Creating Healthier Out-of-School Environments for Kids Across the Country

AJ Pearlman
February 26, 2014
05:11 PM EDT

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from the Let's Move! blog. See the original post here.

Continuing the celebration of the fourth anniversary of Let’s Move!, the First Lady traveled to Miami to visit a parks and recreation center to highlight a new announcement around healthy out-of-school time programs. In a commitment to the Partnership for a Healthier America, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America will work to create healthy environments for their out-of-school time programs.

AJ Pearlman is Associate Director for Policy for Let's Move!
Related Topics: Healthy Kids, Florida

The First Lady on the Fourth Anniversary of Let's Move!

February 25, 2014 | 13:41 | Public Domain

The First Lady, Michelle Obama, speaks about the progress that has been made and announces new commitments on the fourth anniversary of her Let's Move! initiative.

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The First Lady Announces New School Wellness Standards

February 25, 2014 | 13:39 | Public Domain

First Lady Michelle Obama discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed guidelines for new school wellness policies, which would ensure that foods and beverages marketed to children in schools are consistent with the recently-released Smart Snacks in School standards.

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Remarks by the First Lady at a Let's Move! School Wellness Standards Announcement

East Room

11:21 A.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you all.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much. Thank you all.  Rest.  Thank you for braving the weather and being here.

I want to start by thanking Sam for that very outstanding introduction.  We were saying backstage, don't you believe him?  Good kid, good -- great speaker.  And thank you for your commitment and for being such a great role model.  And also, to JoAnne for the terrific work that you're doing to help kids lead healthier lives.  I know the work isn’t easy, but it takes parents like you being engaged.  So we are so proud of you and your entire family.  Thank you for joining us today.

I also want to recognize our outstanding Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, who has been such a great friend and a leader on this issue.  We could not do what we do without all your work and your entire team.  We are so proud of you.  We have been working together from the very beginning, and it is always an honor and a privilege to see the great strides that we're making together.  So let’s give Tom a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

And of course, most of all, I want to thank all of you -- the advocates, the educators, the leaders who’ve been with us from the very beginning of this journey. 

As you all remember, back when we first launched Let's Move this whole healthy eating thing was still kind of a novelty.  Back then, if a school grew a garden or installed a salad bar, if a fast food restaurant started selling a healthy item or a business offered employees incentives to exercise more, that was a big deal.  Some folks even warned me that taking on childhood obesity might be controversial.  They thought kids and parents should deal with these issues privately.  Others laughed it off as not a real issue at all.  

Well, four years later, that all seems like ancient history. Today, big chain restaurants have whole menus of healthy choices. Entire organizations are working to plant school gardens.  And water just surpassed soda as the most commonly consumed beverage in America.  Yay!  Go, water.  Drink up.  (Applause.)

And today, folks are really starting to think about what they eat and how active they are, so they’re scrutinizing labels; they’re asking questions; they’re changing what they feed their families.  And just as we no longer smoke or drink when we’re pregnant, just as we no longer let our kids ride their bikes without a helmet or sit in the backseat of the car without a car seat, today, we know that we can no longer let our kids eat whatever they want, because now we know better.  Now we’ve seen the devastating effects that poor nutrition has on their health.

And this new approach to eating and activity is not just a fad, and it’s no longer just a movement.  Instead, here in America, healthy habits are becoming the new norm.  And nowhere is that more clear than in our schools, which have been a core focus of Let's Move right from the very beginning. 

See, Let's Move is based on a very simple idea that parents should be in control of their kids’ health.  And their good efforts at home shouldn’t be undermined when they send their kids off to school.  Parents have a right to expect that during the school day, their kids will have food that meets basic nutrition standards, and they’ll have a chance to maybe move around a little bit while they’re there, too. 

And that’s why we launched Let’s Move Active Schools.  And today, more than 6,500 schools are bringing physical activity back into the classrooms.  And because of the child nutrition bill we passed back in 2010, today nearly 90 percent of our schools -- 90 percent of them -- have already implemented new school lunch standards. 

With the hard work of so many administrators and chefs, nutrition professionals and others, these schools have literally transformed their menus.  They’re serving more fruits and veggies, more whole grains and more lean protein.  And starting next fall, they’ll be offering only healthy snacks and beverages in their vending machines as well.

So this is a big deal.  And so far, these changes have been a resounding success.  In fact, in a number of American school districts -- places like Dallas, Orlando, Cincinnati -- although they’re not charging any more for their lunches, they’re actually making more money because more kids are participating in the school lunch programs. 

So we’re making some real strides in our schools.  And that's why I’m thrilled to continue this progress with two very important announcements we’re making today. 

The first is that we’re issuing new school wellness guidelines to help build healthier learning environments for our kids.  And as part of this effort, we’ll be eliminating advertisements for unhealthy food and beverages in our schools.  Because I think we can all agree that our classrooms should be healthy places where kids are not bombarded with ads for junk food. 

