Healthy Kids

Remarks by the First Lady at California Endowment “Building Healthier Communities” event

2:43 P.M. PDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, everyone.  Thank you so much.  It is -- (applause) -- thank you, guys.  (Applause.)  All right, you all are crazy.  (Laughter.) 
 
I am just delighted to be here.  I can’t tell you -- as much as I love living in Washington, there is nothing that I love better than getting out of Washington -- (laughter) -- particularly when it means coming to such a beautiful community with such energy and passion.  So I am happy to be here. 
 
I want to start by thanking Rosa for her wonderful introduction, for her terrific leadership in community service.  We are so very proud of you.  Let’s give her a big hand.  (Applause.)  Thank you, Rosa.
 
And I just want to also acknowledge a few people, as well.  I’m honored to be joined by the Lieutenant Governor -- it’s so good to see you, thank you for your work -- as well as the State Controller.  Wonderful to see you.  Thank you so much for taking the time to be here. 
 
I know that the mayor had to leave, but I want to thank he and his wife for being here.  I know that the one thing I heard over there, when I was touring the plots -- more land!  (Applause.)  More land.  (Applause.)  But he’s done a terrific job, and I just want to thank all the city officials here for making this visit wonderful.  To all of the elected officials who are here, thank you for your work, your leadership, your energy.
 
I want to thank Bob Montgomery and Amy Lint from the New Roots Community Farm.  Yay!  (Applause.)  They’re doing a fabulous job, and proud of their work, and full of the kind of energy that you need to get this thing going. 
 
And I want to again acknowledge the 14 community leaders who are here, the Building Healthy Community partners who are representing all segments of this state.  Don’t let Dr. Ross use that picture as any kind of leverage.  (Laughter.)  You get the picture and hassle him when you need to, right?  (Laughter.)  I know they will.
 
We are just proud of the work that you’re doing.  And I know that everyone could not be here, but I know that you’ll send back my excitement, my gratitude, and just assure them that we’re supporting the work that they’re doing.  It is a model for the nation, for the world.  So thank you.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.) 
 
And finally, I want to thank my dear friend, Dr. Bob Ross and -- (applause) -- yes, yes -- (applause) -- as well as all the folks from the California Endowment who have joined us today.  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  We’ve been plotting this for a little bit, right?  (Laughter.)  He’s been such a wonderful partner.
 
For more than 30 years, as a pediatrician, a professor, a public health administrator, and an advocate, Dr. Ross has worked tirelessly to give all of our kids the kind of healthy start that they deserve.  He has been a tremendous asset not just to the state of California but to this nation.
 
And no matter how he’s served, Dr. Ross has always had a knack for bringing people together -- that’s been his MO --- hospitals, non-profits, businesses, elected officials, you name it –- bringing people together constantly to tackle some of the toughest public health challenges that we face here in our country.
 
So I think it’s fitting that we’re all here today and that he’s leading the charge to take on yet another challenge.  And it is one, as you know, that I care about deeply not just because I’m the First Lady, but I am a mother of beautiful children.  (Applause.)  When I look at children, I see my kids.  And I know that we have to work now to start to curb the epidemic of childhood obesity in this nation.
 
We all know that this phenomenon is relatively recent.  It is not something that has been a challenge for us all this time.  This is a new issue, because as I said time and time again, back when we were growing up, we naturally led reasonably healthy lives.  It’s just the way we had to function.  It kept us healthier than we could imagine.
 
Most of us lived in communities and went to schools in our communities, so we walked to school.  So if nothing else, you were getting exercise just walking to and from school.  Everyone had recess and gym.  It was not an option; it was mandatory.  No one liked it.  Some of us did it, but you had to do it.  And that also gave us a sense of movement that we’d lost.  And at home, we had some pretty simple rules, particularly at dinner.  You ate what was put before you, period.  No choices, no options, no discussion.  And if you didn't, you just went to bed hungry.  (Laughter.)  We all know that.  My mother pretends like she didn’t apply those rules, but she did.  (Laughter.) 
 
And many kids today aren’t so fortunate.  For many kids, those walks to school have been replaced by car or bus rides because it’s either not safe or they’re going to schools that are far away.  School budget cuts mean the so-called “extras” like P.E. and recess are often the first things that go, meaning that our kids are doing a lot less running around during the day, and they’re living and existing in a more sedentary life.  And the truth is, is that parents are busy and struggling and working hard, many of them working multiple jobs.  That is just the truth.  People are working harder than ever.  And oftentimes the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables, they keep going up, so many families can’t afford to purchase the foods that they know that they need.
 
And it is unfair to look to families and tell them to do something better for their children that they can’t afford or don’t have access to.  So today, many parents really feel like the deck is stacked against them.  They want to do the best for their kids.  All of us do -- parents, grandparents, all of us. 
 
But it just seems like the odds are against us.  They know their children’s health is their responsibility, but sometimes they feel like the whole issue is just out of their control.  They’re trying to do the right thing, but they’re bombarded by contradictory information at every turn –- and they don’t really know who or what to believe.  Labels are tough to work through.  And sometimes what we prepared when we were young have a different impact physically on our children today.
 
So that’s why, two months ago, we launched the “Let’s Move!” campaign.  (Applause.)  And we launched it with the help of so many partners.  As you know, this is a nationwide campaign with one single but very ambitious goal, and that's to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation so that children born today grow up at a healthy weight with a different set of habits and a different set of beliefs about how to live their lives.
 
As part of this initiative, we’ve issued a call to action to get things going all throughout the nations -- nation.
 
