and it won't make you thin either.
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1Recommend
mcg135
Santa Rosa, CA 3 days ago
If a child is obese it is a good bet that the parent is also obese. At least good meals at school will give a child a
good chance of changing the pattern of and the curse of obesity.
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3Recommend
MMG
Puerto Rico 3 days ago
It is riches against health. The rich companies that produce the junk food lobby with the republicans to keep the
junk in the school lunches and WIC programs. They are the ones that have much to gain from it. The children
have nothing to gain, except weight.
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Susan Donovan
Bristol RI 3 days ago
As a former elementary Health Science teacher I can tell you that sometimes our students are more thoughtful
than the adults when it comes to health issues. The same can be said about our legislators. They obviously do
not have the health of our most vunerable in mind by undoing the progress made on the food front. They are
more interested in pleasing the lobbyists than helping the constituents the are suppposed to serve stay healthy.
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4Recommend
Gail
Lacey, WA USA 3 days ago
As a veteran of school lunch rooms, I too noticed how many apples, etc. were thrown away. However, serving a
whole apple not cut into smaller pieces would make the younger children give up before even tasting it. This
same illustration would apply to the bananas we served which were impossible to peel as they were so unripe. I
learned to carry a small paring knife (probably not allowed today,) to help them break into their food. Bottom
line: I applaud Mrs. Obama but would also like to see common sense approaches toward making the food for
youngsters much more user friendly. P.S. The immigrant children? By and large, they gobbled every bite. It was
the sugar monster reared kids who threw their food away.
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11Recommend
Mary Kruser
Saint paul MN 3 days ago
I wish my grandchildren would eat some of the "white potatoes" that Michelle Obama wants to delete from the
program. While I agree with her on everything else she stands for, I think Mrs. Obama is wrong on this. Not
everyone eats potatoes in the form of chips.
I recently stood behind a young father at the grocery checkout who was denied a 10 lb bag of Idaho potatoes in
the SNAP program. I paid for them and remembered growing up in Ireland with my six healthy brothers and
sisters who often ate nothing else but potatoes all day. I went home and checked out their nutritional value
online. I suggest your readers do the same.
2008 was declared the "year of the potato" by the UN in order to bring awareness to the nutritional value of this
humble vegetable. http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/hort-indust-...
I grew up in Ireland where the potato saved many a child from starvation.
Let's pick on something else for the fight on obesity.
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1Recommend
Miriam
Raleigh 3 days ago
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Oh please, you grew up in Ireland where potatoes saved "many a child"..no you didn't or you read about on the
wrong blog...really...try history again and the mass starvation and exodus from Ireland when that lucious potato
crop failed to blight...
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3Recommend
Roger
Connecticut 3 days ago
I decided to take a look at some current elementary and high school cafeteria menus posted online, and I’m not
sure that, despite Ms. Obama’s good intentions, things are always moving in the right direction on the ground.
Some of the revamped menus I have seen essentially retain the old options (mostly processed deli meats, fried
chicken, hot dogs and frozen pizza) then add a “Healthy Choice!” option at the bottom, specially separated from
the other choices, which in practice simply means a vegetable side. Why are vegetables being segregated and
stigmatized like this? There also continues to be a bias against saturated fat, in spite of recent studies
exonerating it, with most schools boasting that they don’t even offer whole milk as an option. Calorie-counting
seems to be creeping in, too – even for elementary school students! The basic objectives here are laudable,
particularly as it pertains to increasing choice of foods, but implementation seems to be a challenge.
