First Lady Lauds America's Educators As "Unsung Heroes" In Battle Against Childhood Obesity

Mrs. Obama throws a Let's Move! party: A thousand guests attend South Lawn celebration for HealthierUS School Challenge...
It was a festive atmosphere on the very sunny South Lawn on Monday afternoon as First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed about 1,000 school officials from across the US to a party that celebrated her goal of doubling the number of schools enrolled in the HealthierUS School Challenge in a year. The original goal was 1,250 schools, but it has now been surpassed: There are actually 1,631 schools certified in the program, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced to the cheering crowd. He stood beside Mrs. Obama as she offered words of praise to the school cafeteria professionals, nutrition directors and principals, and hailed their efforts to serve healthy food and encourage fitness as something that will have an impact for generations to come. (Above: Mrs. Obama with Vilsack and 6th grader Alex Roman, who introduced her)

"You’re affecting the choices they’re going to make for the rest of their lives," Mrs. Obama, clad in a pink, sleeveless dress with black accents, said. "You’re affecting not just how these kids feed themselves, but how they’re going to feed their own children."

"We can affect who they will be forever," Mrs. Obama added. "And that is truly, truly powerful stuff."

The Administration estimates that many children get up to half of their daily calories at school, a major problem when one in three children is overweight or obese. The Challenge, a cornerstone of the Let's Move! campaign, is a program run by USDA that rewards schools participating in the National School Lunch Program for voluntarily adopting healthy USDA standards for foods served in cafeterias, and for providing students with nutrition education and opportunities for physical activity. Prizes are cash grants and plaques, at four levels of achievement: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Gold with Distinction.

"In our movement to end the epidemic of childhood obesity in America, all of you -- our nation’s educators -- you are the unsung heroes," Mrs. Obama said. "I get a lot of accolades and everybody is like, 'First Lady, you're doing a great job.' But you all are doing the real work on the ground."

USDA has had the Challenge in place since 2004, but until Mrs. Obama threw down the gauntlet to double the number a year ago, participation had flatlined. Transforming school nutrition environments is hard work.

Paula Warner (l) Child Nutrition Supervisor for the Iberville Parish School District in Louisiana, is one of the unsung heroes. She was at the White House because four of her eight schools won the Gold Award with Distinction. Warner took on elementary school kids first, but getting them to eat their vegetables was initially a tough road, she said.

“So we put the broccoli in a casserole; we served it with low fat cheese and low fat cream sauce and they eat it," Warner said. Still, kids are ready for change, she added, which is a tenet of Mrs. Obama's campaign.

“They are less indoctrinated and it’s easier to influence their eating habits,” said Warner.

The district now substitutes Romaine lettuce for Iceberg lettuce: It's more colorful and it has more nutrients, Warner said. The kids no longer notice that they're eating brown rice instead of white rice. And though hot dogs are still on the menu, they have been shorn of some fat and salt.

“The cost of doing all this was negligible,” Warner said. “Besides, when you consider health care costs it’s worth it.”

That's Mrs. Obama's point, too. It doesn't cost a lot to ensure that kids are being raised in an environment that's as healthy as possible. And it can happen no matter what kind of school kids attend.

"You’ve shown us that there is no one way to win this award," Mrs. Obama said. "You come from urban, suburban, rural communities. You come from schools that are big and small...There is no one-size-fits-all solution here."

The First Lady ticked off the achievements of the Let's Move! campaign to date: 3,000 citizen chefs enrolled in the Chefs Move to Schools initiative, which marries professional chefs to public schools; 800 salad bars awarded through the Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools project; community and school gardens being planted all over the US; running and fitness clubs at schools; schools sending out monthly nutrition newsletters.

"I've been out there visiting you, and it is real. You all are willing to do whatever it takes to help our kids," Mrs. Obama said. That's why the White House "rolled out the red carpet" for the party, she said. The First Lady urged the school officials to share information and get to know each other better, and to bring along schools in their home districts that might be struggling and need assistance.

"Hopefully, today is the beginning of many, many excellent relationships that will continue to build," Mrs. Obama said. "So get to know each other. Because this [the Challenge] is a competition that every school in America can win."

