At Chicago Food Desert Summit, Good News For First Lady Michelle Obama

Chicago leads the way in improving access to healthy food with corporate support for farmers markets and local agriculture...
By Marian Burros
Chicago, Ill - Michelle Obama was back home on Tuesday, her first public visit to Chicago since entering the White House. For the occasion she chose the South Side of the city where she was raised. The First Lady brought two other Chicagoans with her, first to Walgreens in the Chatham section and then to the 7-acre Iron Street Urban Farm, located in what was once a truck depot: Mayor Rahm Emanuel, lately White house chief of staff, and Sam Kass, who went to Washington to cook for the Obamas, and ended up as the point man on the First Lady's childhood obesity initiative, Let’s Move! (Above: Emanuel and Mrs. Obama visiting Iron Street Urban Farm)

It was a full day for Emanuel, who had gathered together mayors from eight cities for a food desert summit to exchange ideas about ways to bring healthy and affordable foods into communities that lack access. Emanuel and Kass met with the mayors for a morning roundtable discussion held at Iron Street, and continued the discussion over a locally sourced organic lunch at mk The Restaurant. Mrs. Obama closed their convivium with remarks at the Walgreens store.

“This Mayor’s Summit today is just an important step towards what we hope will be a national effort across this country for mayors and cities and towns," Mrs. Obama said. "It is you who are setting the tone for what this country can do for our children and families.”

The First Lady's visit was sandwiched between a midday campaign fundraiser in Detroit and an evening fundraiser in Chicago, where she spoke about her husbands' efforts to create jobs. The trip on behalf of her own signature initiative also proved to be about putting people to work as much as it was about giving the disadvantaged access to fresh healthy food. Both Mrs. Obama and Emanuel emphasized the connection between getting healthy food to inner city populations and the creation of jobs and economic opportunities.

If Mayors across the US decide that building supermarkets and encouraging urban agriculture is vital to their communities, America will be transformed, Mrs. Obama said: "Think about all the jobs that would be created."

Chicago's private-sector agreements for food deserts...
In June, the newly elected Emanuel called together the CEOs of Walmart, Walgreens; Aldi and Roundy and the parent companies of Jewel and Dominick markets and providing them with maps of Chicago showing where food deserts exist. He promised them a fast track to build stores in underserved areas. (Above: The First Lady during her remarks at Walgreens)

Emanuel asked Mrs. Obama to come to Chicago for his announcement of some very good news: Three dozen stores have agreed to open or to retrofit their current stores in some of Chicago’s food deserts, bringing fifty jobs per store or about 1,800 new jobs.

There was more good news: With a $150,000 combined commitment from Kraft Foods Foundation and Safeway Foundation, Chicago will pilot up to five new farmers markets in food deserts on Chicago's west side over the next two years. The markets will feature local growers selling produce, accept LINK cards, and offer creative programming like cooking demonstrations and nutrition education. Walgreens and Aldo’s have agreed to buy local food raised by Iron Street Urban Farm and other urban agriculture projects.

At the Walgreens, Emanuel addressed the First Lady as 'Michelle' as he thanked her for her help in bringing the problems of underserved neighborhoods to national attention.  Details of commitments Emanuel has gotten from grocers to build markets in Chicago food deserts are here.

“Thank you for bringing together all the policies you focused on, turning blight into economic opportunity, Michelle," Emanuel said. "Thank you for your leadership.”

Mrs. Obama has gotten a similar private sector commitment on the national level: In July, she announced agreements with Walgreens, Walmart, SuperValu, Calhoun Grocers and Shoprite to build or expand 1,500 stores in food deserts, which will create what the White House says is "tens of thousands of jobs." The project will also bring healthier food to about 9.5 million of the 23.5 million people living in food deserts, according to the White House. Mrs. Obama's goal of eliminating the estimated 6,500 US food deserts by 2017 can "absolutely" be achieved, according to Sam Kass.

For her part, Mrs. Obama thanked her “dear friend and Chicago’s mayor,” adding that she was still getting used to his title, to which he responded loud enough to be heard: “So am I.”

Mrs. Obama said that even as she grew up in Chicago, small grocery stores were disappearing.

“We can talk all we want about making healthy choices about the food we serve our kids, but the truth is if parents don’t have anywhere to buy these foods, then all of that is really just talk," she said.