And these new marketing guidelines are actually part of a broader effort to inspire companies to rethink how they market food to kids in general.  Because the fact is, today, the average child watches thousands of food advertisements each year, and 86 percent of these ads are for products loaded with sugar, fat or salt.  And, by contrast, our kids see an average of just one ad a week for healthy products like water, fruits and vegetables.  Just one.  So that’s why we convened the first ever White House Summit on food marketing to children, where I urged businesses to stop marketing unhealthy foods to our kids and do more to get kids excited about healthy foods.  And that same principle should apply to our schools. 

Our second announcement today focuses on school breakfast, and I cannot possibly overstate how important this is, because right now, millions of children in this country are showing up for school hungry every day.  And too many kids aren’t eating breakfast even when it’s provided because they feel like there’s a stigma with participating in the school breakfast program.  And this is happening here in the wealthiest country on Earth, and it’s intolerable. 

And that’s why we’re expanding our school breakfast program, ensuring that nearly 9 million kids in 22,000 schools start their day with a nutritious breakfast.  And as you all know, this doesn’t just affect their health, it affects their performance in school.  In fact, a recent study showed that kids who eat a healthy breakfast perform 17.5 percent better on math tests, and they have fewer disciplinary problems.

So this is critical for our kids’ future and it’s also critical for the future of our country -- because healthy and well-educated kids are more likely to become healthy, well-educated adults who will build a productive workforce and a vibrant economy for generations to come. 

So with these two announcements today, and the initiatives we’ve launched these past four years, we are well on our way to building healthier schools for all of our children.  And I want us just to take a moment to really think about what this will mean for our kids in the years ahead.  Children born today will be accustomed to eating healthy food during the school day.  So, for them, the norm will be fruits and vegetables, and not chips and candy.  And instead of sitting endlessly at their desks with no breaks, the norm will be kids up and moving throughout the day -- in gym, in recess, and during breaks in between lessons. 

And to the extent these kids are seeing advertisements, those ads will be for healthy products.  So, hopefully, at the grocery store, they’ll be begging us for items from the produce aisle rather than the snack food aisle, because that’s what they’re seeing on TV.  And if we keep coming together and working together, all of this will be the new norm for our kids here in this country.  For our youngest kids, this might be all they’ll ever know, and these changes will shape their habits and tastes for the rest of their lives, including what they buy and feed their own kids in the years to come.

So if there’s anyone out there who was thinking to themselves, in a few years this lady will be gone -- (laughter)
-- and this whole Let’s Move thing will finally be over so we can go back to business as usual -- if you know anyone out there who might be thinking that way, you might want to remind them that I didn’t create this issue and I’m not the one who is truly driving it forward.  All of you are. 

And that’s really my message to all of you today:  Keep on doing what you’re doing -- because with every healthy choice you make in the grocery store or at a restaurant, you’re making a statement about the food you want for your kids.  And while your kids might grumble at first when you serve them this food, you know that if you stand firm, they’ll adjust.  That’s our job as parents -– to hold steady through the whining.  (Laughter.)  We do that all the time. 

No child wants to brush their teeth or go to the doctor for shots, but we make them do those things anyway because these are the norms for keeping our kids healthy.  And healthy eating and physical activity are really no different.  These are becoming the new norms for raising healthy kids.  So we need to keep it up.  We need to keep on coming up with new ideas to get kids excited about healthy habits, particularly in our schools.

So many of you are leading the way.  For example, at Marshall High School in Virginia, kids actually wrote and performed a “wrap” song –- and that’s “wrap” spelled with a “W.” And the goal was to get their classmates excited about healthy eating.  And here’s one of the lyrics that I love:  “If I’m gonna help my brain come to fruition, I’m gonna have to feed it quality nutrition.  We love the cookies but they’re not sufficient.  We need veggies to make our bodies efficient.  Roll my chicken in a wrap, don’t jam it in a nugget.  (Laughter.)  Get hyped for healthy snacks; fresh food –- we love it.”  Pretty good.  (Applause.)  Holla!  Love that.  Don’t jam it in a nugget -- not my chicken.

This is just one example of the explosion of good ideas in our schools.  And to celebrate the fourth anniversary of Let’s Move, I am asking folks across America to get up and show me how you move.  Show me the fun, creative things you’re doing in your homes, schools and communities to get kids excited about eating healthy and being active.  Show me how you move.  I want you to tweet it, Facebook it, Instagram it with the hashtag #LetsMove so that everyone can see how you’re moving towards a healthier future.

If we get enough of a response, we might have a little surprise from the President and the Vice President.  I’m just saying.  (Laughter.)  And I ask you to do this not just to celebrate our progress, but to motivate us for all the work that still lies ahead.  Because while childhood obesity rates are beginning to fall, we still have a long way to go before we solve this problem once and for all.  And that’s what the next three years will be all about.  They’ll be about pushing forward to reinforce these new norms -- because we have come so far, so we can’t slow down and we can’t turn back now.

So we have to understand there’s a lot at stake -- not just for our kids’ health and success, but for the success of our entire country.  So we need to keep pushing and innovating and inspiring each other to do more for our next generation.  And if we do that, I am confident that we can give our kids the happy, healthy futures they so richly deserve.