There are plenty of schools left that can meet the Challenge: USDA says that nearly 95,000 schools are involved in the National School Lunch Program, which feeds 32 million kids. The National School Breakfast Program feeds about 11 million kids.

A huge apple, made of hundreds of (faux) apples recycled from Thursday's State Dinner decorations, stood in the center of the South Lawn. Guests were encouraged to put notes on top of it, with creative ideas for boosting the health environment at schools. They gathered around, adding their tips, and posing for photos. The Washington Monument loomed in the background. (Above: The "Idea Apple")

Let's Move! team meets with guests...
It was a very busy party: Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass worked the crowd, as did Let's Move! Executive Director Dr. Judy Palfrey. At a prep table, Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and Assistant Pastry Chef Susie Morrison demonstrated how to make Healthy Fruit and Oat Snack Bars (the recipe is here).

Members of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition mingled with the school pros, including co-chair and Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Dominique Dawes and Cornell McClellan, the President and Mrs. Obama's personal trainer. They spoke to guests about the PALA Challenge. The guests were given tours of the Kitchen Garden, still cordoned off from this weekend's Fall Garden Tours. (Above: Kass and Dawes speak with visitors)

Guests were also treated to the rollicking musical stylings of two military bands: The Marines' Own Free Country, and the Navy's Country Current. Huge baskets of apples and other healthy treats were on offer, under white tents with White House butlers providing service.

"I'm so proud of you all, so excited. Just keep doing what you're doing, and we'll be right there with you every step of the way," Mrs. Obama said as she finished her remarks.

The First Lady shook hands, gave hugs, and posed for photos with the guests before going back inside the residence. The band continued to play after she left, and the guests continued to mingle. (Above: Marines' Own Free Country plays)

*Click here for a full transcript and video of the First Lady's remarks.

*Click here to read more about the HealthierUS Schools Challenge and recent developments in the federal nutrition program.

*Photos by Obama Foodorama; with additional reporting by Marian Burros.

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White House Chefs Celebrate School Lunch

First Lady's party guests meet her favorite staff members at Let's Move! reception...
During First Lady Obama's special Let's Move! party on the South Lawn on Monday celebrating the HealthierUS School Challenge, the White House Kitchen was out in force to celebrate with about 1,000 school officials. White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and Pastry Assistant Susie Morrison were in a good mood after demonstrating how to make tasty, healthy snacks; even wine steward Daniel Shanks was celebrating on the South Lawn. (Above, Yosses, center, channels President Nixon; flanked by Morrison and Shanks)

At an outdoor prep table, Yosses and Morrison showed the guests how to make Healthy Fruit and Oat Snack Bars, a longtime White House favorite.

"It was a wonderful day," Yosses said.

Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! team, including Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass, and campaign Executive Director Dr. Judy Palfrey, and members of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition mingled with the guests. Council members inclded co-chair and Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Dominique Dawes and Cornell McClellan, the President and Mrs. Obama's personal trainer. They spoke to guests about the PALA Challenge. The guests were given tours of the Kitchen Garden, still cordoned off from this weekend's Fall Garden Tours. (Above: Kass and McClellan chat during the festivities)

*Obama Foodorama photos

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Transcript & Video: Remarks By First Lady At HealthierUS School Challenge Celebration

First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed about 1,000 school officials from across the US to a White House reception on Monday afternoon to celebrate achieving her Let's Move! goal of doubling the number of schools enrolled in the HealthierUS School Challenge in a year.  A full post about the event is here.

The original goal was 1,250 schools, but it has been exceeded: There are now 1,631 schools certified, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced.  More background on the HUSC is here.



The Challenge, a cornerstone of the Let's Move! campaign, is a program run by USDA. It rewards schools participating in the National School Lunch Program for voluntarily adopting USDA standards for foods served in cafeterias, and for providing students with nutrition education and opportunities for physical activity. Prizes are cash grants and plaques.

The transcript:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the First Lady
____________________________________

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2011

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
AT HEALTHIERUS SCHOOL CHALLENGE CELEBRATION

South Lawn


3:38 P.M. EDT


MRS. OBAMA: Man, isn't that something? (Applause.) Hello everyone, and welcome to the White House. (Applause.) I am just thrilled that you all are here today. It's a beautiful day for a very special group of people. And we rolled out the red carpet for you all. Does it feel that way? Do you feel a little red-carpet-like? (Applause.)