The First Lady spoke at Walgreens because it is already providing food in what was once a typical modern drugstore. Now it has a food section that includes not just apples, pears and bananas, but baby watermelons, peaches pears, mangos, cut up fruits including cantaloupe, berries and bagged salad, eggs, orange juice, sandwiches, salads, frozen and fresh dinners. In the next five years the company expects to retrofit 1,000 more of its 8,000 stores across the country.

“It’s been unbelievable for the bottom line,” said Joe Magnacca, president of the daily living products and solutions for Walgreens.

Prices are not as low as at a full-service supermarket but for some the trip to a supermarket requires a bus or taxi ride.

First Lady tours Iron Street Urban Farm..
From the store Mrs. Obama traveled to Iron Street Urban Farm, the site of the Mayors' morning meeting. The lush facility is run by Erika Allen, who grew up on a farm working alongside her father, Will Allen, who calls himself "the chief executive farmer" of Growing Power in Milwaukee. It has a two-pronged agenda: To eliminate food deserts and give local residents an opportunity to work. The Chicago farm is one of five Growing Power sites in Chicago. (Above: Mrs. Obama and Emanuel inside a hoop house at the farm with the Allens, standing)

Erika Allen has a masters in art therapy, but she discovered that before anything else “people need good food to eat.”

As dynamic as her father, who has a MacArthur genius award, in a year she has gotten the sustainable farm up and running in a desolate industrial neighborhood. The farm teaches people, many of whom have never held jobs, how to work as it raises vegetables and herbs 12 months a year, under hoop houses and indoors. It will shortly be raising tilapia in water that has been used first to raise crops.

Emanuel and Mrs. Obama took a lengthy tour of the farm with both Allens, and she seemed particularly intrigued by the compost piles, the result of many worms doing their job. One of the workers presented her with a worm to examine and it was obvious Mrs. Obama has had her hands in soil before: She didn’t flinch as she picked it up (above).

"It's alive!" Mrs. Obama said.

For Erika Allen, the First Lady’s visit “validates what we are doing.”

Allen said that without the changes Emanuel made in local laws, Growing Power would not have been able to stay in business. In July, he introduced an ordinance to the City Council, making urban agriculture a new zoning designation. Now urban gardens can be as large as 25,000 square feet; parking and fencing requirements on larger commercial farms have been relaxed. Hydroponics and aquaponics are now permitted, even the raising of honeybees in certain circumstances. The changes eliminate a lot of red tape.

Will Allen joined Mrs. Obama at the White House on the day she launched Let's Move!; urban agriculture and improving food access has been on the First Lady's mind since the start of her childhood obesity initiative. In September, Walmart, Mrs. Obama's largest corporate partner for Let's Move!, awarded Growing Power a $1 million grant.

During the Mayors’ summit, the change in zoning regulations was one of the ideas that struck the fancy of several attendees, including Heather McTeer, Mayor of Greenville, Miss, and Manuel Lozano of Badwin Park, Ca. Mayor McTeer said her city would love to have Walgreens sell fresh food in its stores. Mayor Lozano is now running unopposed for his 8th term, despite the fact that under his direction the city took all sodas and sports drinks out of vending machines it owns, and placed a six-month moratorium on building fast food restaurants.

There is a serious obesity epidemic in both of the cities.

“It’s encouraging to see so much happening,” said McTeer. “Everyone is taking the First Lady’s initiative very seriously.”

*Click here for the transcript of Mrs. Obama's remarks at the Walgreens.  Emanuel's press release on the summit is here.

*Top and third photo by Getty; second via Mayor Emanuel's office; other photo by AP

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Transcript: First Lady Michelle Obama's Remarks At Chicago Food Desert Summit

From a Walgreens drugstore on Chicago's South Side, near to where she grew up, First Lady Michelle Obama made the closing remarks on Tuesday afternoon for the food desert summit hosted by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. A FULL POST IS HERE.

Mrs. Obama spoke to community leaders and the group of eight Mayors invited to participate in the summit. The store is one of the outlets the company has revamped as part of its commitment to Mrs. Obama's campaign to eradicate food deserts, a goal that Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass said will be fully achieved by 2017. Earlier in the day, the Mayors participated in a roundtable discussion on food access with Kass and Emanuel, and they also enjoyed a food policy luncheon at mk The Restaurant.