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3Recommend
Carl
Albany, NY 3 days ago
You are the First Lady which means you're the host of the White House. You are not elected. It is not your
responsibility to lecture people on the unpopularity of your "healthy" initiatives either. Perhaps if the media saw
you feeding your daughters kale and spinach instead of ice cream cones on Martha's Vineyard, you would be
taken a little more seriously on this. We Americans don't like to be dictated to; especially when it comes to
food. Furthermore, a parent is ultimately responsible for a child's eating habits. Sure I ate unhealthy school
lunches for many years, but my mother never bought junk food, instilled good eating habits, packed a healthy
lunch sometimes, and prepared a healthy dinner at least four times a week
(while working two jobs). I am a very healthy adult because of this. Most school districts have around 170-180
school days a year. This comes out to about 180 lunches per year. On a 3-meal-per-day diet there are still 915
meals to be eaten. School lunches amount to less than 20% of a child's total diet. So you see by the numbers Ms.
Obama is simply barking up the wrong tree. Stay healthy kids! And it's up to you parents to instill good eating
habits.
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5Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
Parents can feed kids anything they want to, just don't expect taxpayers to fund junk food in schools. Why is
that concept so hard to understand?
You don't seem to have a problem with big business peddling junk food in public schools. Why is that?
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10Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
It's astonishing to see people here howling with rage at the idea of feeding children healthy food.
If you really want to give your kids a steady diet of junk food, have at it, pack it yourself, but don't expect
taxpayers to pay for junk food and don't ask taxpayers to pay the healthcare bills down the road.
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10Recommend
SLM
Wisconsin 3 days ago
The federal government has no business telling the American people what it can and cannot eat.
While obesity is a problem among children and adults alike, it's a problem best solved through other means.
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3Recommend
hikingor
or 3 days ago
The new lunches served at schools are TERRIBLE! I walk my kids home everyday listening to them complain
how bad they are. For example, Nachos are some salty tortilla chips with uncooked sprinkled cheese on top.
Yum. It's not enough food to sustain kids during studies and you cant tell me this is anymore vitamin packed or
nutritious than the lunches I was served growing up. We give our kids a second lunch when they come home of
actual healthy foods.
Michelle Obama ruined school lunches! I've had enough government meddling in every aspect of my families
lives.
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3Recommend
Seth J Hersh
Catskills 3 days ago
This is an excellent approach - and if our schools provide good nutrition, it's a good lesson to provide.
This is a long-term benefit in that, with reductions in obesity, the costs to treat this preventable, chronic disease
will plunge, saving the US government on health bills it must pay.
Commenters have said it's not the government's place to dictate food standards. I say it is - and we should race
to the top to meet them, not race to the bottom for another helping of junk food.
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If school children do not want better nutrition at school, they can not eat and fill their pie-holes with junk food
at home.
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3Recommend
Lonely Pedant
DFW, TX 3 days ago
I attended public elementary school in the 1960s. I was socially engineered to be a nonsmoker. All the adults I
grew up around were smokers. I never took up smoking. Is it possible that I learned something important about
healthy living in . . . in . . . government school?
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9Recommend
totyson
Sheboygan, WI 3 days ago
It very well may not be the government's responsibility to provide healthy food to school children at lunch or
breakfast. Fair enough. But it seems like it should be the government's responsibility NOT to provide them with
foods that are proven to be harmful in that they are high in fat, sugar and sodium. Those who think we should
feed the kids the stuff they like to eat, no matter what, are ignoring the reality of what Michael Moss identified
as "the bliss factor" in his book on the subject. These foods are designed to addict, not to provide optimum
nutrition. The of the history Kraft's Lunchables is particularly informing on the billion dollar motivation here,
and it has nothing to do with what is good for children's health.
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13Recommend
doggonejo
Pennsylvania 3 days ago
This advice from a woman who claims that after all this work the same number of kids are over weight. She
claims every parent goes to bed worried sick about their kids. And that one should listen to scientists in these
matters. Well, that is the first thing that she said I agree with. And it would help if she concentrated on kids
getting exercise, as diet is not the entire problem. Also, most parents are too terrified to let their kids play
outside thanks to the huge problems in inner cities. And she thinks that the BMI is applicable to children. She is
no scientist, and her husband has contributed to the problem of obesity by his huge increase in food stamp
program. I couldn't eat $300/week in groceries if I tried, but that is what each person is getting under this
administration. And, they don't know how to shop, they buy bolagne, white bread, fast food, all thanks to
Obama and his desire to grow the program. I'd rather see them have to go to approved government run stores to
get real, nutritious food then this free for all with my money. In the meantime, they make sure they punish
100% of the kids because of the ones on food stamps with stupid ( not worried) parents.