And we’re working with so many different groups.  We’re working with pediatricians, and food manufacturers, with the FDA to give parents the information they need to make healthy decisions for their kids.  And we’ve created a Web site, letsmove.gov, to help provide those helpful tips, step-by-step strategies that parents need to get on the right track to eat well and to stay fit. 
We’re working to get healthier food into our schools.  This is an important initiative.  Most of our kids these days are getting a lot of their calories at school, and by strengthening legislation that supports our federal school meal programs, we can go a long way to changing the eating habits of our children.  (Applause.) 
And we’re also working with several major food suppliers to get them to do their part -- to decrease sugar, fat and salt not just in school meals but in all the foods that we eat, and to increase fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  And we’re getting them to think about how they market to our kids, as well.
One important goal in this initiative is we’re working to eliminate “food deserts.”  And you all know what “food deserts” are -- communities that don’t have access to any fresh produce or grocery stores.  There are so many of them that exist throughout this country.  Millions of children are living in “food deserts.”  And our goal is to completely eliminate those by bringing grocery stores and farmers markets into underserved areas so that our families have access to the kind of healthy food, the affordable food, that they’re going to need.  And there are many examples in communities around this country, showing how they’re bringing these resources back into communities.
And finally we cannot forget the whole key to “Let’s Move,” and that's moving.  (Laughter.)  We have to get our kids moving again.  And we’re revamping the President’s physical fitness challenge.  That's coming up.  We’re going to be working with professional athletes from dozens of sports leagues to inspire kids to stay physically fit and active.  So if you see me hula hooping and jumping around like I’m crazy, I am.  (Laughter.)  But it’s a lot of fun, and, you know, it just shows that parents taking the lead, doing simple things with their kids, jumping around, dancing, sweating, turning on music, can make a big difference in their lives.
But we’ve also known from the very beginning that the solution to our childhood obesity crisis isn’t going to just come from Washington.  I have talked to a lot of experts about this issue, and not a single one of them has said that the answer is to have federal government telling people what to do.  That never works. 
Instead, as I’ve traveled across this country, one thing that has become very clear is that we already have many of the solutions to childhood obesity right at our fingertips.  There are so many communities in this country that are doing some innovative things.  And our goal is to find those folks in those communities who are already running some of the most innovative and creative and effective programs out there, and to do our job to highlight those successes and to share those successes so that they become models for the rest of the country and perhaps even the rest of the world. 
And that's why just last week we hosted a summit at the White House for members of our childhood obesity task force so that they could gather with experts around the country and get some new ideas from all across the country.  We heard from doctors about the role of prenatal care in determining a child’s health.  We can’t underestimate that as an important factor. 
We heard from teachers about the need for schools and suppliers to think about how the food that’s -- that are served are, again, marketed to kids.  That's the key:  How are we talking to our children and our parents about healthy eating?
And we also heard from community advocates about the creative ways that our cities and towns are transforming urban environments into oases for growing fresh fruits and vegetables, just like we’re doing here.
That’s why a new foundation, The Partnership for a Healthier America, was created –- to help support these kind of efforts.  This foundation is really key to this movement.  It’s going to serve as an independent, non-partisan player that’s going to mobilize and continue to coordinate businesses, foundations, state and local governments, community leaders, the media and others to help with the key goals that come out of the task force for “Let’s Move!”
And it’s no surprise that the California Endowment signed right on board to be a beginning player in this foundation.  (Applause.)  The Partnership is designed to do just what the Endowment has been doing for years, so it makes sense that they’ve been such an important partner.  The goal is to address problems at their root and help folks around the country turn good ideas into something bigger.  That's what the California Endowment is trying to do.  That's the mission of this partnership.
And today, I’m pleased that the California Endowment is once again leading the way with their new plan to create healthier, more active communities all across this state with this fabulous new “Building Healthy Communities” initiative that’s based on a simple idea –- that healthy children come from a place; a place that is a healthy community. 
If a family lives in a neighborhood with a grocery store nearby, it is simple -- they’re more likely to put fresh fruits and vegetables on the table because they’ll have access to it.  If there’s safe, inviting parks down the street, parents are going to be more likely to let their kids play.  They’re going to be more likely to go to that park with them and enjoy being outdoors.  And if our environment is clean and pollution-free, children are less likely to get sick, being outside, and they’re more likely to spend time outside.  These are not complicated principles.
But this isn’t just about good ideas and good intentions.  It’s about serious investments that make a lasting difference for our kids.  And that is why the California Endowment is investing $1 billion -– that’s billion with a “b” –- (applause) -- pretty amazing -- in these 14 California communities across this state to support people and programs that will help our kids lead active, healthy lives right from the beginning.  So you all have a lot of money.  And that's good.  (Laughter.)  That's really, really good.  It’s never enough; it isn’t.  And that's the point.  Money alone won’t do it.  But money is an important first start.
The investments that will be made will go to folks like Dennis and Michelle Mineni.  Did I pronounce that right?  Are they here?  They’re not here.  But they run the Merced Flea and Farmers Market.  They’ve run it for more than 10 years.  And Dennis and Michelle, I understand, are working with the state to ensure that their customers can use food stamps to buy fresh produce at much lower prices than at supermarkets or convenience stores.  (Applause.)  That's something that we’ve heard throughout this campaign.  We have to make sure that everyone has access to farmers markets.  This initiative that Michelle and Dennis are promoting is an example of the right thing to do that's already happening.
The Endowment is also investing in people like the students from Chula Vista who realized that the park that they played in growing up was now too dangerous for other kids to use.  So what did they do?  They worked with local leaders to fix up that park.  And now it’s cleaner and busier than ever before, and now they’re ready to move on to the next park.  That's what our young people are doing.  (Applause.) 
The Endowment is also investing in people like the teachers from Willard Intermediary School in Santa Ana who turned the school’s old wood shop into a fitness center and are now working to combine gym class and science classes, which is something that we can do -- exercise and learning, go figure, they go hand in hand -- teaching students about heart rate and exercise science through personalized fitness programs.
And the Endowment is also investing in people like the farmers here today.  The stories of these farmers are amazing.  A group of refugees from around the world who founded the New Roots Community Farm right here in City Heights, it is just a phenomenal initiative.  (Applause.)  And what it shows is that although these farmers come from different corners of the globe, they all recognized a common problem right here in America as they have immigrated:  that for many refugees like themselves, tight budgets and the lack of supermarkets often meant that folks were skipping fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets and settling for fast food.  That’s -- that has been the natural trend -- transition.  And that's what’s happened to many of us.  And as a result, many recent immigrants were suffering from high cholesterol and high blood pressure, diseases that they were not dealing with before, migrating here.
So the folks here today got to work.  They saw this problem, they understood the connection, and they got to work.  And after organizing and speaking out and raising money, they broke ground on the garden.  And along with other farmers from places like Somalia, and Uganda, and Kenya, and Cambodia, and Vietnam, Mexico and Guatemala, and many, many more places, they have come together.  (Applause.) 
And at first, they weren’t sure whether people from so many different backgrounds and cultures would get along farming -– especially since the garden only had two hoses, I understand, when it started, to share and the farmers often didn’t speak the same language.
But day by day, and little by little, neighbors started sharing their vegetables.  They started exchanging recipes.  They started losing weight.  And they started recognizing the hopes and dreams they all held in common, just through a plot of land and some vegetables -- these hopes to make a home for themselves here in this country; and to keep their families healthy at the same time; and to give their kids a better life.  Simple values.  Simple shared values.  And together, what they proved is that food is truly the universal language of this planet.
And that’s what “Let’s Move!” and the Building Healthy Communities initiative is really all about.  It’s about giving people the tools that they need to make healthy choices for themselves and for their families.  It’s about realizing that the best ideas don’t come from Sacramento or Washington, DC, but they come from communities large and small all across this country.  And it’s about recognizing the simple truth that giving our children a healthy future starts one person, one family, one community at a time.
You truly are doing extraordinary work.  It is a privilege for me to be able to come here with all the press to highlight what is going on in this simple plot of land.  This is what we need to be doing in communities all across the country.  And the truth is the world is watching these efforts.  We’re not alone in these struggles.  This is happening.  These changes in diets and health are happening in communities across the globe.  And through your effort and your leadership, your coordination, your vision, your determination, we’re beginning, step by step, to find the solutions that are going to make sure that all of these kids behind us have the kind of future that we want for them.
So thank you.  We’re so proud of you.  And it is an honor for me to be here.  Thank you so much.  And thank you to the Endowment.  (Applause.)

END
3:03 P.M. PDT

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Remarks by the First Lady at Youth Forum — Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, Mexico

2:19 P.M. (Local)

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)    Good afternoon, and thank you so much.  Thank you, Jaime, for that very kind and profound introduction.  It is such a pleasure and an honor to be in this beautiful country, at this great university, with so many outstanding young people from all across Mexico.  