At the event, Emanuel announced that the grocery chains Supervalu, Roundy's Supermarkets, Walmart and Aldi will open 17 grocery stores in the next few years, and Walgreens has made plans to add 19 expanded stores with fresh food in Chicago. Joined by Emanuel, Mrs. Obama toured Iron Street Urban Farm after her remarks. (Above: Mrs. Obama and Emanuel during the event)

The First Lady arrived in Chicago after a midday fundraising event for President Obama in Detroit, and she spoke at another fundraiser in Chicago on Tuesday evening.

The transcript:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the First Lady
______________________________

For Immediate Release
October 25, 2011

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
AT MAYOR'S SUMMIT ON FOOD DESERTS

Walgreens Store
Chicago, Illinois

2:55 P.M. CDT

MRS. OBAMA: Well, goodness. (Applause.) Keica, that was beautiful. You know, we can just stop right there. (Laughter.) That means so much to all of us, that statement. So we're just so happy for you, just so proud. Thank you so much for that kind introduction.

And I have to tell you, I'm thrilled to be -- I'm so glad that we're doing this here, at home, in Chicago. (Applause.) This is just -- it's a truly wonderful homecoming. And it's a good reason to be here. And we're not just anywhere -- we're on the South Side -- right? (Applause.) On the South Side. And I am just so proud and honored.

And I want to thank Greg for his leadership. You can just see how much it means to communities, to families, to individuals. So thank you. Thank you for taking the lead. Thank you for being bold. Thank you for hiring tremendous staff who have the kind of relationships with their customers and with the rest of the community. (Applause.)

And thank you to all the Walgreens staff. You all should be incredibly proud of yourselves. This is a great day for you, to celebrate you and all you do, and for being from the community. I know everybody is from this community as well.

And of course, I have to recognize my dear friend, and Chicago’s Mayor -- still getting used to that. (Laughter.)

MAYOR EMMANUEL: So am I. (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: Mayor Emmanuel -- Rahm -- this is tremendous. We've been talking about doing this for a while. I am glad that we're here. Your leadership means so much. This Mayor's Summit today is just an important step towards what we hope will be a national effort across this country for mayors and cities and towns.

And I also want to recognize Craig Herkert, who's here from SuperValu, as well. Thank you, Craig, for everything that SuperValu is doing to bring healthy food into this city and cities across America.

And I want to thank all the mayors. Many of you I've worked with individually. I've visited your cities -- and I hope to get to all of yours. I've met the kids in your communities. We danced, we played games. It is -- you are setting the tone for what this country can do for our children and our families. So we should applaud you all as well for your leadership. (Applause.)

So, of course, I can’t think of a better place to end this summit than here at this store in this community -- because the story of this Walgreens is a story that we want to be telling in cities and in towns all across this nation. As Keica said, before Walgreens started selling fruits and vegetables and other grocery items, there were not a whole lot of convenient places for people in certain communities to buy fresh produce. And a lot of folks wound up buying their groceries at gas stations at ridiculously high prices, not the right quality at times, or convenience stores, places with few, if any, healthy options.

And I saw this growing up in my own community, you know? Starting out with wonderful grocery stores and places to go -- you could walk down the street. But slowly, but surely, as the economy changed, many of these resources just disappeared into thin air. And this is true for so many communities across this country. This isn't just happening here in Chicago or on the South Side. In so many neighborhoods, if folks want to buy a head of lettuce for a salad, or some fruit for their kids' lunch, they'd have to take two or three buses, maybe pay for a taxi cab in order to do it, to go into a different community just to do the basics for their kids.

And a lot of people don’t have the time, and quite frankly, they don't have the money. That adds to the cost of doing the right thing for your family. So what we know in our shop is that we can talk all we want about making healthy choices, about the food we serve our kids, but the truth is if parents don’t have anywhere to buy these foods, then all of that is really just talk. And that's something that I don't like, is just talking about anything.

And that’s why, last spring, as part of our "Let's Move" initiative, we brought together non-profit organizations and grocery stores, both large and small, and we asked them one simple question. We asked them, what can we do, together, to start solving this problem?

And I'm happy to say that within a couple of months, we were getting some of those answers. And that's important for the community to know, is that people do want to do the right thing, particularly when it comes to the health of our children.