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1Recommend
nilrek
austria 3 days ago
I completley agree that lunches should be healthy and appaetizing, and people like Jamie Oliver have shown us
it isn't that hard, such as multivegetable sauce on whole grain pasta. Requiring the food service companies that
sell to public schools to adhere to nutritional guidelines should notbe impossible either. If it is a profitable
business, the companies will make it happen. But several of the comments by "lunch ladies" struck me: Please
don't tell me that kids are allowed to throw away untouched fruit like apples and oranges and bananas after
school lunch! Prepared food, ok, but not perfectly good food that could be served the next day. We not only
have an obesity epidemic, we have an epidemic of wasting good, edible food!
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2Recommend
TonyBrr
Cincinnati 3 days ago
Attention: I'd like to let everyone know our school festival will be serving a two new items this year- Deep
Fried Twinkies and Deep Fried Oreos with powdered sugar being optional. We anticipate selling quite a few
and raising money for our school that attracts a number of low income household children. Why are we doing
it? Because salads and veggie dishes won't sell. Beer and fried food is where the money is. And if we don't raise
money, the kids will have to go to inferior local public schools.
It's a big country (in many ways). Most of you probably feel you are making a difference. Fighting the good
fight. And this feeling keeps you warm and snuggly at night. Many talk about fresh, home-grown vegetables
(though Mrs. O has people doing most of weeding). I think you ought to save your breath, spend your time
reading a good book, and mind your own business (garden).
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4Recommend
SukieTawdry
California 3 days ago
What is so hard about preparing well-balanced, nutritional meals that appeal to the eye as well as taste buds?
My mother did it every day.
When Michelle declared war on childhood obesity, nutrition experts jumped in to say that her focus on schoolage kids was misguided. They said that by the time a child goes to school, his eating habits are well-formed and,
as with most things, good nutrition and other healthy habits begin at home and at a very early age.
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2Recommend
mdinmn
Minnesota 3 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Maurice, REALLY?
Doctors are the problem? REALLY? No doctor under the age of 65 doesn't have the same nutritional
information we all do and is happy to share it ( in the 13 minutes he/she has to speak to you).
The Obama Doctrine?"blame congress for every failure". You seem to ignore the fact that the Democrats
enjoyed a majority for about ten minutes when the President was elected, he signed the affordable care act and
as punishment for providing access to affordable health care the Democrat majority was lost. The most
powerful tool the administration has is to bring issues like these to the American people and hope they will
contact their legislators.
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6Recommend
GreenUrbanIslands
Los Angeles 3 days ago
Corporations make millions of dollars a day selling junk food. The corporations invest a few thousand dollars in
Representatives. And the Representatives campaign to push junk food in the schools.
Get the children hooked on toxic foods early, they will crave the quick fix all their lives. A few thousand dollars
to purchase a Representative is a good investment for the corporations. Cheaper than Saturday morning
commercials.
Where is the mystery in this? The corporations want to sell products for maximum profits.
What better way to start the habit of junk food? Push it through schools. Push it at checkstands. Push it on
television. Push it through Congress.
Obesity? Diabetes? Heart disease? Amputations? Kidney failure? Corporations also sell health care. Paid for by
who?
Buy a Representative. Max the profit.
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16Recommend
Josh
USA 3 days ago
Why is it that the left thinks that the government has a role in deciding what my children eat for lunch? Why is
it that the liberal left think the Federal Government is charged with ensuring that my children are Fed in the way
they feel is appropriate? What document describes that as part of their duties? What gives them the authority to
dictate it? Why is it that some feel the Federal Government can just stick its nose into anything it wants to
without mandate or authorization?
