In an interview with Michelle Obama on SiriusXM that aired on Feb. 26, FLOTUS discusses the diet changes she had to make as a busy, working mother and also shares updates on the “Let’s Move” campaign to fight childhood obesity.
On The B. Smith and “Thank You Dan” show on SiriusXM, airing Feb. 26, hosts B. Smith and Dan Gasby, ask First Lady Michelle Obama about her continuing efforts to combat childhood obesity, the third anniversary of the “Let’s Move!” campaign, the importance of teaching kids how to make healthy choices, and also discusses the changes she had to make as a busy, working mother.
Launched by Obama in 2010, the “Let’s Move!” campaign marks its third year and aims to combat childhood obesity by changing the way children think about food and nutrition. The campaign focuses on empowering parents and caregivers, improving access to healthy, affordable food in school and at home, and encouraging kids to be active.
“We’re still dealing with one in three kids in this country that are overweight or obese. We’re seeing issues with getting our kids physically fit. On average kids are spending 7-and-a-half hours every day in front of a screen,” the First Lady says. “You know, kids aren’t getting the daily exercise they need. So we can see why we’re here but, there’s hope and we’re starting to see that.”
|
“I saw how much [of a] difference it makes for kids when they are involved in the … purchasing and the preparing of the foods they eat. It really fundamentally changes their approach to what they eat and what they’ll be willing to eat.” —Michelle Obama |
Another aspect of the “Let’s Move!” campaign emphasizes the importance of health and nutrition, encouraging families to eat healthier by making easy, small changes, from swapping out heavier oils for olive oil, limiting intakes of sugar, and grilling and boiling foods versus frying them.
“…One of the shifts I had to make as a busy mother…was really cleaning our shelves, getting rid of the heavily processed foods, getting more fresh fruits and vegetables and fresh-squeezed juices in, getting [Sasha and Malia] more involved in going to farmers’ markets and understanding where these fruits and vegetables are coming from,” Obama says. “…I saw how much [of a] difference it makes for kids when they are involved in the planting and the harvesting and the purchasing and the preparation of the foods they eat. It really fundamentally changes their approach to what they eat and what they’ll be willing to eat.”
