Mrs. Obama calls for eating less processed foods, avoiding sugary drinks, cooking at home, and taking personal responsibility for better eating...
First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Department of Health and Human Services today with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in a continuation of her “thank you” tour of government agencies. Mrs. Obama met with HHS employees, and gave another excellent food-policy speech, in which she discussed the exponentially growing rates of child and adult obesity in America, and related the now-familiar story of how her family's dependence on fast and processed foods became their own private health debacle during Campaign Season, until the family pediatrician intervened and gave her a wake-up call that her daughters might be heading for diet-related diseases. In her remarks, Mrs. Obama referenced food deserts and food swamps, the cost of fresher foods, and the importance of cooking at home. And she also noted that small, incremental changes can make a huge difference, and that there's "no push back" when promoting a healthier lifestyle and moderation. The First Lady even set the change bar accessibly low, suggesting that small changes can have big benefits. She also, somewhat hilariously, suggested that standing up while watching TV is much better than sitting down (above: Mrs. Obama at HHS, with Sec. Sebelius in the background). The critical parts of the First Lady's remarks:
MRS. OBAMA: All parents -- and I don't care what political party you belong to, what race, what part of the country you're from -- we all care about the health of our children, and we would do anything to ensure their health. Everyone wants to make sure their kids eat right. Everyone wants to make sure that their kids are getting enough activity. And everyone is working as hard as they can in their own homes. But in many ways what I do know is that many families are starting to feel like the cards are stacked against them. It's really hard to make sure that your children are healthy and happy and safe and well fed. And maybe it's because some of -- some folks are working on a tight budget, and they feel like they just can't afford the kind of nutritious foods that are being recommended. Maybe it's because folks are working long hours. Can I get an "Amen" from HHS?
AUDIENCE: Amen! (Laughter and applause.)
MRS. OBAMA: And they struggle to find time to make a home-cooked meal. Maybe they live in a community that doesn't have access to a supermarket where there's good fresh produce, and maybe the best thing that they have available is a food stand or a gas station or a convenience store to get their food. Or maybe there aren't any safe places for kids to play, so it makes putting your kids in front of that Xbox a little more comforting and a little more of a better option.
Those of you who are parents, probably if you're anything like me, you worry about this every single day. And many of you who are grandparents, who are in charge of things with your grandkids, are thinking about it. And I know this feeling. You've had a long day at work -- you know, I remember this two years ago before we got here. (Laughter.) While I was working and campaigning for my husband and trying to take care of two kids, I remember coming home from a meeting or from an event just tired -- tired -- (laughter) -- and knowing that you're going home to an empty refrigerator -- (laughter) -- and kids who are hungry -- (laughter) -- and fussy -- (laughter) -- and not wanting to eat anything you have in mind. (Laughter.) All they want is some pizza and some burgers, right? (Laughter.) And you don't want to argue. You want a peaceful meal. (Laughter.) You want everyone to be quiet and just eat. (Laughter and applause.) And it is in those moments -- and for me there were many -- where you just give in and just get that take-out. (Laughter.) Get them what they want. See "Drive-thru." It's like heaven. You drive through. (Laughter.) It's quick, it's easy.
As a mother of two little girls -- and working mother at one time, in a job that gave me benefits -- (laughter) -- I can relate. And oftentimes eating out is the cheaper alternative in many cases. So there was a time when I was living this life. And then I got a little tap on my shoulder from our kids' pediatrician who basically said, "You know, you may want to look at changing the way your children are eating," because he could see the effects. And I was shocked. I thought we all had our stuff together. (Laughter.) But it's a little startling when somebody tells you you need to, you know, rethink things. So you just try to figure out, well, where do you begin, what do you change, how can you change things? But what I found was that if we start small and not try to bite off too much, if we just added a few more fruits and vegetables into every single meal, if we cut down on sugary drinks and processed fruit -- foods, that we could see some changes. And one of the things we tried not to ever do was be totally rigid; you know, just make kids so afraid of vegetables -- (laughter) -- that they would never, ever want to enjoy a meal.
But we worked on achieving moderation in our lives, teaching our kids about different types of foods, and what they do to their bodies, and eventually we got into a routine that worked for our family. And the biggest challenge was just figuring out where to start, and not letting it overwhelm you, or me. I'm talking to myself now. (Laughter.) And I think a lot of families out there feel that way. They'd like to do things differently. They know there's a problem. But when you're already overwhelmed with so much, with work and bills and everything on your plate, it's really hard to sort through all of the information that's out there to figure out how do you fundamentally change things in a way that's going to benefit your family. But here's this thing. So much research has been done on these issues. And a lot of it has been done by people who work right here. All of you have been working on these issues for so long. (Applause.) And part of the message that we're trying to impart nationally is that parents, families don't have to do this all by themselves...We can offer them the tools and the information that they need to help them make the best decisions for their family.