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10Recommend
Rick in Iowa
Cedar Rapids 3 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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You're right. Just let them keep eating hamburgers and French fries and chasing it down with sodas. Great diet
for a growing child.
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12Recommend
Karen
Brooklyn 3 days ago
To Josh who says: "Why is it that the left thinks that the government has a role in deciding what my children eat
for lunch?"
You can send your kids to schools with whatever lunch you like, no one is trying to tell you anything. I do
believe, however, that the government has a role in deciding how our tax dollars are spent. If we are going to be
providing food in public schools, I think it is very prudent to provide nutritious food, I wouldn't want my tax
dollars paying for junk food. I don't know why anyone would have a problem with this.
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16Recommend
Monocacy
Murfreesboro TN 3 days ago
Congress would have no problem adopting the the same menu for public schools as Michele's children enjoy at
Sidwell Friends School.
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8Recommend
Rick in Iowa
Cedar Rapids 3 days ago
I think they would. It would be very expensive.
I don't think they would want them eating as well as the private schools Congress sends their kids to either.
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4Recommend
Tango
New York NY 3 days ago
Monocacy
What about Congress adopting the school lunch program in the Congressional dining rooms.
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11Recommend
Chaz1954
London 3 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Sad to think that there are still individuals who believe that whatever is said by either of the obamas is not only
the truth but is the gospel.
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9Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
I didn't need a politician or a politician's wife to tell me that giving children junk food in school every day is a
bad idea.
I do appreciate it when a public figure tries to do something about the problem.
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21Recommend
Steve
Charleston, SC 3 days ago
As a healthcare professional, it's disheartening to think about this problem. The current scenario is this: our
public schools (which means our communities since people in the community support schools with taxes) have
turned over their kitchens to large corporations. Fine, whatever. Concepts in food science have allowed these
companies to create the perfect foods that people crave. If you crave it, you'll buy it. Cravings are the result of
addictive substances. The ONLY substance in food that has been shown to have addictive properties is sugar
(high fructose corn syrup as well, it's the same thing essentially). In fact, sugar is 12 times more addictive than
cocaine and makes the pleasure centers of your brain light up like cocaine does.
School lunches, which are fast food, are full literally loaded with sugar. Unlike cocaine, sugar has fructose in it
which can be directly converted to fat and bad cholesterol unchecked. It's a liver toxin and an addictive
substance. It was exceedingly rare to encounter sugar before 1850 and only in the last 80 years has it been
added to our food supply in such a massive scale. The food industry, using the AMA and American Heart
Association, has literally demonized fat in order to add sugar to everything (i.e. low fat yogurt).
We've made a decision to be okay with poisoning our children. A calorie is not a calorie and we aren't going to
exercise our way out of this...not matter what the food industry says.
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11Recommend
James Jordan
Falls Church 3 days ago
Mrs. Obama,
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Never give up. You are on the right path. Keep writing about this issue and using the White House to feature the
efforts of the school cafeteria workers and nutritionists to keep our children healthy.
One of the beautiful features of our system of government is it is elected. The People's House is up every 2
years and American voters get a chance to correct the behavior of our lawmakers. Just make sure that those who
vote to roll-back the progress in nutrition are identified.
I am sure you will listen carefully to the arguments made by the people who propose to roll back the progress in
healthy school diets. Whatever their problems are the valid ones can be addressed.
Please give my regards to your husband and tell him to let me bring freshly picked vegetables to America's
kitchens overnight in a 300 mph superconducting Maglev transport for both passengers and freight. All the
government needs to do is test and certify this remarkable system as a public carrier. The 2nd generation
superconducting Maglev invented by Drs. James Powell and Gordon Danby was originally conceived as a
system to carry trucks in roll-on, roll-off Maglev vehicles for overnight delivery at a much lower price than any
other mode. Food freshness and lack of spoilage is critical to good health. This new industry will create over a
million livable wage jobs and create a strong contender for export to global markets.