Let me start by thanking your First Lady, Mrs. Margarita Zavala.  (Applause.)  I want to thank her for her tremendous kindness not just to me but to my family.  She is smart.  She is tough.  She is passionate.  And she is my friend.  We’ve had a wonderful time together, both here in Mexico and during her visits to the United States.  And I look forward to welcoming her and her husband, President Calderón, to Washington for a state dinner next month.  And I told her to prepare to have fun.  (Laughter.) 

I also want to recognize the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ambassador Pascual.  And I want to thank the rector of this school, Dr. Jose Morales Orozco, for his leadership and for hosting me here today.  And finally, I want to thank all of the people of this country for your incredible warmth and hospitality during my visit here.  From the moment I arrived, I felt like I was entre amigos –- (laughter) -- which is only natural given the close and enduring friendship between our two nations.   

Mexico is home to more U.S. citizens living abroad than anywhere else in the world, and tens of millions of Americans trace their roots right here to this country.  And for generations, Mexico and the U.S. have been bound together not just by a shared border, but by shared values and aspirations -– devotion to family and to faith; a willingness to work hard and to sacrifice for our children; a commitment to democracy rooted in struggles for independence that have defined our nations.   

So when it came time for me to decide where to make my first solo international trip as First Lady, the choice was clear:  Mexico, por supuesto!  (Applause.) 

And there’s also a reason why I wanted to come here to the Ibero and speak with all of you.  It’s the same reason why, when my husband travels abroad to talk about the challenges we face –- from extremism to nuclear weapons, from poverty and hunger to climate change and to pandemics –- he doesn’t just meet with presidents and prime ministers.  He doesn’t just visit palaces and parliaments.  He goes to schools and to universities and he meets with young people just like all of you.

And this isn’t an accident.  Today, we’re seeing what has come to be called a “youth bulge” –- an explosion of the youth population in nations around the world.  And here in Mexico, nearly half the population is under the age of 25.  In the Middle East, it’s 60 percent.  And young people between the ages of 15 and 24 alone now make up 20 percent of the world’s citizens.  This is the largest group in history making the transition to adulthood.  

And the fact is, is that responsibility for meeting the defining challenges of our time will soon fall to all of you.  Soon, the world will be looking to your generation to make the discoveries and to build the industries that will fuel our prosperity and ensure our well-being for decades to come. 

We’re going to be looking to your generation to seize the promise of clean energy to power our economies and preserve our planet for your children and your grandchildren.  We’re going to be looking to your generation to find the courage and the patience to resolve the conflicts and to heal the divides that plague our world.

And I’m here today because I believe that all of you, and your peers around the world, are more ready than ever to meet these challenges.  More than any generation in history, you all are able to access information and connect with one another in ways that my generation could never have imagined.  With the click of a button, you can exchange thoughts on any issue with people just about anywhere in the world.  You have an unprecedented ability to organize and to mobilize to challenge old assumptions, and to bridge old divides, and to find new solutions to our toughest problems.  

And it is because of this immense promise that I intend to focus my international work as First Lady on engaging young people just like you all around the world.  
My husband and I know all too well that meeting the challenges that we will face will depend on whether we effectively tap into your God-given potential –- whether we fully benefit from the industry and the energy and the perspectives of young people from every background and every nation.  Because we know that ambition and ability are found in every corner of the globe.  The question is, how do we ensure that opportunity is, too?  

Now, my husband and President Calderon are working hard to rebuild our education systems, to revive our economies, and to create new opportunities for young people in both of our nations.  But leaders and governments can’t shoulder this responsibility alone.  Ordinary citizens must share the responsibility as well -– and that includes young people.

And it’s not just enough just to change laws and policies.  We must also change our perceptions about who can and who can’t succeed.  We have to confront the wrong and outdated ideas and assumptions that only certain young people deserve to be educated; or that girls aren’t as capable as boys; or that some young people are less worthy of opportunities because of their religion or disability or ethnicity or socioeconomic class -- because we have seen time and again that potential can be found in some of the most unlikely places. 

My husband and I are living proof of that.  We both came from very modest backgrounds.  Our families were not wealthy.  My parents never went to college.  My husband never really knew his father and was raised by a young single mother who struggled to pay the bills. 

And like many kids with backgrounds like ours, we faced challenges:  the sting of low expectation; the constant doubts about whether we could succeed, and whether we were even worth the effort.  You see, back when we were young, no one could have predicted that one day we would become the President and First Lady of the United States of America.  

But we were lucky and more importantly we were blessed.  We had families who believed in us.  We had teachers who pushed us.  We had universities that saw our potential and gave us opportunity.  And we worked as hard as we could.  We learned as much as we could.  And as a result, we were prepared and we were poised to pursue our dreams.  

And our stories are not unique.  They’re the stories of countless young people in Mexico, in the United States, and around the world who’ve worked hard and they’ve defied the odds.  They’re the stories of young people throughout history who’ve succeeded not because of their trust fund, or pedigree, or their test scores, but because of challenges that tested and motivated them and made them who they are, and because someone somewhere believed in them and helped them believe in themselves.

When he was orphaned at a young age and sought work as a servant, no one could have imagined that Benito Juarez would one day become one of Mexico’s greatest presidents.  But thanks to a Franciscan friar who helped him join a seminary and get an education, he was able to realize his gifts.

One of my country’s greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was born in a one-room log cabin in the woods –- but was lucky enough to have a teacher who taught him how to write and debate.

And then there’s Joan of Arc, the daughter of a peasant farmer who tried to persuade anyone who would listen that she could rescue the French army from defeat.  And when a prince finally believed her, that’s exactly what she did.  

You see, throughout our world history, it has so often been that unlikely hero, that unusual perspective, that improbable journey that has been the key to our progress.  So when we dismiss any of our young people, when we fail to tap into their potential, we risk losing their promise.  And just think of the inventions and the cures that are never discovered, the great works of art and literature that are never created, the great acts of courage and leadership that never grace this world.   

But this isn’t just about discovering those few extraordinary folks who still or will change the course of history.  It’s also about breaking down barriers across the globe so that all our young people can learn and work and be productive members of our societies.  It’s about seeking the perspectives and experiences of young people from every background –- those new ideas that make our businesses more productive, our cultures more vibrant, and our governments more open and free.  

But in order to do this –- in order to open up opportunities for more young people –- the truth is that those of you who already have a seat at the table must do your part to make room for others who don’t.  Young people around the world must reach out to help others realize their talents and make their voices heard.

Now, I understand that in these difficult economic times here in Mexico, the United States, and around the world, many young people are struggling and nothing is guaranteed.  And even young people like those of you who have the privilege of attending a university like this may be feeling a bit uncertain about your futures. 

Some of you may be worried about whether you’ll even be able to build careers of your own.  And you may be tempted -- tempted to focus solely on your individual success, take your diploma, get you the best job you can, and never look back.  

But before you do that, I hope that you’ll just think, just for a moment, think about the mission statement of this university, and that is to prepare students, and I quote, “to engage in service to others and develop and spread knowledge to achieve a free, fair, united and productive society.”  

I hope that you’ll think of those words from the Bible -– that to whom much is given, much is required.  And I hope that you’ll think of all those who’ve shaped our history by heeding these words.