Let me start by thanking Alex for that very kind and eloquent introduction. I mean, Alex, and the kids that we were -- that's the reason we are doing this. Just listening to his story, understanding that kids, when you teach them how to eat and how to exercise, they implement this stuff. We all know that. So we are so proud of Alex and the thousands of young people just like him that are improving their lives. They're changing the way they think about their health and they're trickling that information down to their families

We're just, Alex, so proud of you. Let’s give him a round of applause. (Applause.)

And of course, thank you to Becke for her remarks today and for the work that she's doing every day on behalf of our kids. She has the energy -- you can tell by just listening to her speak -- she could talk you into doing anything, pretty much. (Laughter.) But fortunately, she's used that power of persuasion and that passion to help improve the lives of the kids in her community. And for that we are grateful, Becke. Thank you so much. (Applause.)

And of course, I have to recognize our terrific Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary Vilsack. (Applause.) I love him dearly. He has been a tremendous partner on this effort. Everyone at the Department of Agriculture has stepped up. They were already doing the work, but they've just taken this and have run with it. We are proud of everything you have done, embracing this as you said you would. Secretary Vilsack, thank you. Thank you so much.

And I also have to recognize -- because we had some pretty good entertainment out here today, didn’t we? (Applause.) So much so that folks throughout the White House were calling up, asking, well, what country pop bands are out there playing? And I have to just say that, as usual, they are our very own. We have two wonderful bands -- the Marines' own Free Country, and the Navy's Country Current. You all fired it up. (Applause.) We love you. This is the -- one of the President's best perks of living in the White House -- (laughter) -- the bands that come and play. They can play anything. They've played with Paul McCartney. They've done tons of stuff. And you all did a fabulous job today, really setting the mood. And we are grateful.

But most of all, I want to thank all of you. This celebration is for you. We made it -- we said this before; we said we're going to set the challenge. And what we want to do is reward those who reached it by inviting them here. So this was something we had planned a long time ago. And it is just wonderful to see you all here and to celebrate this achievement. We are just so proud.

Because the fact is, in our movement to end the epidemic of childhood obesity in America, all of you -- our nation’s educators -- you are the unsung heroes. I get a lot of accolades and everybody is like, "First Lady, you're doing a great job." But you all are doing the real work on the ground. So much of what we’ve accomplished these past couple of years, so many of the victories that we’ve won for our kids have happened because of you.

They’ve happened because of your passion, because of your vision and, more importantly, because of your hard work. Because you all mobilized and organized, we passed historic legislation here in Washington to improve and provide more nutritious school meals to more of our children. We’re helping install salad bars in more than 800 schools, bringing fresh fruits and vegetables to hundreds of thousands of kids across this country. We created Chefs Move to Schools, signing up more than 3,000 chefs to help local schools improve their menus and to teach kids about healthy eating.

We’ve seen more than one million young people earn the President’s Active Lifestyle Award -- the PALA awards -- and that means they're exercising one hour a day, five days a week, for six consecutive weeks.

And now, because of all of you, we have met our goal to double the number of HealthierUS Schools within a year. Double the number. Excellent, you guys. (Applause.)

So what you all have accomplished here is very impressive, but, quite frankly, it is not at all surprising. It’s not surprising that folks like you are taking the lead on this issue. Because as educators, you see firsthand the impact that childhood obesity has on our children’s lives. You see it every day. Not just on their physical and emotional health, but on their academic success as well. You see this.

You know better than anyone that kids need time and space to run around before they can settle down and concentrate in a classroom. You know this. You know they need nutritious food in their stomachs before they can focus their brains on math and reading and science. You see it every day. And when many kids spend half of their waking hours and get up to half their daily calories at school, you know that with the food you serve and, more importantly, the lessons you teach that you're not just shaping their habits and preferences today, you’re affecting the choices they’re going to make for the rest of their lives.

That's why we start with kids -- right? We can affect who they will be forever. Alex is not going to forget what he's learned and he's going to pass that on to his kids. You’re affecting not just how these kids feed themselves, but how they’re going to feed their own children. So the beauty is, is that you’re not just making this generation of kids healthier, but the next generation as well. And that is truly, truly powerful stuff. (Applause.)