So I look forward to working with all of you together.  I’m excited to see how everybody is moving out there throughout the country.  And I can’t wait to see everything we achieve in the years to come.

So thank you all again for your dedication, and God bless you.  Take care.  (Applause.)

END
11:36 A.M. EST

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The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 25, 2014

Remarks by the First Lady at a Let's Move! After-School Event

Gwen Cherry Recreation Center
Miami, Florida

5:01 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, hello, everyone.  And I want to thank Amy for being such a good sport and for her very kind introduction and for her “let’s help me move” initiative.  (Laughter.)  It’s good to bring a little bit of that Pawnee spice down here to Miami.  So let’s give Amy a round of applause.  (Applause.)  And, yes, we are best friends.  I’m coming over to your house.  (Laughter.)  I want you to cook me something to eat.  You do cook?

MS. POEHLER:  Sure.

MRS. OBAMA:  Lean meats, whole grains, vegetables -- you may have heard.

MS. POEHLER:  Yes. 

MRS. OBAMA:  Okay.  (Laughter.) 

I also want to start by thanking a few other people.  I want to thank Representative Frederica Wilson who is here.  I love her, love her.  (Applause.)  Thank you for joining us.  And thank you for your leadership for this state and for our country.

I also want to thank Barbara, Damon and Larry for their remarks, as well as everyone from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.  I want to thank the National Recreation and Park Association, the Partnership for a Healthier America and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.  Thanks to all of you for the outstanding work you do on behalf of millions of families across this country. 

But really, most of all, I want to thank all of you -- the community leaders, the program administrators, the coaches, the educators, the parents who are working so hard to build healthier families and communities every single day.  And this week, as we mark the fourth anniversary of Let’s Move, we’re recognizing and celebrating folks like you who are doing their part to help our kids grow up healthy.    

In fact, just this morning, I was at the White House talking about the amazing strides that we’ve made in our schools -- from serving more nutritious breakfasts and lunches to finding new ways to get kids moving through our Let’s Move Active Schools initiative.  And, by the way, I want to give a big, big congratulations to Miami-Dade County for signing up every single one of your schools for Let’s Move Active Schools.  Yes, a round of applause.  (Applause.)  Well done.  I’m so proud of you all.  (Applause.)  

And today, with this new announcement from the Boys and Girls Clubs and from NRPA, millions more kids will be in healthy environments not just during the school day, but during those critical hours after school as well.  And this is a big deal, because for so many kids, there’s still that two- or three-hour gap after the school bell rings -- a gap when their lives aren’t as structured and parents don’t always know who they’re hanging out with, how they’re spending that time, or, for that matter, what kind of food they’re putting into their bodies. 

And for so many years, after-school programs like the Boys and Girls Clubs and the NRPA have done the vital work of filling that gap by giving these kids a place to go -- a place where they can learn new skills and explore new interests, a place where they can get help with homework and guidance on the challenges they’re facing in their lives.  And today, these programs are realizing that healthy eating and physical activity are critically important parts of these efforts. 

That’s why, with these new commitments, kids will be getting a fruit or a vegetable at every meal and every snack.  They’ll be drinking healthy beverages like water and low-fat milk, and they’ll be getting active.  They’re going to be moving around at least 30 minutes a day.  And over the next five years, with the support of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, these new changes will be implemented in thousands of after-school programs across the country. 

And when you add that to the YMCA’s previous commitment to make their after-school programs healthier, the result is that this effort could reach more than 5.5 million young people nationwide.  So this is going to make a -- yes, it’s going to make a huge impact, it really is.  (Applause.)  And not just on our kids’ health, but on their success in school and in life, because everybody here knows that kids who eat well and stay active tend to have better grades; they have better attendance;  they have fewer disciplinary problems at school. 

And between today’s announcement and our work to serve better food and get more activity into the school day, we’re now ensuring that more and more of our kids will be staying healthy throughout the entire arc of their day.  And if we just think about this for a minute -- we have revamped our school meal program, so soon millions more kids will be starting their day with a healthy meal.  And then they’ll get another good meal at lunch -- a meal that includes more fruits and vegetables and whole grains.  Then they’ll be getting active through the school day, whether that’s during recess, PE class, or during an exercise break between lessons.  Then, when school is out, they’ll head to an after-school program like this one and they’ll get even more nutritious food and even more opportunities to get moving. 

And that’s not just good for kids, that’s also good for parents, because while parents still have to do their part at home to cook healthy at home, and turn off the TV, and make sure their kids are moving, they’ll know that all their hard work isn’t being undermined every time their kids head off to school.  (Applause.)  Yes, we’ve got some moms in there, and some dads.  (Applause.)

And that’s what Let’s Move has always been about.  It’s always been about doing everything we can to make it easier for parents to raise healthy kids.  And what you all are doing here in Miami is a perfect example of this kind of work.  You’re showing kids that you don’t have to be the world’s greatest athlete; you don’t have to be on a varsity sports team just to get physical activity. 