Back in July, we unveiled a new collaboration with Walgreens and Walmart, SuperValu, Calhoun Grocer, and Jeff Brown of Shoprite -- and the collaboration was to build or expand 1,500 stores in underserved areas. The Fresh Works Fund, which is a coalition of companies and non-profits, agreed to dedicate $200 million to this effort. And altogether, these companies believe that they will serve 9.5 million people currently living in food deserts and create tens of thousands of new jobs.

And since then we have seen other companies get on board. So it wasn’t just those first few. What we had hoped would happen was that with that leadership of those first few, others would step up to the plate. And that has happened. For example, right here in Chicago, ALDI has promised to work with local farms to buy produce directly from the community, as Rahm has mentioned. And both ALDI and Roundy’s are planning to open new stores as well.

And the leaders of these companies are making these investments -- which is important for the community -- though they're not doing this just as executives who care about their bottom lines. As Greg said, these folks are parents and they're grandparents, and they care about their kids and they care about our kids and our kids’ futures. So they're doing it for the greater good because they know how big the payoff can really be on things like this -- and not just in dollars, but in the lives of our families and communities. Stories like Keica's, they impact these business leaders.

Studies have shown that people who live in communities with greater access to supermarkets, they eat more fresh fruits and vegetables -- surprise. (Laughter.) And that can have a real impact on the health of our families.

I mean, truly, we all grew up in communities with grandmothers who cooked two, three vegetables that you had to eat. (Laughter.) There was no ifs, ands or buts about it. But that’s because many of our grandparents, they had community gardens; there was the vegetable man that came around. There were many other resources that allowed them to have access. So it’s not that people don't know or don't want to do the right thing; they just have to have access to the foods that they know will make their families healthier.

So these companies have really made a truly groundbreaking commitment. And that’s why it was important for me to be standing here with these companies, with these mayors.

But we’re here today because we all know that these companies cannot fulfill this commitment alone. They can do a lot, but they need support as well. We know that a company cannot just show up one day in a neighborhood and start building a supermarket. They can’t just scout out an empty lot and start setting up a farmers market. They need to meet land use and licensing requirements. They need tax incentives that make it worth their while -- their business interest to make it happen. They need public transportation that will bring customers to their doors. And most of all, they need to understand the needs of the community that they want to enter so that the people in those communities will come.

Keica comes here because Walgreens speaks to her. She has a relationship with the people here. And the only way that companies can get that understanding is to connect with those communities and understand where they’re coming from.

And that’s where all of the mayors come in. That’s where all of you come in. And I’m not just talking about how you, as mayors, can help with things like zoning and permitting and public safety –- and all that’s critical. I’m also talking about how you can use your bully pulpit -- your platform as mayors.

And that might mean doing something like this -- convening other people, other non-profits, foundations, corporations to help pitch in. It might mean mobilizing community support by working with civic groups and parent groups and health advocates and neighborhood leaders who are engaged with this issue on the ground, and making clear that everyone has a role to play on issues like this.

It might mean planting community gardens in your cities and towns, or bringing in fresh produce trucks, or finding other creative ways to get healthy food into more neighborhoods. And that’s what Mayor Emmanuel has done here in Chicago. As he’s said, he is bringing more urban farms -- and more jobs on those farms -- into underserved communities by passing the urban agriculture bill that’s created fish and plant systems across the city that sell their goods to local stores and restaurants that normally wouldn’t have been able to do that without the bill. And that, in turn, is creating jobs here in the city. So it’s very important work.

And we also have people like Mayor Lozano, who’s here from Baldwin Park, California, who we worked with for a good part of the “Let’s Move” initiative. And in that area, their motto is -- and this is a quote -- “Health is the heart of business." Health is the heart of business. And they’re proactively seeking out grocery stores to serve as anchors in new development areas.

So the notion is you don't start a new development without the basics, like food and places for kids to play and to walk. They’ve offered low-interest loans to these stores to attract them into areas, and they’ve expedited the paperwork so that construction can begin more quickly for these new stores. And they worked with one grocer to design a new floor plan where healthier items would be more prominently displayed for shoppers -- because people know if they see it, they buy it. So if we put the apples up front instead of the candy up front, that’s what mom is going to pick up, or the kids are going to ask for.