Imagine if Mahatma Ghandi had led a comfortable existence as a lawyer instead of leading the struggle for the rights of his countrymen and his nation’s independence –- work he started when he was in his twenties.  Imagine if Nelson Mandela had chosen a life of leisure as the son of a tribal leader instead of joining the ANC at the age of 24, and enduring decades behind bars to end apartheid. Imagine if Mother Teresa had never answered her calling and ventured into the streets of Calcutta to tend to those in desperate need.  

Now, I’m not saying that you have to take a vow of poverty or lead a movement.  But I am asking you to do something -– whether through your career, or as a volunteer –- do something to ensure that other young people have the opportunities they deserve as well.  That’s what folks like you are doing every day all across the globe, and right here in Mexico.

Alberto Salvador from Guanajuato was born deaf and was at first denied admission to elementary school because of his disability.  But he completed high school with honors, got a degree in the United States, and then returned here to Mexico where he mentors deaf children and will soon be starting his job as a teacher.

And then there’s Mariana Vazquez del Mercado, who’s finishing law school at Universidad Panamericana.  And she spends hours volunteering in a free legal clinic and she also directs an organization that builds housing for struggling families.  Of her work, she says -- and this is a quote:  “The goal is to show that despite being young, we are sufficiently responsible and aware.” 

Alberto Irezabal, who graduated from the Ibero last year, used his service project to help an indigenous community in Chiapas better produce and sell their locally grown coffee.  And of his work, he says -- this is also a quote:  “I believe we have a responsibility to see that our projects succeed, not just for ourselves, but for our country.” 

Each and every one of these young people is working to break down barriers and to open doors.  Each of them is giving others the chances they’ve had to succeed.  But also let’s be clear –- I’m not just talking to the university students who are here today.  I am also talking to young people here in Mexico, and the United States, and around the world who feel like they have no place at universities like this.  

And I have met so many young people in so many places who have so much to offer, but because of where they’re born, or the family they’re born into, or the circumstances of their lives, they begin to doubt themselves.  They begin to feel like they don’t belong, or they’re not prepared, or they won’t measure up –- so they shouldn’t even try.

Now while I was fortunate to have so many opportunities in my own life, I can certainly understand those feelings.  See, when I first went to college, I was filled with self-doubt.  I was convinced that everyone else was smarter than I was –- and I felt like I just didn’t fit in.  But I soon realized that I was just as capable, and had just as much to contribute, as my classmates.  All I needed was a little confidence in myself to make that happen.

Now, it’s true, it is so true, that some of you might have to work a lot harder to get what you want.  You might face many more obstacles and setbacks.  But I want you to know that you belong in places like this just as much as anyone.  You have just as much to offer as anyone else.  All you have to do is belief in yourself.  If you refuse to give up, then there is nothing –- there is nothing you can’t accomplish.   

And I hope that all of you, all of you here, when you encounter hardships and when you start to get discouraged -- and I guarantee you, you will -- I hope that you’ll think about young people like you all around the world who have toiled in laboratories and libraries, in factories and fields, who have marched and fought and bled to make our world a better place. 

I hope you’ll think about the young people two centuries ago who risked everything they had for Mexico’s independence.  I hope you’ll think about the young people in America who fought to ensure that all citizens, no matter their gender or the color of their skin, were treated equally under the law.  You and I, we’re here today because of them.

And finally, I hope you’ll think about young people like Sonia Kim.  She was a young woman I met yesterday during my visit in Haiti.  Sonia works at the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince.  And like so many people in Haiti, she has been working around the clock on the earthquake relief efforts.  

I want to read you an e-mail that she sent me.  This e-mail inspired my trip there.  It’s inspired my trip here.  She wrote:  “We are exhausted, traumatized and heart-broken.  But we choose to stay here and work.  We choose to stay because we love Haiti and its people.  We choose to stay because we believe in our duty to help the people here in their greatest hour of need.  We choose to stay because we believe in our mission.  We choose to stay because we still hold out hope… for recovery and renewal… and for a Haiti built back better than before.”

And I hope that every single one of you, and young people across the globe, will take up that work –- the work of helping others in need, the work of building stronger nations and a better world, because if we’re going to tackle the challenges of our time -– if we’re going to make our world safer and healthier and more prosperous and more free -– we are going to need the passion and the daring and the creativity of every last one of you.  

We’ll need you to work as hard as you can, and do as much as you can, driven by the belief that has always summed up the spirit of our youth -- three simple words: Si, se puede –- Yes, we can.  Yes, we can.  Thank you.  God bless.  (Applause.) 

END
2:39 P.M. (Local)

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Remarks by the First Lady at Childhood Obesity Summit

South Court Auditorium

1:40 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, everyone.  (Applause.)  Thank you all so much.  It’s a pleasure to be here with all of you.

Let me begin by thanking Melody for that kind introduction, that wonderful story.  It’s happening in kitchens and households all over America -- kids really moving for the change.  I also want to thank Melody for her work in chairing the task force.  She has been instrumental, and we’ve seen such significant movement under her leadership.

I’d also like to thank several members of this administration who are providing invaluable leadership on this issue.  Melody introduced them, but let me take time to also thank Secretaries Duncan and Salazar, OBM Director Peter Orszag, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan and Nancy-Ann DeParle.  Is Nancy-Ann here?  She is the Director of the White House Office of Health Reform and she obviously has been incredibly instrumental on this and so many efforts in this administration.

Thank you all for your leadership.  This has been an administration-wide effort and I am so proud of this team.  Everyone in this administration has embraced this issue with a level of fervor and commitment.  That's why we are able to be standing here today, having made so much progress in such a short period of time.

This gathering has never happened before at the White House.  It’s one where we’re bringing together teachers and child advocates, doctors and nurses, business leaders, public servants, researchers and health experts to talk about one of the most serious and difficult problems facing our kids today, and that is the epidemic of childhood obesity in this country.

We’re here because we all care deeply about the health and well-being of America’s children.  And we’ve gathered folks from across America and across just about every relevant field because, in the end, solving this problem is going to take every single one of us.

And that’s really at the heart of the “Let’s Move” campaign.

We launched this campaign two months ago, but the idea actually was inspired by the planting of the White House Kitchen Garden.

Last March, with the help of local students who have been so incredible, we planted the garden on the South Lawn of the White House, and it allowed us to begin a conversation about the importance not just of healthy eating -- eating right, eating the good food -- but also about getting exercise into our lives.

The kids during that whole year of planting and harvesting showed so much enthusiasm, so much excitement about that garden and about the potential of the topic that we realized there was an opportunity to do much more, because they were so open.

So we launched “Let’s Move.”  The campaign is designed to raise awareness about the problem of childhood obesity and to focus on how we as a nation have to come together to solve it.

My husband signed a presidential memorandum creating the first-ever government-wide Task Force on Childhood Obesity, composed of representatives from key agencies across the government.

And since then, I have spoken to so many people.  I’ve heard from so many people across this country.

I’ve met with mayors and governors and I’ve asked them to do their part to build healthier cities and states.

I’ve met with School Nutrition Association members -- the folks who decide what’s served in schools –- and I’ve asked them to do their part to offer healthier meals and snacks to our kids at school.