Now, I know that what you do isn’t easy. I mean, we're partying now but -- (laughter) -- it takes a lot of work to do what you do -- especially in these difficult economic times, when budgets are tight and you’re trying to do so much more with so much less. You're here without the extra money. You've accomplished these goals without the extra help. But you've done it because you've gotten pretty creative. And that's why we want to hold you up. You've done a lot with just a lot of creativity.

Let's take the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School right here in D.C., right in our own backyard. Their chef and founder wrote, and this is a quote -- “We're not a rich school. Our funds are limited. So we asked for, and receive, a lot of help.” They work with a local non-profit and a supermarket chain to acquire donated equipment. They got money from the Recovery Act for a new refrigerator and some extra staff. They worked with a parent who owns a local farmer’s market. And today, their students empty out their salad bar every day at lunch. And that's something that people don't think will happen, right? Kids won't eat vegetables. Well, you see it. It's happened at this school. They're eating every last bit of broccoli and spinach and cauliflower in those salad bars.

And then there’s St. Tammany Parish, just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana -- (applause) -- where I had the privilege of visiting last year. Twenty-five of their elementary and middle schools have achieved the Gold Award of Distinction -- 25. (Applause.) And they’ve done it by doing a whole range of things. They set up student advisory councils that work with the food service staffs to help plan the menus -- so they're getting kids involved in the process. And students even help run nutrition education programs, teaching their peers about healthy eating.

And then there’s the Burlington Elementary School in North Dakota. This is happening all over the country. All over the country. They were the first school in that state to plant a school garden. And they've opened up their gym on the weekends, making an open gym for the families in their community. And the teachers eat breakfast and lunch with students every single day. Now, that's a sacrifice. (Laughter.) You know it. That's love. (Laughter.) They even send out a monthly newsletter called, “Nutrition Notes,” to provide healthy eating tips and recipes for the families.

And other schools have started running clubs and fitness competitions. You’ve engaged students in taste tests and recipe contests. You’ve incorporated nutrition education into subjects ranging from math and science and art. You’ve done it all.

So you’ve shown us that there is no one way to win this award. There's just no one silver bullet. You come from urban, suburban, rural communities. You come from schools that are big and small. Every school and every community is different. That we know. There is no one-size-fits-all solution here.

But there is one thing that all of you do have in common. And I think that Billy Reid, who is the director of Nutrition Services for the Salida Union School District in California -- he put it best. This is what he said. He said, “I find myself honored to wake up every morning…and go out and feed children.” It's as simple as that -- honored. The honor of feeding our children. (Applause.) And it's that commitment, it's that kind of commitment to our children’s promise -- right? This is our future. Our promise -- the determination to help them all succeed -- that’s something you all share. It's that passion.

And I've been out there visiting you, and it is real. You all are willing to do whatever it takes to help our kids. We love our kids -- all of them, every single one of them. And we want nothing but the very best. And this is the way we do it. And you all are doing it like nothing else.

So today, I just want to urge you to keep being the leaders that you are -- because you are truly leaders. That is why you're here. As Secretary Vilsack said, we want you to spread that love and that knowledge. We want you to share what you've learned. There are other schools who are just trying to figure out how they can be a part of this extraordinary club, and you all can do that. You can share your wealth. You can reach out, you can find the schools in your communities, in your states, and share what you've learned. Reach out and help other schools compete.

And I hope that you’ll also encourage one another. That's one of the reasons why bringing you all together here from all over the country -- pass out your cards, get some emails and some numbers. Because I know you get tired, right? I know sometimes it's frustrating. I know there's some things that can be better. You all can support one another.

And hopefully, today is the beginning of many, many excellent relationships that will continue to build. So get to know each other. Because this is a competition that every school in America can win. This isn't an exclusive club -- right? We want everyone involved. We want to double the double. We want every school in this country to be aiming for this kind of distinction. Because we know that when our schools win, our kids win. And when our kids win, our country wins. That's why we make this investment.

So thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm so proud of you all, so excited. Just keep doing what you're doing, and we'll be right there with you every step of the way.