That’s why you’ve got kids doing some great stuff.  They are kayaking and canoeing.  They’re taking hikes out in nature.  You’ve got them playing tennis and running track.  And you’re stocking your vending machines with healthy snacks.  You’re starting community gardens to teach the kids about healthy habits.  And after just one school year with these changes in place, you’ve seen physical fitness scores go up.  You’ve seen kids improve their understanding of good nutrition habits.  And kids themselves are giving your programs great reviews.  So everybody wins -- kids are happier and healthier, and parents can breathe just a little easier.

And that’s why today, I want to challenge everyone who works with young people after school to follow your example.  And I know it won’t be easy.  All of you here in Miami can attest that big changes don’t happen overnight.  And I know that many after-school programs are operating on tight budgets.  But time and again, we have seen that with enough creativity and commitment and teamwork, we can truly transform our communities on behalf of our kids. 

And really that’s been the story of Let’s Move from the beginning.  We’ve seen that change is contagious, and it adds up quickly.  And today, after just four years, healthy habits are now becoming the new norm in so many parts of our lives. 

Just think of all the changes we’ve seen.  Restaurants are investing millions of marketing dollars to promote low-calorie menus.  Food companies are cutting sugar, salt, and fat from their products.  Child care centers are offering healthy snacks and meals, and instead of plopping little ones in front of the TV, they’re making sure they’re playing and running around.  And soon, millions more kids will be attending healthy after-school programs every single day. 

And make no mistake about it, all of this is starting to have a positive effect.  Listen to this -- today, the CDC announced that obesity rates among young children have dropped to 8.4 percent.  That’s the lowest rate we have seen in a very long time.  (Applause.)

So we’re beginning to make some real progress.  And none of this happened by accident.  It happened because of people like you, because people like you were willing to take a stand for America’s families and communities.  And I know that this kind of work is happening all across the country. 

And I wish I could personally visit every school and after-school program, or go to every community in America to see all the changes that are happening, but that’s not humanly possible.  (Laughter.)  So instead, here’s the thing:  to the millions of you who are out there every day working to create healthier communities for our kids, I am asking you to show me how you move.  It’s a little bit of a challenge.  I want to hear from everyone.  I want to hear from schools and daycare centers, and households.  I want to see what after-school programs are doing all across the country.  I want to see those new snacks you’re serving, the fun games you’re playing, and the gardens you’re growing. 

And I want you to tweet it, Facebook it, Instagram it, with the hashtag #letsmove, so that everyone can see how you and your communities are moving towards a healthier future.  We are getting thousands of entries in already, and as I said earlier, if we get enough entries in, we might get a little surprise from the President, maybe the Vice President.  (Laughter.)  Could be interesting.  (Laughter.)

This is a fun and exciting way to share best practices and learn about all the good work going on to create a new norm for the way our kids eat and stay active.  And I can’t wait to see all the great things that you’re doing.  And remember, if we all keep moving and we keep doing our part just like all of you here in Miami, then I know that we’ll be able to give our children the bright, healthy futures they deserve.

So, congratulations.  And thank you so much.  I’m going to come down and shake hands.  And then we’re going to get moving.  You guys, thank you so much.  (Applause.)

END
5:12 P.M. EST

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 25, 2014

Remarks by the First Lady at a Let's Move! School Wellness Standards Announcement

East Room

11:21 A.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you all.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much. Thank you all.  Rest.  Thank you for braving the weather and being here.

I want to start by thanking Sam for that very outstanding introduction.  We were saying backstage, don't you believe him?  Good kid, good -- great speaker.  And thank you for your commitment and for being such a great role model.  And also, to JoAnne for the terrific work that you're doing to help kids lead healthier lives.  I know the work isn’t easy, but it takes parents like you being engaged.  So we are so proud of you and your entire family.  Thank you for joining us today.

I also want to recognize our outstanding Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, who has been such a great friend and a leader on this issue.  We could not do what we do without all your work and your entire team.  We are so proud of you.  We have been working together from the very beginning, and it is always an honor and a privilege to see the great strides that we're making together.  So let’s give Tom a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

And of course, most of all, I want to thank all of you -- the advocates, the educators, the leaders who’ve been with us from the very beginning of this journey. 

As you all remember, back when we first launched Let's Move this whole healthy eating thing was still kind of a novelty.  Back then, if a school grew a garden or installed a salad bar, if a fast food restaurant started selling a healthy item or a business offered employees incentives to exercise more, that was a big deal.  Some folks even warned me that taking on childhood obesity might be controversial.  They thought kids and parents should deal with these issues privately.  Others laughed it off as not a real issue at all.  

Well, four years later, that all seems like ancient history. Today, big chain restaurants have whole menus of healthy choices. Entire organizations are working to plant school gardens.  And water just surpassed soda as the most commonly consumed beverage in America.  Yay!  Go, water.  Drink up.  (Applause.)

And today, folks are really starting to think about what they eat and how active they are, so they’re scrutinizing labels; they’re asking questions; they’re changing what they feed their families.  And just as we no longer smoke or drink when we’re pregnant, just as we no longer let our kids ride their bikes without a helmet or sit in the backseat of the car without a car seat, today, we know that we can no longer let our kids eat whatever they want, because now we know better.  Now we’ve seen the devastating effects that poor nutrition has on their health.