I’ve met with the food manufacturers and asked them to do their part to improve the quality of the food that they provide and to do a better job of marketing nutritious food to our kids.

I’ve met with kids -- met with a bunch of them the other day in my first town hall meeting, full of kids -- (laughter) -- and they were wonderful.  And I asked them to do their part.  I asked them nicely -- (laughter) -- but I asked them to do their part as well.  What I told them is that they were the most important players in this piece because it’s up to them to make different decisions; to try to make it a little easier on their parents to try new things and to incorporate exercise.

And I’ve been meeting with parents, too, because we all need to do our parts, as well, because the fact is, is that our kids didn’t do this to themselves.  They don’t decide the sugar content in soda or the advertising content of a television show.  Kids don’t choose what’s served to them for lunch at school, and shouldn’t be deciding what’s served to them for dinner at home.  And they don’t decide whether there’s time in the day or room in the budget to learn about healthy eating or to spend time playing outside.

We make those decisions.  That’s all up to us.

And I know how hard it is.  I know how hard it is as a parent when you’re bombarded by ads for junk food; when you’re hit with a barrage of conflicting stories about what’s healthy and what’s not; when you always feel like you’re failing to meet some impossible standard for working parents -- or for any parents for that matter.

We also know how hard it is for schools to provide nutritious lunches with just a few dollars to make that happen.  We know the budget constraints facing local governments in these tough times.  And we all know how difficult this problem is when playgrounds and ballparks are competing with video games and social networking sites; and when our children are simply surrounded by many more opportunities to eat badly and to sit around than they are to eat well and move.

But we also know this -- that over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled.  That is a fact.  Nearly one third of children in America now are overweight or obese.  That's a reality.  And unless we act now, things are only going to get worse.  That is a fact.

“Let’s Move” recognizes this reality and recognizes that there are a few things that we can do right now that can make a big difference.

First, we have to help parents and empower consumers by encouraging companies to offer healthier options and by providing more customer-friendly labels so that people can figure out what’s healthy and what isn’t.

And there are tools and resources available right now to parents and kids at our Web site, letsmove.gov.

Second, with 31 million children getting lunch through federal lunch programs, we can do so much more to provide healthy meals and snacks where our kids spend most of their days.

And I am pleased that the Senate Agriculture Committee has made a significant contribution towards the President’s goal of investing an additional $1 billion per year to ensure that the food provided to our children in schools is nutritious and healthy, and that fewer children in this country go hungry.

Third, we can do much more to make sure that all families have access to healthy and affordable food in their own communities.  23.5 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, live in communities without a supermarket.  That means far fewer healthier options are available to so many families who are going to be working to try to figure this out.  They won’t have access to the resources they need to do what we’re asking them to do.

So, we’re working with the private sector to reach a very ambitious goal, and that is to completely eliminate food deserts in this country.

And finally, there is much, much more that we can do to help kids stay physically active, not just in school but outside of school as well.

And if we can make real progress in these four areas, then there’s so much more else we can do.  But these four areas, as a country, we can reach our ultimate goal, and the ultimate goal for “Let’s Move” is to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation so that children born today grow up at a healthy weight with better notions of what is healthy, with better habits, who are incorporating exercise into their lives on a more regular basis, so there are more kids like the ones that Melody described, who know what it even means to eat healthy.  That's our goal.

And to achieve this goal, we are going to need all of you.  We’re going to need all of you -- your insight, your experience, your guidance.  And that’s why we are so excited about this gathering here today, because you all know this issue better than just about anyone.  So many of you have dedicated your lives to fighting this battle, and many of you have just -- are just thankful that there’s someone else shining the spotlight on what you have known for a long, long time.

This -- folks in this room, all of you working together, can do more than just about anyone to help us tackle this issue.  What we have done is started a national conversation.  We’ve started an important national conversation.  But we need your help to propel that conversation into a national response.

So today is very important.  The work that you do here is really meaningful, which is why you have so many heavy-hitters here, because we need your advice and your input.

And to make that happen, we’re going to have you break into smaller sessions, led by members of the task force that will focus on these four key components of “Let’s Move.”  And the information that we collect here today will be essential to construct the final report that's going to come from the task force -- a report that will serve as a very important roadmap, with goals, benchmarks, measurable outcomes, that will help us collectively tackle this challenge.

So, with that, all I have to say is let’s move.  (Laughter.)  Let’s get this going.  Thank you all so much.  Thank you for your energy, your expertise.  I thank our administration.  I am confident, because of the stories we hear from kids, that they’re ready for us to move.  They are more than ready.  Once again they’re waiting for us.  So let’s get this started.  And thank you so much and have a productive meeting.  Thanks so much.  (Applause.)

END
1:55 P.M. EDT

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Remarks by the First Lady at “Let’s Move” Town Hall Event

11:17 A.M. EDT

MS. SWAIN:  Good morning on this beautiful spring day, and welcome to the White House.  We are very pleased to be here in the beautiful and historic State Dining Room at the White House for a dialogue on childhood obesity and childhood health with the First Lady, Michelle Obama.

We’re very pleased for this program, which is live on C-SPAN this morning, to have students from all around the Washington, D.C., area and students watching all across the country.  Some of them will be calling in with questions on our discussion on childhood obesity.

We’ll be here for 45 minutes altogether, and we all hope to learn more about this topic and why it’s so important to young people’s health and how to stay healthy, and also why the First Lady is so passionate about it.

So boys and girls here in the White House, would you please join me in welcoming the First Lady Michelle Obama to our discussion this morning.  (Applause.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  Hello, everybody.  (Applause.)  Well, hello.

AUDIENCE:  Hello.

MS. SWAIN:  Well, we’re going to just plunge right into it, and as we get started here, I thought -- I’m going to ask you a question, and then we’re going to introduce the students in the room.  I had a very important question as we were getting ready this morning, Mrs. Obama, from a young man sitting in the back.  We keep using this big word “obesity” and he wasn’t sure what it meant.

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes, yes.  Well, it is a pretty big word, but I think it -- you know, just to make it simple, it’s when people’s weight gets higher than it should be.  And there are very scientific measurements for it.  Something called Body Mass Index is what a lot of doctors try to measure.  But as you grow, your weight and your height should remain fairly consistent, but people’s Body Mass Index really varies. 

So there’s no one right weight or height to be.  If you look in my whole family, we’ve got people who are 6’6” and people who are 4’11”.  And weight and height really depend on you as a person.  But what this is all about, really, is about making sure that you guys are healthy, that you’re eating the right foods, that you’re getting enough exercise.  This isn’t about how you look, this isn’t about appearances, because we all have to own and be proud of exactly who we are. 

I am 5’11”.  I was probably this height when I was very young, and my parents taught me to be proud of the way I look.  And this isn’t about how you look.  This is about how you guys feel.  It’s about health.

So I think that’s the big takeaway.  And you can talk to the doctors and the experts and the scientists, if you want to get a more definitive answer to what obesity technically is, but it’s really about our health.  It’s about your health.

Does that help?  Yes, yes?  All right, good.  It’s a good way to start.