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5Recommend
John
CA 3 days ago
I'm tired of the potato hate. One potato has more potassium than a banana and about half the vitamin c of an
orange. It's a good food.
In fact, one man, as an experiment, lived only on potatoes for two months. Afterward, his weight improved, his
blood sugar decreased, his cholesterol went down, etc. (Google "20 Potatoes a Day" for more info.)
Think about all of the Asian cultures where rice is a staple -- they're all thin. Our bodies thrive on starch.
It's the fat that Americans eat that makes them fat, not starch. Potatoes aren't the problem. The problem is french
fries and potato chips, which are, of course, loaded with grease.
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4Recommend
M McCarthy
California 3 days ago
Several studies including one done by Harvard Public Health concluded that consumption of white rice was
associated with higher ratesof type 2 diabetes and this is indeed a problem in Asian countries where white rice
is a major compnent of the diet. If you've traveled in Africa you will know that Africans have an extremely high
starch diet and this does in fact lead to obesity and Type 2 diabetes where people can afford to eat as much as
they want..
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9Recommend
Lauren
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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Troy, NY 3 days ago
While I appreciate First Lady Michelle Obama's attention to the health and nutrition concerns of the country's
children, there are a few things I cannot get past when reading an article like this. For example, if we expect
kids to be receptive to changes in school lunches, these changes need to be mirrored and supported at home
(which is an entirely different beast to tackle). In too many geographical areas this is just not possible due to the
lack of "healthy" food options. When will subsidies for big agribusiness (e.g. corn, corn syrup sweeteners, etc)
and loyalty to processed food companies (which, despite their "efforts" will never be considered "healthy" food
options in my opinion) end, and that funding be directed at real, effective, measurable efforts made to quench
the food desserts and make healthy, FRESH eating possible for low-income families? This is a case where the
administration cannot have its cake and eat it, too.
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7Recommend
Michael Waldrup
Idaho 3 days ago
This goes back to Reagan wanting to count ketchup as a vegetable in school lunches. The GOP really does not
care about America, they only care about campaign contributions. When will the voters wake up and throw the
bums out!!
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29Recommend
Jeff
New Mexico 3 days ago
not sure where Ms. Obama gets the concept where obesity rates are beginnning to fall.
in the study referred by Ms. Obama
Prevalence of Childhood and Adult Obesity in the United States, 2011-2012
Cynthia L. Ogden, PhD; Margaret D. Carroll, MSPH; Brian K. Kit, MD, MPH; Katherine M. Flegal, PhD
Conclusions and Relevance Overall, there have been no significant changes in obesity prevalence in youth or
adults between 2003-2004 and 2011-2012. Obesity prevalence remains high and thus it is important to continue
surveillance."
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3Recommend
DR
New England 3 days ago
Here you go:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/26/health/obesity-rate-for-young-children...
If I remember correctly CBS News covered this story as well.
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15Recommend
totyson
Sheboygan, WI 3 days ago
"...the obesity rate is finally beginning to fall from its peak among our youngest children."
The group referred to in the piece is not the one you refer to in your comment. Perhaps you misread what the
Fist Lady wrote.
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5Recommend
Todd Fox
3 days ago
There's nothing wrong with a "white" potato. It's not "white" because it's been processed — like white flour or
white rice. I'd be perfectly happy to see an offering of a baked potato served with a meat chili topping. This
would be a good lunch for many healthy middle-schoolers.
What is wrong is the idea that one diet fits all. Not everyone does well on a grain-rich, high carbohydrate diet.
I'd be asleep in the corner if I ate all the grains Michelle suggests.
I'm afraid if she maligns the "white" potato too much that right wing commentators are going to get a hold of it
and claim that "see, she doesn't like anything white..." That's pretty much the level of politics these days.