And this new approach to eating and activity is not just a fad, and it’s no longer just a movement.  Instead, here in America, healthy habits are becoming the new norm.  And nowhere is that more clear than in our schools, which have been a core focus of Let's Move right from the very beginning. 

See, Let's Move is based on a very simple idea that parents should be in control of their kids’ health.  And their good efforts at home shouldn’t be undermined when they send their kids off to school.  Parents have a right to expect that during the school day, their kids will have food that meets basic nutrition standards, and they’ll have a chance to maybe move around a little bit while they’re there, too. 

And that’s why we launched Let’s Move Active Schools.  And today, more than 6,500 schools are bringing physical activity back into the classrooms.  And because of the child nutrition bill we passed back in 2010, today nearly 90 percent of our schools -- 90 percent of them -- have already implemented new school lunch standards. 

With the hard work of so many administrators and chefs, nutrition professionals and others, these schools have literally transformed their menus.  They’re serving more fruits and veggies, more whole grains and more lean protein.  And starting next fall, they’ll be offering only healthy snacks and beverages in their vending machines as well.

So this is a big deal.  And so far, these changes have been a resounding success.  In fact, in a number of American school districts -- places like Dallas, Orlando, Cincinnati -- although they’re not charging any more for their lunches, they’re actually making more money because more kids are participating in the school lunch programs. 

So we’re making some real strides in our schools.  And that's why I’m thrilled to continue this progress with two very important announcements we’re making today. 

The first is that we’re issuing new school wellness guidelines to help build healthier learning environments for our kids.  And as part of this effort, we’ll be eliminating advertisements for unhealthy food and beverages in our schools.  Because I think we can all agree that our classrooms should be healthy places where kids are not bombarded with ads for junk food. 

And these new marketing guidelines are actually part of a broader effort to inspire companies to rethink how they market food to kids in general.  Because the fact is, today, the average child watches thousands of food advertisements each year, and 86 percent of these ads are for products loaded with sugar, fat or salt.  And, by contrast, our kids see an average of just one ad a week for healthy products like water, fruits and vegetables.  Just one.  So that’s why we convened the first ever White House Summit on food marketing to children, where I urged businesses to stop marketing unhealthy foods to our kids and do more to get kids excited about healthy foods.  And that same principle should apply to our schools. 

Our second announcement today focuses on school breakfast, and I cannot possibly overstate how important this is, because right now, millions of children in this country are showing up for school hungry every day.  And too many kids aren’t eating breakfast even when it’s provided because they feel like there’s a stigma with participating in the school breakfast program.  And this is happening here in the wealthiest country on Earth, and it’s intolerable. 

And that’s why we’re expanding our school breakfast program, ensuring that nearly 9 million kids in 22,000 schools start their day with a nutritious breakfast.  And as you all know, this doesn’t just affect their health, it affects their performance in school.  In fact, a recent study showed that kids who eat a healthy breakfast perform 17.5 percent better on math tests, and they have fewer disciplinary problems.

So this is critical for our kids’ future and it’s also critical for the future of our country -- because healthy and well-educated kids are more likely to become healthy, well-educated adults who will build a productive workforce and a vibrant economy for generations to come. 

So with these two announcements today, and the initiatives we’ve launched these past four years, we are well on our way to building healthier schools for all of our children.  And I want us just to take a moment to really think about what this will mean for our kids in the years ahead.  Children born today will be accustomed to eating healthy food during the school day.  So, for them, the norm will be fruits and vegetables, and not chips and candy.  And instead of sitting endlessly at their desks with no breaks, the norm will be kids up and moving throughout the day -- in gym, in recess, and during breaks in between lessons. 

And to the extent these kids are seeing advertisements, those ads will be for healthy products.  So, hopefully, at the grocery store, they’ll be begging us for items from the produce aisle rather than the snack food aisle, because that’s what they’re seeing on TV.  And if we keep coming together and working together, all of this will be the new norm for our kids here in this country.  For our youngest kids, this might be all they’ll ever know, and these changes will shape their habits and tastes for the rest of their lives, including what they buy and feed their own kids in the years to come.

So if there’s anyone out there who was thinking to themselves, in a few years this lady will be gone -- (laughter)
-- and this whole Let’s Move thing will finally be over so we can go back to business as usual -- if you know anyone out there who might be thinking that way, you might want to remind them that I didn’t create this issue and I’m not the one who is truly driving it forward.  All of you are. 

And that’s really my message to all of you today:  Keep on doing what you’re doing -- because with every healthy choice you make in the grocery store or at a restaurant, you’re making a statement about the food you want for your kids.  And while your kids might grumble at first when you serve them this food, you know that if you stand firm, they’ll adjust.  That’s our job as parents -– to hold steady through the whining.  (Laughter.)  We do that all the time. 

