Michelle Obama Takes on Grub

By Colin Murphy

What do you get by mixing one part First Lady, another part food crisis, and a dash of zest? According to Huffington Post writer Paula Crossfield, "this is a recipe for an 'official leader' of the U.S.’s food movement."

It all started in the White House backyard. In March 2009, when the First Lady led a group of students in planting an organic garden. The White House Kitchen Garden, its official name, parallels another that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and his staff planted on National Mall. Called People’s Garden, the USDA staff are using it to lead gardening workshops throughout the summer. These events signal a new emphasis by government leaders on the importance of locally grown, sustainable food.

In a recent speech about fresh food, Michelle Obama asserted that nutritious eating is critical in the fight against chronic illnesses such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. These diseases cost the country $120 billion each year, and nearly one third of U.S. children are “either overweight or obese,” she said. Even more shocking, experts warn that the younger generations may have shorter life-spans as a direct result of this obesity epidemic. Additionally, many families nationwide do not have access to adequate fresh food, which she calls a “barrier” to a healthier lifestyle. On a more positive note, Michelle Obama reported that the U.S. boasts 1,000,000 flourishing U.S. community gardens, many of which are found in low-income communities, where good food is rarest. Members of the American food movement will rejoice that they have such a staunch supporter—or leader, as one food blog hails her—in the White House.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/dining/11lady.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1vUBYr0-LE