Thank you all. God bless you all. And God bless America. (Applause.) I'm going to come down and shake some hands.

END 3:52 P.M. EDT
##

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First Lady Hosts White House Party For HealthierUS School Challenge Winners

1,250 out of more than 94,000 eligible schools are Challenge participants...
UPDATE: Click here for the post about the event
First Lady Michelle Obama will keep a Let's Move! campaign promise when she hosts a reception on the South Lawn this afternoon to honor schools that have met her goal of doubling the number of participants in the HealthierUS School Challenge in a year. Mrs. Obama promised the party last March, and as of August 2011, there are 1,250 schools certified in the program, a cornerstone of her childhood obesity campaign. School cafeteria professionals, nutrition directors, and principals from across the nation will join Mrs. Obama.

The USDA-run HealthierUS Schools Challenge (HUSC) rewards schools participating in the National School Lunch Program for voluntarily adopting USDA standards for foods served in cafeterias, and for providing students with nutrition education and opportunities for physical activity. Schools are recognized with cash grants and plaques in a four-tiered system: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Gold of Distinction. In September of 2010, Mrs. Obama set a goal of doubling the number of schools that qualified for Challenge award status in just one year, and by February of 2011, there were 552 schools with HUSC certification. She met her doubling goal in August.

Just about 1.3% of eligible US schools have qualified...
But while Mrs. Obama managed to double the number of schools participating in the Challenge, there's a long way to go: The current number of schools that are certified represent just a little more than 1% of schools that could be certified. More than 32 million children are fed through the federally funded National School Lunch Program, with "nearly" 95,000 schools and residential child care institutions participating, according to USDA. Today's party is designed to call attention to the HUSC, and encourage more schools to get involved, in addition to honoring those who have created best-practice child health environments. Click here for a link to award winning schools.

In March of 2011, Mrs. Obama, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and White House Domestic Policy Chair Melody Barnes spoke on a White House conference call to encourage participation in the Challenge, and it was then that the First Lady sweetened the deal with the promise of a White House party. Vilsack also announced $5.5 million in Team Nutrition Training Grants for Healthy Meals to help schools meet Challenge requirements.

The White House shindig was originally scheduled for this summer, but was postponed until today.

*Photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

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President Obama Proclaims September "National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month"

"Everyone has a role to play in preventing and reversing the tide of childhood obesity," President says...
President Obama calls childhood obesity "one of the most urgent health issues we face in this country" in a Proclamation issued Wednesday that deems September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Writing about the importance of "stopping the epidemic in its tracks," the President praises First Lady Obama's Let's Move! campaign as he urges citizens to learn about healthier eating and exercise.

President Obama notes that "a third of American children are overweight or obese" and those born in the year 200o are on track for developing devastating obesity-related diseases, including Type II diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

"Childhood obesity cuts across all cultural and demographic lines, so Let's Move! has started initiatives to reach every cross-section of America, from urban and rural areas to schools, health clinics, and child care homes and centers," President Obama writes.

The President ticks off the impressive slate of "groundbreaking partnerships" Mrs. Obama has garnered since launching the Let's Move! campaign in February of 2010, bringing together "Federal agencies and some of the biggest corporations and nonprofits from across our country." The President cites successes that include the pathbreaking school nutrition legislation he signed in December of 2010; the private sector commitment from major grocery chains to build stores in food deserts; Let's Move Childcare, launched in June; the launch of the MyPlate initiative and the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans; and meeting the goal of enrolling 1,250 schools in the HealthierUS School Challenge, which he calls a "cornerstone" of the campaign. (Above: Mrs. Obama speaking in Georgia in February 2011, for the first anniversary of Let's Move!)

The 1,250 schools that have completed the HealthierUS School Challenge are about 1% of US schools that can potentially qualify, but it's a good start. In October, Mrs. Obama will welcome school officials and cafeteria managers from across the US to the White House to celebrate their success.

"These programs touch everyone, from faith-based communities to Indian Country, empowering kids and their families to discover the fun in healthy eating and exercise," President Obama writes.

Let's Move in Indian Country, launched in May, is the only component of the campaign that is focused on a specific racial or cultural minority, and has gotten major attention from the White House in recent months, with a special planting event in Mrs. Obama's Kitchen Garden in June, and a South Lawn Series event in July focusing on lacrosse. Mrs. Obama launched Let's Move Faith and Communities in November of 2010, which focuses on religious and community organizations.