No child wants to brush their teeth or go to the doctor for shots, but we make them do those things anyway because these are the norms for keeping our kids healthy.  And healthy eating and physical activity are really no different.  These are becoming the new norms for raising healthy kids.  So we need to keep it up.  We need to keep on coming up with new ideas to get kids excited about healthy habits, particularly in our schools.

So many of you are leading the way.  For example, at Marshall High School in Virginia, kids actually wrote and performed a “wrap” song –- and that’s “wrap” spelled with a “W.” And the goal was to get their classmates excited about healthy eating.  And here’s one of the lyrics that I love:  “If I’m gonna help my brain come to fruition, I’m gonna have to feed it quality nutrition.  We love the cookies but they’re not sufficient.  We need veggies to make our bodies efficient.  Roll my chicken in a wrap, don’t jam it in a nugget.  (Laughter.)  Get hyped for healthy snacks; fresh food –- we love it.”  Pretty good.  (Applause.)  Holla!  Love that.  Don’t jam it in a nugget -- not my chicken.

This is just one example of the explosion of good ideas in our schools.  And to celebrate the fourth anniversary of Let’s Move, I am asking folks across America to get up and show me how you move.  Show me the fun, creative things you’re doing in your homes, schools and communities to get kids excited about eating healthy and being active.  Show me how you move.  I want you to tweet it, Facebook it, Instagram it with the hashtag #LetsMove so that everyone can see how you’re moving towards a healthier future.

If we get enough of a response, we might have a little surprise from the President and the Vice President.  I’m just saying.  (Laughter.)  And I ask you to do this not just to celebrate our progress, but to motivate us for all the work that still lies ahead.  Because while childhood obesity rates are beginning to fall, we still have a long way to go before we solve this problem once and for all.  And that’s what the next three years will be all about.  They’ll be about pushing forward to reinforce these new norms -- because we have come so far, so we can’t slow down and we can’t turn back now.

So we have to understand there’s a lot at stake -- not just for our kids’ health and success, but for the success of our entire country.  So we need to keep pushing and innovating and inspiring each other to do more for our next generation.  And if we do that, I am confident that we can give our kids the happy, healthy futures they so richly deserve.

So I look forward to working with all of you together.  I’m excited to see how everybody is moving out there throughout the country.  And I can’t wait to see everything we achieve in the years to come.

So thank you all again for your dedication, and God bless you.  Take care.  (Applause.)

END
11:36 A.M. EST

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 25, 2014

First Lady Michelle Obama Applauds Investments in Healthier Out-of-School Programs That Will Impact 5 Million Kids

Boys & Girls Clubs of America and National Recreation and Park Association

Commit to Creating Healthy Environments for Children Across the Country

MIAMI, FL—Today, First Lady Michelle Obama joins the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) for the announcement of a five-year commitment by BGCA and NRPA to create healthy environments for children who attend out-of-school programming across the country.  BGCA and NRPA will provide 5 million children with healthy snacks and physical activity during the critical few hours between when kids leave school and before they go home.  Parents can now rest assured that the work they are doing at home to keep their kids healthy will be reinforced in those after-school hours.

“Because of this new announcement from the Boys and Girls Clubs and the National Recreation and Park Association, millions of kids will be in healthy environments not just during the school day, but during those critical hours after school as well.  Kids will be getting a fruit or a vegetable at every meal and every snack, they’ll have healthy beverages like water and low-fat milk and they’ll be getting active for at least 30 minutes a day,” said First Lady Michelle Obama.  “This is going to make a huge impact—not just on our kids’ health, but on their success in school and in life.”

When the NRPA and BGCA commitments are combined with a November 2011 commitment by YMCA of the USA to implement healthy guidelines, more than 5.5 million children will be impacted by healthier programming, demonstrating that we are truly moving toward a new, healthier norm in out-of-school programs.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of America is committed to helping young people eat healthier, become more active and lead healthy lifestyles,” said Damon A. Williams, Ph.D., senior vice president, Program, Training & Youth Development Services for BGCA.  “Our pledge is to provide a world-class experience after school and in summer that assures success is within reach for every young person who enters our doors—and critical to that success is building healthy habits.  Our public commitment with the Partnership for a Healthier America will help our Clubs inspire youth to stay active and make smart food choices that will help them achieve a great future.”

“Improving the quality of life of our children is of utmost priority for the National Recreation and Park Association,” said Barbara Tulipane, NRPA president and CEO. “Our children have a greater chance of achieving good health throughout life if they are supported by environments that foster lifelong healthy habits. Our commitment with the Partnership for a Healthier America transforms out-of-school programming in park and recreation agencies across America. By ensuring that our agencies are providing the highest standards for eating and physical activity, we are investing in our future and generations to come.”

As part of this commitment:

  • BGCA will adopt healthy guidelines in 3,400 clubs, reaching an estimated 3.5 million kids.
  • NRPA will adopt healthy guidelines in 2,000 sites, reaching an estimated 1.5 million kids.
  • BGCA and NRPA will aim to meet standards of serving healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables, serving only healthy beverages like water and 100% juice, and  provide nutrition education, encourage physical activity, and engage parents by using informational material and activities focused on healthy eating and physical activity.
  • The Alliance for a Healthier Generation will provide the technical assistance and support to BGCA and NRPA to implement the new healthy guidelines. 