These are just examples that show us that success here doesn’t have to cost a whole lot of money, because there are wonderful ideas that can be implemented that don't require more money. And it’s certainly not about government telling people what to do. That is not what “Let’s Move” is about, and that’s not what anyone here is talking about.

We also know that no one-size-fits-all solution is going to work. Every community and every city and every town are different, but they all have one thing in common -- they all have leaders like all of you who have joined us today who have the power to make a real difference. And really, that’s all that’s needed, sometimes, is a little power and a little will.

And if we think about it for a minute, just imagine what we could achieve if mayors across the country started taking on this issue. Just really think about it. Every mayor of every town, large and small, just said, I’m going to put this issue -- the health of our children -- on the top of the priority list. Think about all the jobs that would be created. As we’re seeing here, we just multiply that across the country. Think about all the neighborhoods that could be transformed, because people want to live in communities where they have resources. And a grocery store -- a good-quality grocery store -- is the first step.

And think about what it means when our children finally get -- all of our children -- finally get the nutrition they need to grow up healthy. Think about what that means for the health of our nation -- the health care system -- when healthy kids grow up to become healthy adults -- adults who are less likely to suffer from illnesses like diabetes and heart disease or cancer, that cost us billions of dollars a year.

Think about what it means for our economy when kids have the nutrition they need to focus in the classroom. Because starting out with that apple really makes a difference in terms of how kids focus and are ready to learn. And what it means as they grow up into adults with the energy and the stamina to succeed in the workplace and to go on to succeed in life. And if we transform children’s eating habits today, think about the effect that will have on how they feed their own children in the years to come.

And that’s really why we start with kids. Sometimes, grownups, we’re a little bit hard -- we’re a little hardheaded. Kids, you start them out early, they don't develop those bad habits and they have the information they need for their kids.

So make no mistake about it -- we’re not just making this generation of kids healthier, but we’re talking about the next generation as well. And that’s huge. That’s the kind of impact that all of you here can have; all of you here are having. So don't underestimate the power of what is going on here, especially to the employees and people who live in the community. This is big stuff.

So I hope that all of you will continue to lead the way. I hope that the country and the nation that is watching will decide to pick up this issue and find a way to make it work in their communities. Because I know we can make a difference -- we’re already seeing it. If I can tell you how many kids come up to me and tell me that, because of “Let’s Move” they’re eating different, they’ve got their families eating different. Kids lead the way. They make us do for ourselves what we would never do on our own -- right?

So we are making progress. And with the help of our leaders -- the continued help of our leaders -- we can expand this in such a grand way, and really change the fate of our children and of our nation.

So I’m so proud of all of you. This has been just a wonderful reason to come back home. And let’s keep up the good work.

Thank you all. Congratulations. (Applause.)

END 3:12 P.M. CDT
##

*Photo by Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune

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Chicago: Mayors, Experts Talk Policy At Let's Move! Food Desert Summit Lunch

At mk The Restaurant, a four-course lunch menu spotlights sustainable local agriculture as Sam Kass and Mayor Emanuel lead policy discussion...
UPDATE: CLICK HERE for a full post about the day's events
During the first-ever Let's Move! food desert summit in Chicago on Tuesday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel hosted a luncheon at mk The Restaurant. Joined by Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass and the eight Mayors invited to the summit, Emanuel led a policy confab over a four-course lunch that starred organic and sustainably sourced foods. Lunch came after the Mayors met with Kass, Emanule and Obama Administration officials for a discussion of improving community food access during a roundtable at Iron Street Urban Farm, the Chicago headquarters for Growing Power, run by Erika Allen. The lunch was in mk's airy atrium dining room, where guests were seated at one long table. (Above: Kass, at left, was seated at the center of the table beside Emanuel)

The Mayoral group was joined by urban farmers and food access advocates, and the discussion focused on the importance of creating and supporting policies for urban agriculture in an effort to eliminate food deserts. First Lady Michelle Obama has a goal of eradicating America's food deserts by 2017, and it will "absolutely" be achieved, according to Kass. The Mayors, Kass and Emanuel joined Mrs. Obama at a Walgreens following the lunch, where she closed the summit with remarks. (Above: Emanuel speaks about his bill to support urban agriculture; Kass is at left; Let's Move! Executive Director Judy Palfrey is second from Emanuel's right)

Owned by executive chef Michael Kornick, mk utilizes produce and fish grown in urban agriculture projects. The lunch menu went further afield, and featured Snake River sturgeon, Maine diver scallops, accompanied by a heady selection of locally grown vegetables (full menu, below).

