First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Photo Courtesy USDA
By far the biggest news in the childhood obesity movement this week happened Wednesday, when First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled new government standards for school meals. You can read about that news here, but also check out the stories below to find out what other news made headlines.
Football Foundation to Donate Salad Bars to Schools
Our friends at the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation plan to donate salad bars to at least 15 Georgia schools, the organization announced this week. Schools must submit applications by Feb. 15, and the foundation will announce the winning schools in early March. The salad-to-schools program is being done in cooperation with the Let’s Move Salad Bars to School program and CBS Atlanta.
Interested schools can apply at the Let’s Move Salad Portal.
Although it only has committed to 15 schools, the foundation may consider donating additional salad bars, depending on the number of applications.
First Lady Promotes Healthy Eating Among Hispanics
Just a day after helping unveil the new school meal standards, First Lady Michelle Obama headed to Florida to help spread her Let’s Move! message to Hispanics, USA Today reports. Obama visited a Latino supermarket to promote the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “MiPlato,” the Spanish version of the “MyPlate” food icon. Obama also praised Goya Foods for helping promote MiPlato.
To Combat Obesity, Hotels Revamp Kids Menus
USA Today reports that Fairmont Hotels will give its children’s menu a healthy makeover as part of the effort to reverse childhood obesity. The chain will add more produce, swap refined flour for whole wheat and use healthier cooking methods. The Hyatt and Marriott hotel chains also are improving the nutritional quality of their kids menus, the newspaper reports.
Fat Joe Continues Awareness Push
Rapper Fat Joe visited a Newark, N.J. on Monday to mark the conclusion of the “Let’s Move! Newark: Our Power” program, Patch.com reports. The competition pitted the city’s high schools against each other to see which could be the most physically active. Fat Joe spoke to students about his own 100 pound weight loss, the importance of healthy eating and exercise and even took time to perform for the crowd (which included Mayor Cory Booker).
Parents Key to Help Obese Kids Lose Weight
Involving parents in efforts to help obese children and teens shed pounds is a vital part of helping youngsters succeed, a statement released this week in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Assn. finds. The Los Angeles Times reports that family support is the most effective part of helping obese children reach and maintain healthier weight.