MS. SWAIN:  The way that this event all came together is that students around the country have participated in an annual documentary contest that our network C-SPAN holds, called “Student Cam”, and this year we had 1,000 documentarians --

MRS. OBAMA:  That’s great.

MS. SWAIN:  -- from all around the country.  But interestingly, health was the number one issue among young people.  We had 128 different entries on aspects of health, so it’s much on their minds.  The economy, number two.  (Laughter.)  So not surprised there.

But today we’re going to meet one of the very special documentarians, Matthew Shimura, who is here as the first prize middle school winner; he’s been thinking about childhood obesity for a while.  Matt is in the front row and will meet you in just a minute.  Matt, welcome and congratulations for your winning documentary.

We also have young people who entered the contest who are watching from all the country -- also did, on the topic of childhood obesity, so they are thinking about this and have questions for you.  But let me introduce you to the young people who are here at the White House with us today.  And I’m going to ask you to stand up with your group when I call the name of your schools, so your parents can see that you’re here.

First of all, where’s the Hamstead Hill Academy in Baltimore?  Welcome.

MRS. OBAMA:  Welcome, you guys.

MS. SWAIN:  Stuart Hobson Middle School in Washington, D.C. -- sixth through eighth grade.  Hello, Stuart Hobston, looking good.

Next is Alexandria, Virginia -- Lyles Crouch Elementary School.  Hello, Lyles Crouch.

Now, we’ve got a group of Girl Scouts from the national capital region who have been involved in health and wellness issues.  Welcome, ladies.

MRS. OBAMA:  Good to see you all.

MS. SWAIN:  How about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation?  Where are those students?  Good morning and welcome. 

And then we have a number of student journalists who are covering this event.  Where are our student journalists?

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, good, it’s the journalists.

MS. SWAIN:  They’re right near the professional journalists in the back, too, so --

MRS. OBAMA:  All right, watch them.  Watch them behind you. (Laughter.) 

MS. SWAIN:  Then is there any person here who hasn’t had a chance to stand that I didn’t introduce your group?  If not, please stand up now.

MRS. OBAMA:  And make sure you stand up, because your parents are watching.

MS. SWAIN:  Okay, it looks like we’ve got everybody.

MRS. OBAMA:  All right, great.

MS. SWAIN:  Well, if you could begin by telling us -- in the past every First Lady has had a special issue.  Mrs. Reagan was worried about drug use by young people.  Mrs. Bush was involved with literacy and reading.  How did you come to choose this issue, and why?

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes, I’ve said this so many times before.  I came to this issue as a mom way before we were anywhere near coming to the White House.  I mean, you guys know I have these two beautiful little girls, Malia and Sasha -- they’re not so little now -- but I was like a lot of your parents.  I worked a job, my husband worked a job, we were very busy, you’re trying to make sure that you’re doing the right thing as a mom and keeping your job together, and our health habits got way out of kilter because we were eating out too much.  I didn’t have time to cook.  I had to buy a lot of quick packaged things, so my kids were drinking a lot of sugary drinks, and you were rushing to make sure that the lunch was good and something that they’d eat.  We were probably eating too many things out of a box.

So we were doing probably what most of your parents do, because you’re just trying to get through the day, and everybody has got too many activities, and you’re shuttling to work, and you’re eating on the run, and you’re missing dinner together.  We were living that life. 

And it seemed fine, I thought I was in control until one of my kids’ pediatrician kind of tapped me on the shoulder, because he was regularly measuring that BMI, that Body Mass Index, that I talked to you about.  And we were lucky that we had a pediatrician that really checked this pretty accurately, because we lived on the South Side of Chicago, predominantly African American community, and weight issues and obesity issues are pretty significant there, so he was tracking that.  And he told me, you know, you may want to watch it.  And I didn’t think we had a problem because I look at my kids and I see perfection, just like your parents see.  They’re perfect, they’re beautiful.  And it wasn’t that they weren’t, but it was just that things were just tipping over to the point that we needed to make some changes.

So we made some pretty simple changes in our household.  We made sure we got more fruits and vegetables and dinner.  I cooked more.  We ate out a little bit less.  We limited desserts to weekends -- I know, not every day.  I took out sugary drinks so my kids were drinking more water.  We made sure they were exercising; at least moving around everyday, so no TV during the weeks -- week.

So those little changes made a pretty significant difference.  And my view is that if I could make those kind of changes and it could help my family in such a significant way, I wanted to make sure that we were doing that with the rest of the country, because my view is that if I’m having this problem in my household and I don't know it and it was unclear to me, then what’s going on with everybody else, people who don’t have information or don’t have pediatricians who are working with them? 

So when we planted the garden, the White House Kitchen Garden a year ago, we did it to start a conversation with young people about eating healthy.  Maybe they would get more engaged in fruits and vegetables if they were involved in growing them. 

And what we found with working with the kids that helped me with the garden was that if kids planted it and were involved in it and understood it, they’d eat it and they’d be excited about it.  And they could help not only change their own health habits, but they’d go back home and start teaching their parents, because once I started talking to my kids about what they needed to eat, trust me, they were monitoring me way more than I was monitoring them.    

They cleaned out the cabinets.  They looked at labels a bit more.  They made decisions about the kind of snacks they would eat.  They started making pretty healthy choices for themselves, and a lot of times, when I wanted to cheat, they’d pull me back.

So my hope is that young people around the country will take that kind of interest in their own health.  And then to see the statistics, seeing that one in three kids in this country is overweight or obese, and that we’re on track for the first time ever for our kids to live shorter lives than we do.  That in and of itself was terrifying enough for me.  I wouldn’t want that fate for my girls, and I don't want it for any of you or any other kids in this country.

So we started “Let’s Move” and hopefully it will catch on, and you guys are going to be the key ambassadors to really make this happen, because this is really about you and it’s about the kids that are going to follow you.

So I'll stop there.  I can go on and on and on.  (Laughter.) 

MS. SWAIN:  How can they be ambassadors?

MRS. OBAMA:  You know, I think first you can take the lead in your own homes.  This is what I tell my kids, my girls.  It’s not about never having the stuff you want, right?  I would love it if I could live healthy on pie and French fries.  I’d do it.  I’d eat it.  But the fact of the matter is, is that you can’t.  We are made as humans to need a balanced diet with enough fiber and enough vegetables and fruits.  And we have to be educated about what that diet should look like, and then we have to start making choices to not have candy every day, even if you can; to not ask for those desserts all the time, even if you can; to think about learning how to cook for yourselves, how to bake a chicken and make a little pasta; how to think about putting more water in your diet. 

Those are decisions at your age.  You’re the age of my girls.  You guys can make those decisions, and you can help your parents, because they’re trying -- they’re just trying to get you to eat.  That's all we want to do.  We want you to eat something.

And if you complain and you don’t want to try new things, if you’re hesitant, if you are going to get that -- you know, buy those chips instead of some pretzels, if you’re not going to make good decisions, it’s really not a whole lot that parents can do, because you’re not with us all the time, you’re at school, you’re with your friends.

So my whole goal in my kids -- for my kids is to try to get them to think about the choices they’re going to make in their own lives.  And I tell them it’s not about who they are today, it’s about who they want to be when they’re 20 and 25.  I have them thinking about what kind of moms are you going to be, you know?  If you don’t know how to feed yourself, then how are you going to feed your own kids?