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8Recommend
Nathan Hershey
Pittsburgh, PA 3 days ago
Tackling the food quality and utility issues is a very important step in improving health in the United States and
should be supported widely by public agencies involved with health matters - particularly educational
institutions. I applaud your work and this article.
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20Recommend
Downtown
Manhattan 3 days ago
Our schools and what we serve in them is a state and local issue. The federal government should stay out of it.
The problem with Barry and Michelle is that they think people need to be told what to do. This goes to the core
of why the Democrat's policies are inherently condescending and disempowering of the individual and therefore
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doomed to ultimate failure. This country was founded on the basis of a weak federal government. The bigger
and more intrusive it gets the closer our system is to total failure. Individual responsibility is the core value that
has driven the remarkable success if the American Experience.
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8Recommend
totyson
Sheboygan, WI 3 days ago
When federal dollars are paying for the local anything, the federal government has always had a say in
regulating the programs they support, from hiring practices at subsidized state universities to speed limits on
federally funded highways. It is strange that you would support taking government money and spending it on
junk food, while many on the right accuse SNAP and WIC recipients of doing just that. So when you do it it's
good policy, states' rights and local control, but when poor people do it it's abuse of the system by a bunch of
lazy takers. Is that about right?
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25Recommend
Peter
Cambridge, MA 3 days ago
Sure, let 'em eat Twinkies and drink soda. It's their right, after all. And the government should provide them
with Twinkies and soda for lunch, since they're cheap, and it's OK if the local government does it to save
money, because they're not the Feds, who are just controlling greedy monsters. Goodness knows we couldn't
possibly raise taxes even a little to pay for something that would ultimately help people to lower their medical
bills years later. I want my grandchildren to have to pay for your grandchildren's diabetes treatment, that's what
I want.
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26Recommend
mike danger
florida 3 days ago
What a dilemma... Obese kids who won't eat their vegetables...
There is a simple solution. Bring back recess and bring back PE. Exercise the kids and they will be less restless
and less obese.
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15Recommend
Mike
Louisville 3 days ago
I've noticed the improvement at my children's schools where the lunches have gone from very bad (corn dogs,
fries, and frozen pizza.) to pretty good (fresh fruits, green vegetables, and salads). As for all this talk of an
overreaching nanny state, what these commenters fail to mention is that everyone is free to send their children
to school with lunches that are loaded in salt, sugar, and fat (e.g., Lunchables with a Capri Sun drink).
I seriously doubt whether the members of Congress backing this legislation feed their children and
grandchildren the garbage they expect everyone else's children to eat if this bill passes. The GOP serves up
hypocrisy and greed in biblical proportions.
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46Recommend
Eddie
Lew 3 days ago
Thank you Mrs. Obama.
What a grotesque country we have become. Profits trump everything, including our children's education and
health. Why are Americans so timid about firing their "representatives" when they damage the lives of our
children, not to mention cave into special interests, which pollute, farm out jobs to foreign countries and deny
global warming, all in the name of profit.
Healthy, educated children may develop into scientists, doctors, inventors, even from the poorest of families,
yet congress, and a timid population do not seen to stand up to the exploiters. By not wresting government from
the clutches of venal, profit obsessed, money interests, we are destroying our greatest resource, our children.
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28Recommend
Javert
California 3 days ago
I don't remember Michelle being elected the person to tell my children what to eat. I always thought that was
left to my family. Perhaps I was wrong. That's something that has never happened to the Obama clan.
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10Recommend
Miriam
Raleigh 3 days ago
It would appear than, that you don't much care for your children's health. Which recommendation, by MDs no
less, do you disagree with?
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24Recommend
Maxine
Chicago 3 days ago
Ironic. Liberals. The public schools may be a very expensive disaster but now they want to control what the
kids eat too. The schools cannot educate children but lunch is more important. Better the kids be given grains
that they won't eat and will throw out.
Mind your own business. It's intelligent and good manners. If you can't do the core function, education, you and
Obama's unelected and unqualified wife have neither credibility or standing.