“What we know is that active kids do better—in school and in life,” said PHA CEO Lawrence A. Soler. “Today’s commitments are another big step forward in getting our kids into more healthier environments throughout their day. I am so pleased to welcome NRPA and BGCA—two organizations that are absolutely critical to the communities, families and kids they serve—into the PHA family.”

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 25, 2014

The White House and USDA announce School Wellness Standards

First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announce proposed school wellness standards and roll out of breakfast and lunch programs for schools that serve low income communities

Washington, DC – Today, First Lady Michelle Obama joins U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to announce proposed guidelines for local school wellness policies.  The bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandated that the USDA set guidelines for what needed to be included in local school wellness policies in areas such as setting goals for nutrition education and physical activity, informing parents about content of the policy and implementation, and periodically assessing progress and sharing updates as appropriate.  As part of local school wellness policies, the proposed guidelines would ensure that foods and beverages marketed to children in schools are consistent with the recently-released Smart Snacks in School standards.  Ensuring that unhealthy food is not marketed to children is one of the First Lady’s top priorities; that is why it is so important for schools to reinforce the importance of healthy choices and eliminate marketing of unhealthy products.

“The idea here is simple—our classrooms should be healthy places where kids aren’t bombarded with ads for junk food,” said First Lady Michelle Obama.  “Because when parents are working hard to teach their kids healthy habits at home, their work shouldn’t be undone by unhealthy messages at school.

This action comes after the White House Summit on Food Marketing to Children last fall where Mrs. Obama called on the country to ensure children’s health was not undermined by marketing of unhealthy food. 

“The food marketing and local wellness standards proposed today support better health for our kids and echo the good work already taking place at home and in schools across the country.  The new standards ensure that schools remain a safe place where kids can learn and where the school environment promotes healthy choices.  USDA is committed to working closely with students, parents, school stakeholders and the food and beverage industries to implement the new guidelines and make the healthy choice, the easy choice for America’s young people,” Secretary Vilsack said. 

To help schools with the implementation of the school wellness policies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a new “School Nutrition Environment and Wellness Resources” website, which includes sample wellness policy language for school districts and a dedicated page of resources for food marketing practices on the school campus.

These new resources will complement a second announcement which highlights the nationwide expansion of a successful program that was piloted in 11 states  with the goal of ensuring children who are in need of nutritious meals are receiving them.  Beginning July 1, 2014, more than 22,000 schools across the country—which serve primarily low-income students—will be eligible to serve healthy free lunches and breakfasts to all students.  This will help as many as 9 million American children eat healthy meals at school, especially breakfast, which can have profound impacts on educational achievement.  Research shows that kids who eat breakfast in the classroom preform over 17% better on math tests and have fewer disciplinary problems.

For more information, go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 24, 2014

Remarks by the First Lady After "The Trip to Bountiful" Screening

South Court Auditorium

4:19 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Hello!  (Applause.)  Well, hello there.  Yay, yay, yay!  You guys rest.  Sit yourselves down.  Welcome to the White House -- or the building across the street from the White House.  (Laughter.)  It’s the same thing.  I am so glad you all could join us as we celebrate African American History Month.  And I want to thank Valerie for that introduction and for everything she’s doing to have our backs and to take care of stuff in this country every single day.

I also want to give a big shoutout to all the college students here from schools in and around D.C. and Baltimore.  Yay to all of you.  (Applause.)  You’re working hard, right?

STUDENTS:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  Getting the grades, right?

STUDENTS:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  That’s all I’m going to say.  (Laughter.)  Very proud of you all. 

And I would also like to recognize all of you representing some of our country’s leading women’s organizations.  And, as Valerie said, thank you for being here today and working so hard to get folks signed up for health care over these past few months.  This is a little bit of a reward for your hard work, right?  Just a little something.

And finally, I want to thank our special guests that are here with us -- Michele Norris from National Public Radio, as well as the cast of “The Trip to Bountiful.”  Blair Underwood -- ah!  (Laughter and applause.)  Vanessa Williams -- the men go, ah!  (Applause.)  Keke Palmer, my girl.  (Applause.)  And of course, the one and only Cicely Tyson.  (Applause.)  Yes, indeed!  I told Ms. Tyson I’m trying to be like her when I grow up.  (Laughter.) 

This is so exciting.  It is a wonderful movie, and I am so thrilled that we had the opportunity to show it here at the White House.  And I had the pleasure of seeing the Broadway play last summer in New York with my girls, and we were blown away by this story of persistence and hope and the ties that bind us all together. 

It’s a story that makes us think back to the house we all grew up in, right; the things that our moms and dads, grandparents used to say to us, the path that all of us have taken to come here and be who we are today.  And nowhere does that sense of home come through more clearly than in Ms. Tyson’s moving portrayal of Carrie Watts.  That was a lot of dialogue, that was a lot of monologue to remember.  I can barely remember what I’m supposed to do the next hour.  (Laughter.)  Impressive.