"I invite all Americans to visit LetsMove.gov to learn more about this initiative and how to help children eat healthy and stay active," President Obama writes.

"During National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, we recognize the outstanding work our businesses, communities, and families are doing to help us meet our responsibilities to our children. I urge all Americans to help us meet our goal of solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation," President Obama concludes.

The President's Proclamation makes no mention of the importance of school and community gardens for combating obesity, though Mrs. Obama has called her Kitchen Garden the inspiration for the Let's Move! campaign, and will publish a book in April of 2012 about the project. The tome will be her first outing as an author.

The full text of the President's proclamation:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

_________________________________

August 31, 2011

Presidential Proclamation
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Since the 1970s, the rate of childhood obesity in our country has tripled, and today a third of American children are overweight or obese. This dramatic rise threatens to have far‑reaching, long-term effects on our children's health, livelihoods, and futures. Without major changes, a third of children born in the year 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes during their lifetimes, and many others will face obesity‑related problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma. As a Nation, our greatest responsibility is to ensure the well-being of our children. By taking action to address the issue of childhood obesity, we can help America's next generation reach their full potential.

Together, we can stop this epidemic in its tracks. Over the last year and a half, the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative has brought together Federal agencies and some of the biggest corporations and nonprofits from across our country, working to meet our national goal of solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. Let's Move! aims to help ensure we can make healthy choices about the foods we eat and how much exercise we get, while building the habits necessary to tackle one of the most urgent health issues we face in this country. I invite all Americans to visit LetsMove.gov to learn more about this initiative and how to help children eat healthy and stay active.

Everyone has a role to play in preventing and reversing the tide of childhood obesity. This year, we announced groundbreaking partnerships with grocery stores and other retailers to increase access to healthy food in underserved areas. These stores have pledged to increase their fruit and vegetable offerings and to open new locations in communities where nutritious food is limited or unavailable.

Childhood obesity cuts across all cultural and demographic lines, so Let's Move! has started initiatives to reach every cross‑section of America, from urban and rural areas to schools, health clinics, and child care homes and centers. These programs touch everyone, from faith‑based communities to Indian Country, empowering kids and their families to discover the fun in healthy eating and exercise.

Schools also have an important role in ensuring our children live full and active lives. Last December, I signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law, enacting comprehensive change that will allow more children to eat healthier school lunches. One of the cornerstones of Let's Move! is the HealthierUS School Challenge. This year, America met the goal of doubling the number of schools meeting the Challenge's requirements for expanding nutrition and physical activity opportunities. These 1,250 schools have shown that together, we can go above and beyond to give our kids the healthy future they deserve.

We are coordinating across the Federal Government to make our goal a reality. This year, the Federal Government released updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, providing a science‑based roadmap for individuals to make healthy choices, and emphasizing the importance of good nutrition and an active lifestyle. We adapted the food pyramid to a new design ‑‑ MyPlate ‑‑ to encourage balanced meals. And our Healthy People 2020 initiative incorporates childhood obesity prevention in its goals for increasing the health of all Americans.

Across our country, parents are working hard every day to make sure their kids are healthy, and my Administration is committed to supporting families in their efforts. During National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, we recognize the outstanding work our businesses, communities, and families are doing to help us meet our responsibilities to our children. I urge all Americans to help us meet our goal of solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2011 as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. I encourage all Americans to take action by learning about and engaging in activities that promote healthy eating and greater physical activity by all our Nation's children.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA

####

In the photo at top, President Obama talks with kids attending a Let's Move! tennis clinic on the South Lawn of the White House, Aug. 3, 2010. Photo by Pete Souza/White House.