A video screen was set up at one end of the table, and there were presentations about urban farming projects during the meal. Emanuel discussed his new bill that supports urban agriculture, while Allen spoke about Chicago's green economy and improving food access. The Mayors stood and discussed initiatives in their communities, too. (Above: Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak speaks about the importance of supporting farms that are local to cities)

Among the speakers were John Edel from Chicago's The Plant, who spoke about vertical farming. The organization is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting sustainable food production, entrepreneurship, and building reuse through education, research and development. It is headquartered in a 93,500 sq. ft. retired meatpacking facility, which is being transformed into a net-zero energy vertical farm.

Rick Bayless, chef/owner of Chicago's Topolobampo and Frontera Grill, and founder of the Frontera Foundation, discussed urban agriculture. Bayless was the second guest chef at the White House for a State Dinner, joining the White House chefs in 2010 to create the menu in honor of Mexico's President Felipe Calderon. (Above: Kass, his back to the camera, listens as Bayless speaks to the group)

Emmanuel Pratt, executive director of Sweet Water Organics (SWO) in Milwaukee, WI, spoke about aquaponics. SWO is an urban fish and vegetable farm started in 2008, and located in a former crane factory that has been transformed into an "urban wetland." SWO grows various lettuce crops and basil, watercress, tomatoes, peppers, chard, and spinach, and raises tilapia and perch.

The Mayors invited to the summit included Joseph Curtatone of Somerville, MA; R. T. Rybak of Minneapolis, MN; Mick Cornett of Oklahoma City, OK; Heather Hudson of Greenville, MS; Willis "Chip" Johnson of Hernando, MS; Manuel Lozano of Baldwin Park, CA; Tom Barrett of Milwaukee, WI; and Stephanie Rawlings-Blake of Baltimore, MD. (Above: Erika Allen makes remarks; Kass and Emanuel are at right)

Attending the lunch from the Obama Administration were Let's Move! Executive Director Dr. Judy Palfrey; HHS’s Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh, and Matt Josephs with the US Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.

Food Access Summit Lunch

First

Maine diver sea scallops

Nichols farm shallot

Truffled brussels sprouts

Comer Gardens peppercress

Second

Pumpkin bisque

Green Acres red kuri squash bisque Pumpkin seed brittle

Third

Snake River sturgeon

Green Acres spaghetti squash,

Kilgus Dairy juniper yogurt

City Farms nasturtium

Dessert

Mick Klug deep dish apple pie

Taffy apple semifreddo

Above: The dessert in all its glory.

Information: mk The Restaurant is at located at 868 N. Franklin, Chicago, Illinois. Phone: (312) 482-9179.

*Photos courtesy of mk The Restaurant. Click HERE for more photos from the event.

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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 Sends Let's Move! Delegation To United Nations Health Summit

Dr. Judy Palfrey, Let's Move! Executive Director, blogs about the event...
In New York last week, as President Obama addressed the 66th session of the United Nation's General Assembly, First Lady Obama's Let's Move! team was at the UN too. On Sept. 19 and 20th, the UN held its first-ever High Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, which brought together global leaders for a summit focusing on cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases and diabetes. Let's Move! Executive Director Dr. Judy Palfrey and members of the Let's Move! team acted as delegates for the summit, where there was much discussion of diets, food systems, and obesity. Palfrey posted about the experience on the Let's Move! blog, noting that the team was "inspired." The post is reprinted in full, below. (Above: Palfrey)

"We were...struck by the commitment of the leaders of many nations that they want to prevent the health consequences of the obesity epidemic that is literally growing worldwide," Palfrey wrote.

One thing Palfrey doesn't mention in her blogpost: On the eve of the summit, UN human rights expert Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Olivier De Schutter called on the global community to take "immediate and decisive action" against food corporations that produce unhealthy foods. De Schutter said nations must understand that "taxing unhealthy food, regulating harmful marketing practices and standing up to the food industry" are crucial to eliminating preventable diseases, especially diabetes and obesity.
"Our food systems create sick people: failure to act decisively on this issue kills almost 3 million adults each year," De Schutter said. "Voluntary guidelines are not enough."