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8Recommend
Mildred Cook
Cincinnati, Ohio 3 days ago
Mrs. Obama, medical science is clear that unborn children are living souls who suffer pain. Common sense says
that if unborn babies could communicate to us they would tell us, no, plead with us, to let them live and escape
the agonies of abortion.
I commend you for wanting to help children who are already born, but, in your unique place of influence, please
lend your voice to help these tiny helpless people who wait in what should be a haven - their mothers' wombs.
Respectfully,
Mildred Cook
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6Recommend
JW
Virginia 3 days ago
When I was in school in the sixties, there was plenty of junk food. Stewart Sandwiches provided our lunch
room with stock. Believe it or not, my mother packed me a lunch and did not give me any money to buy junk
food. We also worked and played outside, that's right, we worked also. This first lady should find something
else to occupy herself with since the parents are plenty able to take care of this eating issue, besides, look at her
fat behind, and her bony husband stuffing his face with junk food, and her daughters getting meat ball subs.,
Really?, time to quit preaching and demanding and start living the example.
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7Recommend
James Marion
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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NYC 3 days ago
Dear Michelle. As much as you want to demonize the campaign to reverse your healthy food for schools
program what its really about is choice and not to be held to your dictates or president Obama's decrees.
To even suggest the opposition is opposed to healthy food for our children and that they do not care is
outrageous and actually dumb.
Eating a healthy diet that sometimes includes a nice burger, fries or pizza is sufficient and does not harm our
children.
I'm also of the opinion that parents make better choices for their kids than you or your husband. Believe it or not
both of you do not have the answer for everything and the trust of choice is much better than government
dictates.
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15Recommend
nilrek
austria 3 days ago
Choice? What choice do kids (or their families) have who are presented with unhealthy, corporate massproduced and prepackaged foods as the only option at their public schools? Obviously someone is making a
choice for them, and it definitely is not the parents. Sure, an occaisonal burger or fries is fine, but not if that is
daily fare for most. So please tell us who should be making these choices, because someone clearly is.
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39Recommend
Brian O.
Columbus, OH 3 days ago
"Right now, the House of Representatives is considering a bill to override science...."
The relationship between science and policy is not as direct as the First Lady suggests here. And it's not at all
clear that science that toes the current government line can be trusted.
The government line on nutrition is that (whole) grains are good, fat is bad, salt is bad, and fruits are nutrientdense. All of these positions are now questioned by many.
This opinion piece bypasses all of that and makes the claim that we know now- because of science- what
government should mandate in children's, or anyone's, diets. But the government-sponsored science has been
corrupted for a while now. Any policy that claims to be derived from that science should be viewed as arbitrary
and capricious.
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13Recommend
iskawaran
minneapolis 3 days ago
5/30/2014 11:43 PM
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"Our children"? They ain't your children, Mooch. This crazy control freak admits there's nothing wrong with
potatoes, yet wants them excluded from purchase under WIC. The unelected wife of the president wants to
micromanage people's diets. Unbelievable. Who does she think she is - Bloomberg? Shouldn't she be planning
her next trip to Spain or Martha's Vineyard?
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16Recommend
Jay Weinman
Los Angeles 3 days ago
It is a shame that the enlightened, informed and holistic approach of the first lady is still viewed as radical and
political. Its fundamental. Sound nutrition makes well kids who can learn and be productive and successful. The
only irony I see is the continuing polarity of both childhood obesity and hunger in this country; we need to feed
all of our children, and feed them well.
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41Recommend
ibaconi
Utah 3 days ago
The sad thing about this story, and about the New York Times, for that matter, is the fact that government is
seen as the answer. What Congress, some of it, has attempted to do, is reduce government control over what
should be private determination. The problem of childhood obesity can be graphed perfectly alongside a graph
of America sacrificing its will to the determination of government. The placing of our responsibility in the
hands of government. The surprise here is one of The oBamas stepping back from any form of governmental
control.
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14Recommend
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