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Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Campaign Hits Milestone With HealthierUS School Challenge

1,250 schools are now certified in program; USDA gives update on child nutrition legislation for 2011-2012 school year...
First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign has met her Phase II goal of getting 1,250 schools certified in the HealthierUS School Challenge, USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon announced today during a conference call. The national program, run by USDA, is one of the cornerstones of Mrs. Obama's childhood obesity campaign, and rewards schools participating in the National School Lunch Program for voluntarily adopting USDA standards for foods served in cafeterias, and for providing students with nutrition education and opportunities for physical activity. Concannon also discussed the nutrition reforms and improvements that students and families will see in the 2011-2012 school year, thanks to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010, which President Obama signed into law in December of 2010. (Above: In September of 2010, Mrs. Obama spoke at Brock Elementary School in Slidell, LA, and announced the HUSC goal of 1,250 schools)

How the HUSC goal was met...
Mrs. Obama worked hard to meet the 1,250 goal for the Challenge, promoting it each time she made a public appearance for Let's Move!. There's been a lot of action over the last eight months: As of February 2011, just 552 schools had received HUSC certification. In March, Mrs. Obama, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Domestic Policy Chair Melody Barnes spoke on a White House conference call with about 260 school officials from across the US, to encourage participation in the Challenge. (Above: Mrs. Obama on the conference call, flanked by Barnes, l, and Duncan)

Vilsack also announced $5.5 million in Team Nutrition Training Grants for Healthy Meals to provide assistance to schools to help them meet Challenge requirements. By June 8, 2011, 1,220 schools were certified, according to USDA. Schools are recognized with the Gold Award of Distinction, Gold, Silver, or Bronze-level certification, and receive cash awards based on their level of certification. Clearly, the effort worked. During her conference call, Mrs. Obama also promised school officials and cafeteria managers a White House party if the HUSC goal was met; in fact, there was a reception scheduled for July 29, but it was cancelled, and has been re-scheuduled for mid-October, Concannon said today.

Concannon also announced the launch of the Healthy Access Locator, a web-based map that geographically pinpoints HUSC award-winning schools, and allows users to search HealthierUS School Challenge awards by geography (national, regional, local), school type (elementary, middle, high), award type (bronze, silver, gold, gold award of distinction) and date of award. It also features built-in data on diet-related diseases.

School food environments have big changes thanks to new child nutrition legislation...
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which Congress passed after much lobbying from the First Lady and the White House, is another pillar of Mrs. Obama's campaign. Concannon today hailed it as "a great win for our kids and the health of our nation."

"By fueling our nation's children with the healthiest foods possible while at school, we can reinforce the healthy lifestyles that many parents are already teaching their children at home, which will put them in a position to thrive, grow and ultimately reach their full potential."

USDA worked aggressively to implement reforms contained in the legislation, which includes a component that allows the Secretary of Agriculture for the first time to set uniform standards for school meals. Concannon said that USDA officials have finished going through the 132,000 public comments the Agency received for the proposed revamp of school meal standards, and has compiled these into a 150-page summary that is an internal USDA document. The Administration hopes to finish the rule, as well as a rule for other foods sold at schools (such as in vending machines), before the end of this year, Concannon said. The rules are supposed to go into effect at the beginning of the school year starting September, 2012.

A rule requiring schools to bring the price of school meals for middle-class children in line with food prices has already gone into effect, Concannon said.

USDA released the following updates on its changes under the new legislation:

*Nationwide Expansion of At-Risk Afterschool Meals: USDA worked closely with states to expand the availability of afterschool meals across the nation to through the Child and Adult Care Food Program. USDA estimates this expansion could provide supper to an additional 140,000 kids in low-income areas.

*Strengthening Direct Certification: USDA provided guidance, technical assistance and grant funding to states to improve their direct certification systems to help more children already receiving benefits from SNAP, TANF and FDPIR gain access to free school meals without the need for completing another eligibility form.

*Implementing Community Eligibility: USDA offered, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee, to implement the new "community eligibility" approach to reimburse schools for meals without the need for paper applications.

*Simplified Area Eligibility for Family Day Care Homes: USDA implemented a provision that helps more family day care home providers receive the maximum meal reimbursement based on the location of their family day care business rather than an income eligibility application.

*Promoting School Breakfast Programs. USDA provided guidance for schools on the HHKFA provision requiring schools to conduct outreach on the availability of the School Breakfast Program. Research has shown that starting the day with a nutritious breakfast helps students stay alert and perform better in school.

*Top photo by Samantha Appleton/White House; conference call photo by Chuck Kennedy/White House

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