The Obama Administration--despite being criticized by the GOP for over regulation--does not follow De Schutter's definition of "decisive action" in obesity policy.  There are currently no plans to tax unhealthy foods.  Regulating food marketing to children has come in the form of "voluntary principles" from the FTC (currently under furious assault from the GOP and food/media corporations).

And the White House, led by Mrs. Obama, has engaged stakeholders from across the food industry for voluntary commitments to changing unhealthy foods, which includes trimming fat, salt and sugar content in products, and building markets in food deserts.


Read De Schutter's full statement here. The only other time the UN has held a summit on health was for HIV/Aids.

Palfrey's blogpost:

O What a Wonderful World!
By Dr. Judy Palfrey

On September 19, for first time in history, world leaders met at the United Nations in a High Level Meeting called to begin addressing diabetes, heart disease and cancer on Global scale. One after another the Presidents, Prime Ministers, Health Ministers and other dignitaries stood in front of the UN symbol of peace pledged their resolve to address the root cause of many of these diseases -- overweight and obesity.

As delegates to the high level meeting, a number of us from the Let's Move! team had the honor of meeting people from all over the world who are committed to improving the nutrition and fitness of children and families and to prevent the early onset of chronic health problems.

We were inspired by stories of countries that are examining the availability of fresh foods and the opportunities for young children to play and explore the world. We were also struck by the commitment of the leaders of many nations that they want to prevent the health consequences of the obesity epidemic that is literally growing worldwide.

One of the people we met at the UN meeting was Isabella Platon, the Director of the International Diabetes Federation. As a mother, she has come up with a beautiful way to raise her own children in a global context that celebrates the world's diversity and the beauty of good food and culture. She and her 2 children have identified simple recipes from 195 countries that they can prepare together at home. They are "traveling around the globe" as they chop onions and chillies and tomatoes and prepare rice and beans and spring rolls together. It is at home and in our communities that we can learn about each other and support our children in having fun, learning about the world and keeping healthy.

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Dr. Palfrey Blogs About Let's Move! Campaign

"It will take a patient, concerted effort...to get this job done"
Dr. Judith Palfrey, who went to work at the White House on Sept 6th as Executive Director of First Lady Obama's Let's Move! campaign, has published her first post on the Let's Move! blog. A respected pediatrician, Palfrey joined Mrs. Obama at the White House on February 9, 2010, to launch the national initiative. In her blogpost, Palfrey reflects on the historic day, and says she is honored to be coordinating the First Lady's efforts.

To work with Mrs. Obama and her team, Palfrey went on leave from Harvard Medical School, where she is the T. Berry Brazelton Professor of Pediatrics. When Let's Move! was launched, Palfrey was the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. (Palfrey, above)

Let's Move! Together
By Dr. Judith Palfrey

In February of 2010, I had an experience that was the thrill of a lifetime. Standing with members of the President’s cabinet, Members of Congress, mayors from across the nation and leaders from the media, sports, entertainment, and business communities, I had the honor of representing the medical community at the launch of Let's Move! That day, the President signed a Presidential Memorandum creating the first ever Task Force on Childhood Obesity, and the First Lady explained how Let's Move! would reverse the trend of staggering increases in childhood obesity and restore our children's health within one generation.

Like everything else about Let's Move!, the launch was action oriented. First Lady Michelle Obama emphasized that Let's Move! is about great nutrition and activity, but she made clear that the name meant much more than an individual encouragement to be physically active. Let's Move! means we that we should not get stuck in our old ways. Let's Move! means that it’s up to us to join together to work on this problem.

The First Lady is calling on everyone to get involved. She knows that the American people are deeply committed to children and families and have the capacity to turn the tide for the better. Let's Move! calls on people (families, children and communities), the public society and private enterprise to work together in new ways and to find intersections of common interest that assure that our children have access to the best that our country can offer...delicious, healthy foods, open spaces, safe places to play and express themselves and loving adults to nurture and support them throughout their formative years.

The problem of childhood obesity is a difficult one and as the First Lady has pointed out we did not get into this situation overnight. It will take a patient, concerted effort and people working together to get this job done. I’m honored to help that effort as Executive Director of Let’s Move!

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Check out the Let's Move! blog at Letsmove.gov.

*Photo from the American Academy of Pediatrics

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