So it’s really about you guys taking responsibility of your own future in so many ways and helping your parents and your families make those kind of decisions.  I think that that's the first thing that you can do, because that's your power.  You don't have to live in a certain neighborhood.  You don’t have to know anything more to make better decisions for yourself and be willing to make some of those decisions on your own.  You don't need a teacher or a parent to do it.  You guys have the power to start doing it.  And once you do it, your parents will follow.  That, I know.

MS. SWAIN:  Well, let’s introduce Matt Shimura officially.  Matt is sitting in the front row and he came all the way to the White House from Honolulu.  We’re very proud of his accomplishment.  We had 1,000 entries in this StudentCam documentary, and Matt Shimura’s documentary on childhood obesity took first place in middle school.  Matt, congratulations.  (Applause.)

Now, Mrs. Obama announced her big project on childhood obesity in early February.  By then you had finished your documentary, so you’ve been thinking about this for a while.  What got you interested?

MR. SHIMURA:  What got me interested was when I looked at our state’s furlough Fridays.  It’s when we don’t have -- the public schools don’t have school on Fridays, so they don’t have lunch and they don’t have P.E. on those days, so they’re lacking nutrition and physical exercise.  So I thought that could lead to childhood obesity, and that's how I chose that topic.

MS. SWAIN:  What did you learn while making your film?

MR. SHIMURA:  I learned, like, how to make a great documentary and express my ideas through filmmaking.

MS. SWAIN:  We’re going to show just a minute of it for our viewers and students watching around the country.  Here in the room -- you’ll just hear it, as I told you before -- but we’ll hear the audio of the documentary that you made, and then we’ll come back and have a question from you for Mrs. Obama.

(The documentary is shown.)

And that was Matt doing the voiceover in his documentary, as well.  Congratulations on your work.  You have a question for Mrs. Obama?

Q    Mrs. Obama, how do you think the government can improve nutrition and physical activity in schools?

MRS. OBAMA:  You know, I think that first of all, one thing I just want to say is that the solution to this challenge has to come from the bottom up.  The government can’t be in a position telling people to do -- what to do in their own homes, and that generally doesn’t work.  So it’s really going to require all of us working together -- the federal government, business leaders, food manufacturers, farmers, students, nurses -- everyone has to come together. 

But specifically, when you think about the federal government, when it comes to school lunches, the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act is one of the ways that the government supports school lunches.  And one of the things we’re trying to get done, because it’s time for it to be reauthorized, is to get more money put into implementing that act so that we change the kind of food you all get in your lunches so that there are more fruits and vegetables added; that there’s less processed food; that the quality of the food goes up, because a large percentage of kids in this country are getting half of their meals at school. 

So if we can do a better job in the schools of providing better options that are healthier, more nutritious, then we’re going to go a very long way.

But this act also works to encourage more schools to become U.S. Healthier Schools.  And these are schools that are designated as already taking those steps to change the way they do things, providing healthier meals, incorporating nutrition education into the curriculum, making sure that they’re making time for physical activity and recess -- because in many schools around this country, with budget cuts, oftentimes that's the first thing to go. So we can’t tell kids, you know, “Get more exercise” and then take away recess and all physical activity out of the school.

So there are schools out there that are finding ways to put that kind of exercise and activity back into the curriculum.  The Healthier Schools Challenge recognizes that, and we’re going to work to double those numbers of schools that qualify.

So there are many, many ways that the federal government can work on -- through the Child Nutrition and Reauthorization Act. 

Also, through the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, we can work with grocery manufacturers to make sure that the foods that are produced in the stores have labels on them that help families make decisions.  Because, you know when you walk into a grocery store, you walk down an aisle?  My kids know the brands.  Oh, that’s “X” brand!  They know the commercial.  But when a mom or dad picks up the cereal, how do you know whether this is something that's nutritious?  How many servings? 

And right now the labels are really confusing.  And if you’re busy and you’re trying to get in and out of the grocery store, you don’t have time to read labels or to make the kind of calculations.  So we’re trying to work with the FDA and food manufacturers to simplify those things so that it’s easy, so that you guys can walk in and look at foods and make decisions about what actually is going to be healthy and how much of it to eat.

So those are just some of the ways that the federal government can be involved.  But more importantly, this is an effort that's going to require everyone.  No one is off the hook on this one.

MS. SWAIN:  Our next question is going to come from a student in Jenks, Oklahoma, who’s watching us on television.  After that, we’ll take a question from the room.  Who has a question so we can get ready?  Okay, this young lady that's on the row, you’ll be our first question after our call from Alexander England, who’s watching us in Jenks, Oklahoma.  He goes to Jenks High School, and his winning documentary was “Childhood Obesity:  America’s Underlying Problem.”  He watches C-SPAN, which we appreciate, on COX cable in Oklahoma.  Alexander, what’s your question? 

Q    Good morning, Mrs. Obama.  It is an honor to talk with you this morning. 

MRS. OBAMA:  Good morning, Alexander.  Thanks for calling in.  What’s your question?

Q    For my C-SPAN film, I interviewed the vice president of a fast food chain.  He said that he rarely (inaudible) choices based on how healthy the food is, but instead on price.  With that in mind, do you think efforts should be focused on lowering the price of healthy food?  And if so, is there anything the government can do to encourage that?

MRS. OBAMA:  I think you’re absolutely right that the cost of healthy foods oftentimes becomes a barrier.  The access and affordability of foods is a huge issue.  And with “Let’s Move” that’s one of our major pillars, is eliminating what are known as food deserts.  There are millions of kids who live in areas all throughout the country that we call food deserts.  Those are places where you can’t -- there isn’t a grocery store, there isn’t a place to buy fresh produce, healthy food. 

There are a lot of people who live in communities where the only access to food comes in the form of a convenience store or a gas station.  You imagine trying to feed your family when the closest grocery store is a train ride or a cab ride or a car ride away.  And there are millions of Americans who find it very difficult to cook the kind of foods that they know that they should, because they don’t have access.

We’re looking at starting a healthy food financing initiative modeled after some of the efforts that have been done in cities across the country and states.  Pennsylvania has managed to eliminate food deserts through this financing initiative.  With this, we’re taking money from the Treasury Department and the Department of Agriculture, and trying to leverage resources, millions of dollars, to try to encourage more grocery stores to relocate in underserved communities. 

And that way, not only do you help to eliminate the food desert issue, but you can create jobs.  You can build economies around new grocery stores relocating to communities.  I saw this firsthand in Philadelphia in a community that hadn’t had a grocery store in it for a decade.  You imagine a decade.  So if you’re 10 years old, that means you’ve grown up in a community where your mom can’t go and buy a head of lettuce.  That is a frustration, and it’s a reality in so many families’ lives. 

But with their financing initiative in Pennsylvania, they were able to partner with a chain store that came in.  This grocery store is amazing.  It looks like any Whole Foods store that you’d see in any community -- fresh produce, fresh vegetables, everything you can imagine.

And the excitement that this community feels over having this resource that they haven’t seen had just turned this community upside down with excitement.  So our view is that if we can do that in Philadelphia, if they can do it in Pennsylvania, there’s no reason we can’t do this, replicate this model in communities all across this country.