This was a role Ms. Tyson had been waiting to play for decades, and it’s a role that helped her win a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play -- and that’s in addition to all the other Oscar nominations and the three Emmys that she’s already won.  But Ms. Tyson’s story is about so much more than honors and accolades.  It is really about character -- can we say that again, young people -- character and determination.  And it’s about breaking barriers not just for herself but for all of us who are blessed by her legacy.  

Ms. Tyson grew up in the New York City tenements, and her father was a carpenter and her mother cleaned houses.  And as a child, Ms. Tyson sold shopping bags on the street to help her family get by.  And after she graduated from high school, she took a job as a secretary, and then pursued modeling and acting.  But this was the early ‘60s, and there weren’t many roles for black women -- still a challenge today.  So Ms. Tyson took whatever parts she could find. 

Two of the first characters she played on stage were prostitutes.  And soon after, she was offered a third role -– again, as a prostitute.  But this time Ms. Tyson said no, because she believed that playing only those types of roles was demeaning not just to her but to black women everywhere.  And as she later said -- and these are her words -- she said, “When I became aware of the kind of ignorance that existed, I made a very conscious decision that I could not afford the luxury of just being an actress.  I decided that I had some very important things to say, and that I would say them through my work.”  She said, “There are people who wave banners and picket,” she said, “my platform happens to be my work.”

Now, just hear that, young folks, for a while, as you start pursuing your opportunities.  There is more to your life than just pursuing your own work.  So much of what we all do will impact everyone who follows us.  So in the decades that have followed Ms. Tyson, she has used her work to carry that banner forward, even if it meant waiting years between roles until she found one that was acceptable to her.  But, as we all know, make no mistake, she found those roles.  They found her.  It was undeniable.  She’s won accolades for her portrayals of strong, resilient women like Harriet Tubman, a sharecropper’s wife, Kunta Kinte’s mother in the famous miniseries “Roots” -- we all know “Roots,” we all gathered round to watch “Roots” -- (applause) -- and now, Carrie Watts. 

And that’s truly what we are celebrating this month –- those who moved us past ignorance with their wisdom and perseverance, those who demanded more from the world around them, and those who reached for higher standards through their life’s work, whether that’s as a movie star like Ms. Tyson or the millions of folks out there like Carrie Watts -- folks who did their work in a classroom or in a congregation or around the kitchen table. 

Because it is that slow, grinding work of progress that all too often, like Bountiful itself, goes unnoticed, almost forgotten.  But we will never forget, right?  Because, as Carrie Watts says from in front of her old house at the end of the movie, she said, “We’re all a part of this.  We can never lose what it’s given us.” 

And that’s what African American History Month is all about.  It’s about honoring those who came before us.  It’s about resolving to do our part to live up to that example.  So let us all resolve today to do just that.  But let’s do that every day, not just February.  (Laughter.)  There’s a lot of days in the year, let’s just keep doing it. 

And we are counting on our young people -- let me just say for a moment -- to take up that mantle.  So in order to do that, you all have to be right.  You have to have your stuff together.  You have to be clear of mind and clear of heart.  You’ve got to be educated, because we’re counting on you.  We’re not going to solve these problems in our lifetimes, but we’re going to pass them on to you.  So that’s why we’re so proud to have you here, and so proud to have you be a part of this conversation. 

So I’m going to turn it over and let you get to the business of talking, but I want to encourage all of you to feel at home.  Raise your hand, ask questions -- especially our young people.  Jump in, use your voices.  Because this is a rare opportunity -- do not be shy about it.

And I want to thank you all for being here.  I want to thank you all for everything that you do for your families and for our communities and for our country.  We are so proud of you.  And now, it is my pleasure to turn this stage over to my dear friend Michele Norris who is going to open things up for a wonderful panel discussion with the cast. 

So thank you, guys.  Have a good time, and God bless you all.  (Applause.)

END
4:28 P.M. EST

Kids Teach the First Lady and Will Ferrell About Being Healthy

Kelly Miterko
February 24, 2014
06:31 PM EDT

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from the Let's Move! blog. See the original post here.

Over and over again, we’re faced with the challenge of how to get kids to eat healthy foods and stay active, so who better to hear from than the kids themselves?

In celebration of the fourth anniversary of Let’s Move!, the First Lady and Will Ferrell hosted a Let’s Move! “focus group” with young kids to ask them about eating healthy and being active. Here’s what they had to say:

Kelly Miterko is the Deputy Associate Director of Let's Move!
Related Topics: Healthy Kids

The First Lady Speaks at a Screening of "The Trip to Bountiful"

February 24, 2014 | 8:29 | Public Domain

As part of African American History Month, First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks at a screening of "The Trip to Bountiful," Lifetime Television’s film version of the Tony Award-nominated Broadway revival of Horton Foote’s "The Trip to Bountiful." The film is set during the final years of the Jim Crow South, and highlights a courageous and moving story of liberation.

Download mp4 (310MB) | mp3 (8MB)