That's why Congress and the President included $1 billion for prevention and wellness programs in the Recovery Act –- (applause) -- and that includes funding for initiatives that will give communities the resources they need to address the obesity epidemic in their communities. This includes $373 million announced last month that would be available for communities that put together comprehensive plans to reduce obesity -- and that would include everything from incentivizing grocery stores to locate in underserved areas; it could include improving meals at school; to getting more healthy, affordable foods into vending machines; to creating more safe, accessible places for people to exercise and play; and a whole lot more.
But in the end, of course, our government and our communities, as you all know, we can only do so much. There's only so much policy and even money can do. And no grant program can sit at the dinner table with a child, right, and convince them to eat what they're supposed to eat. (Laughter) But we say in my household, "Just eat it." (Laughter) "You're not going to like it. Just finish it." (Laughter) "Get on with it." (Laughter) No grant program can make sure that the kids step away from the TV and set down those videogames and figure out a way to move their bodies. Ultimately all of that is up to parents and families. Ultimately we're the ones who influence our kids.
But there's good news: I've learned that, again, little changes can make a big difference. Little changes can make a big difference. Simply adjusting how we eat, like trying to cook one or two meals at home each week -- not every week, that's crazy -- (Laughter) -- but one or two meals; switching from soda to water -- pretty simple; adding a vegetable or a fruit to a dinner plate, making that more the meal than the meat or the rice; and paying a little more attention to what's on the labels -- again, not totally evaporating your way of being as you know it today, just little changes -- and finding a way to get more exercise into all of our lives, including our kids. Walking instead of driving. Standing in front of the TV instead of sitting. (Laughter) Small things. But all of this truly could have noticeable effects. (Laughter) Small things. (Laughter) All we're saying.
*The $373 million in Recovery funds that Mrs. Obama referenced is a program called Communities Putting Prevention to Work, and when announcing it last month, Secretary Sebelious called it "an invitation" to groups around the country to apply, so they can creat community-specific programs.
First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Department of Health and Human Services today with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in a continuation of her “thank you” tour of government agencies. Mrs. Obama met with HHS employees, and gave another excellent food-policy speech, in which she discussed the exponentially growing rates of child and adult obesity in America, and related the now-familiar story of how her family's dependence on fast and processed foods became their own private health debacle during Campaign Season, until the family pediatrician intervened and gave her a wake-up call that her daughters might be heading for diet-related diseases. In her remarks, Mrs. Obama referenced food deserts and food swamps, the cost of fresher foods, and the importance of cooking at home. And she also noted that small, incremental changes can make a huge difference, and that there's "no push back" when promoting a healthier lifestyle and moderation. The First Lady even set the change bar accessibly low, suggesting that small changes can have big benefits. She also, somewhat hilariously, suggested that standing up while watching TV is much better than sitting down (above: Mrs. Obama at HHS, with Sec. Sebelius in the background). The critical parts of the First Lady's remarks:
MRS. OBAMA: All parents -- and I don't care what political party you belong to, what race, what part of the country you're from -- we all care about the health of our children, and we would do anything to ensure their health. Everyone wants to make sure their kids eat right. Everyone wants to make sure that their kids are getting enough activity. And everyone is working as hard as they can in their own homes. But in many ways what I do know is that many families are starting to feel like the cards are stacked against them. It's really hard to make sure that your children are healthy and happy and safe and well fed. And maybe it's because some of -- some folks are working on a tight budget, and they feel like they just can't afford the kind of nutritious foods that are being recommended. Maybe it's because folks are working long hours. Can I get an "Amen" from HHS?
AUDIENCE: Amen! (Laughter and applause.)
MRS. OBAMA: And they struggle to find time to make a home-cooked meal. Maybe they live in a community that doesn't have access to a supermarket where there's good fresh produce, and maybe the best thing that they have available is a food stand or a gas station or a convenience store to get their food. Or maybe there aren't any safe places for kids to play, so it makes putting your kids in front of that Xbox a little more comforting and a little more of a better option.
Those of you who are parents, probably if you're anything like me, you worry about this every single day. And many of you who are grandparents, who are in charge of things with your grandkids, are thinking about it. And I know this feeling. You've had a long day at work -- you know, I remember this two years ago before we got here. (Laughter.) While I was working and campaigning for my husband and trying to take care of two kids, I remember coming home from a meeting or from an event just tired -- tired -- (laughter) -- and knowing that you're going home to an empty refrigerator -- (laughter) -- and kids who are hungry -- (laughter) -- and fussy -- (laughter) -- and not wanting to eat anything you have in mind. (Laughter.) All they want is some pizza and some burgers, right? (Laughter.) And you don't want to argue. You want a peaceful meal. (Laughter.) You want everyone to be quiet and just eat. (Laughter and applause.) And it is in those moments -- and for me there were many -- where you just give in and just get that take-out. (Laughter.) Get them what they want. See "Drive-thru." It's like heaven. You drive through. (Laughter.) It's quick, it's easy.
As a mother of two little girls -- and working mother at one time, in a job that gave me benefits -- (laughter) -- I can relate. And oftentimes eating out is the cheaper alternative in many cases. So there was a time when I was living this life. And then I got a little tap on my shoulder from our kids' pediatrician who basically said, "You know, you may want to look at changing the way your children are eating," because he could see the effects. And I was shocked. I thought we all had our stuff together. (Laughter.) But it's a little startling when somebody tells you you need to, you know, rethink things. So you just try to figure out, well, where do you begin, what do you change, how can you change things? But what I found was that if we start small and not try to bite off too much, if we just added a few more fruits and vegetables into every single meal, if we cut down on sugary drinks and processed fruit -- foods, that we could see some changes. And one of the things we tried not to ever do was be totally rigid; you know, just make kids so afraid of vegetables -- (laughter) -- that they would never, ever want to enjoy a meal.
But we worked on achieving moderation in our lives, teaching our kids about different types of foods, and what they do to their bodies, and eventually we got into a routine that worked for our family. And the biggest challenge was just figuring out where to start, and not letting it overwhelm you, or me. I'm talking to myself now. (Laughter.) And I think a lot of families out there feel that way. They'd like to do things differently. They know there's a problem. But when you're already overwhelmed with so much, with work and bills and everything on your plate, it's really hard to sort through all of the information that's out there to figure out how do you fundamentally change things in a way that's going to benefit your family. But here's this thing. So much research has been done on these issues. And a lot of it has been done by people who work right here. All of you have been working on these issues for so long. (Applause.) And part of the message that we're trying to impart nationally is that parents, families don't have to do this all by themselves...We can offer them the tools and the information that they need to help them make the best decisions for their family.
That's why Congress and the President included $1 billion for prevention and wellness programs in the Recovery Act –- (applause) -- and that includes funding for initiatives that will give communities the resources they need to address the obesity epidemic in their communities. This includes $373 million announced last month that would be available for communities that put together comprehensive plans to reduce obesity -- and that would include everything from incentivizing grocery stores to locate in underserved areas; it could include improving meals at school; to getting more healthy, affordable foods into vending machines; to creating more safe, accessible places for people to exercise and play; and a whole lot more.
But in the end, of course, our government and our communities, as you all know, we can only do so much. There's only so much policy and even money can do. And no grant program can sit at the dinner table with a child, right, and convince them to eat what they're supposed to eat. (Laughter) But we say in my household, "Just eat it." (Laughter) "You're not going to like it. Just finish it." (Laughter) "Get on with it." (Laughter) No grant program can make sure that the kids step away from the TV and set down those videogames and figure out a way to move their bodies. Ultimately all of that is up to parents and families. Ultimately we're the ones who influence our kids.
But there's good news: I've learned that, again, little changes can make a big difference. Little changes can make a big difference. Simply adjusting how we eat, like trying to cook one or two meals at home each week -- not every week, that's crazy -- (Laughter) -- but one or two meals; switching from soda to water -- pretty simple; adding a vegetable or a fruit to a dinner plate, making that more the meal than the meat or the rice; and paying a little more attention to what's on the labels -- again, not totally evaporating your way of being as you know it today, just little changes -- and finding a way to get more exercise into all of our lives, including our kids. Walking instead of driving. Standing in front of the TV instead of sitting. (Laughter) Small things. But all of this truly could have noticeable effects. (Laughter) Small things. (Laughter) All we're saying.
*The $373 million in Recovery funds that Mrs. Obama referenced is a program called Communities Putting Prevention to Work, and when announcing it last month, Secretary Sebelious called it "an invitation" to groups around the country to apply, so they can creat community-specific programs.