MS. SWAIN:  And we have our student questioner here in the State Dining Room.

Q    Good morning, Mrs. Obama.  How would you think schools can show students what they should eat and what they shouldn’t eat while they’re there?

MS. SWAIN:  And do you want to tell us your name?

Q    Kayla Greenspoon (ph).

MS. SWAIN:  Thank you for your question.

MRS. OBAMA:  Thanks so much.  It’s a good question.  Some -- many schools are already doing this.  I mean, one of the things I said in a speech that I did to some of the school lunch ladies, the association -- they were here in Washington -- is that we have to remember that learning doesn’t stop at lunch time.  The cafeteria is one of the most important classrooms in the school.  And, yes, during that time -- and not just that time alone, but by exposing kids to different types of foods, helping them get introduced, encouraging kids to try things that they haven’t tried -- they may try some things in the school lunch room that they can bring home to their parents.

But nutrition education is an important part of a curriculum.  And there are many schools in this country that are figuring out ways to incorporate those kind of activities into the regular curriculum.  I visited many schools in the Washington, D.C., area that have wonderful community gardens and are using those gardens to not just teach science, but to teach reading and math.  And along the way, if you’re using the garden, you’re also helping kids, again, become exposed to the different variety of fruits and vegetables that are out there.  And when kids see that in the classroom, they may be more inclined to try it at home. 

So this is why trying to increase the number of U.S. Healthier Schools is going to be really critical, because again, there are already schools who are figuring out ways to do this.  So how do we scale that up?  How do we take those best practices that are happening in schools already and make sure that they’re happening in all schools, for all kids around the country?

And it’s going to take some resources.  And it’s going to take the folks who provide the food for the schools -- there are companies out there that get contracts to provide the school lunches.  We need them to take on ownership, to make sure that the lunches that they are providing aren’t just cheap and easy, but that they’re low in fat, salt, and sugar.

And many of them have already agreed that they’re going to do a better job.  But we have to hold their feet to the fire, and that’s another way that you all can be involved.  Look at the lunches that you’re providing -- being provided.  Talk to your teachers about the content.  Ask questions.  Figure out whether they’re balanced or not, because the more you educate yourselves, you guys can set the tone in your own schools in so many ways.  Slowly, but surely, you can change the culture in your own environments.

MS. SWAIN:  Mrs. Obama talked about the fact that they’ve planted a garden here at the White House to help with healthier eating.  How many students in this room have a garden at home?

MRS. OBAMA:  That’s nice.

MS. SWAIN:  And how many of you who don’t?  And a garden doesn’t have to be land.  If you live in the city, you can grow it in pots, as well.  How many of you are going to talk to your parents about planting a garden this year?  I’ve got a few converts. 

Who in this room has a question?  All right, you’ll be next.  But we’re to take another call from around the country.  This is Sarah Gabriel.  She is in Cedar Falls, Iowa, which is a Mediacom system.  She’s an honorable mention winner in our contest.  And her video was “Improving School Lunch:  Too costly, or a way to bend the cost curve?”

Sarah, you’re on the line now for Mrs. Obama.  What’s your question?

Q    Hi.  My question is also about improving the choice quality in schools.  And I go to a public school where they do something to try to implement higher nutritional standards.  But because my school still sells à la carte snack items to generate revenue, many students still just buy unhealthy snack items.  So I was wondering if you have any ideas about how schools might address this issue?

MRS. OBAMA:  Sarah, thanks for the question.  You make a great point about the vending machines and about the la carte lines.  These standards have to apply across the board.  And we have to make sure that kids have healthy options. 

I am a proponent of vending machines, because, kids, when you all are hungry, you’re going to look to a vending machine for a snack.  The question is just what do we have in those vending machines and how do we think about the content of the food in those machines. 

There’s nothing wrong with a vending machine per se.  But you don’t have to always have a sugary drink in a vending machine.  You can have a healthy sports drink.  You can have water.  You can have trail mix.  You can have pretzels, nuts, crackers, cheese.  There’s so many things that kids would eat -- they just gravitate to what’s there.

So I think that that’s part of what we need to do, as we work through these nutrition guidelines, that we can’t just look at the food on the cafeteria line, but we have to look at all the food that’s available to our children.  Again, that’s why this isn’t a problem that can be solved by the federal government -- the school community, the local community, has to want to make these changes.  And they have to make decisions about what’s going to go in those vending machines instead of what’s already there; how do you work with your local vendors.

We can work on high and try to set the tone, but really what happens at your schools and in your communities is really more up to you, your mayors, your city council people, than anything that can happen out of the White House.  And it really should, because folks know their communities better than we’ll ever know. 

But the fact of the matter is, as this question points out, is that we have to make sure that all of the options are good ones and not just some of them, because you guys are pretty sneaky, you’ll find a way to get to that bag of chips.  (Laughter.)    

MS. SWAIN:  How many of you in fact, when you’re looking for snacks, at least feel that you have an option in your vending machines at school to have a healthy choice if you want one?  Would you raise your hand if you have options for it?  It looks like we have a little work to do in some of the schools.

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes.  No, we do.  We do.

MS. SWAIN:  What’s your question?  And tell us your name too.

Q    Well, my name is Terrick Mack (ph).  I’m an eighth grader at Stillhouse (ph) Middle School.  And my question is about false labelings on nutrition labels.  And I wanted to ask what regulations could be put in place so that we can eliminate -- that we know that we can ensure that false labels won’t be put on nutritious facts.

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, as I mentioned earlier, the FDA is going to be working with the grocery store manufacturers this summer to work on the whole issue of labeling.  And our hope is that because the grocery store manufacturers have -- they want to be helpful in this effort, that this is one of the ways, one of the easy ways that they can be helpful, is figuring out how do you make, as I said earlier, simple, clear, accurate labels that give the facts in a way that the average consumer, the average purchaser, can figure it out and trust in the information. 

But the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, is going to be setting up new guidelines for labels.  We want to do it with the help of the grocery store folks, because it’s their products, and we’re hopeful that they’re going to join in.  But you’re absolutely right, you can’t tell families to make smart decisions if they’re confused about what to buy. 

We’ve also talked to them about how they market to kids, right?  I mean, the majority -- I don’t want to quote percentages, but there are a lot of commercials that come on kid TV programs.  My kids are watching it, with the sugary food and the tasty this and the -- that’s what you guys are seeing a lot of. 

And one of the things we’re asking them is that as you -- as those grocery store manufacturers think about the products they’re going to market to kids, what percentage of those products are really healthy and how much of it is sort of kind of healthy, but it’s the stuff that you guys will push your parents to buy.  And how do we change that?  How do we become more responsible in what is advertised to you guys, right, so that you’re not bombarded with messages that say this sugary stuff is really what you want, really, right, you don’t really want the apple. 

And it’s not enough just to change not marketing the not-so-good stuff.  They have to help us market the good stuff to you.  And they know how to sell stuff, right?  I mean, I’m sure all of you could raise your hand and name your favorite brand of anything, right?  You know the jingle and the tune.  You can recite the words by heart.  But if you’re hearing those same songs and messages about good foods, trust me you’ll be -- those ideas and thoughts will be ringing in your head just as much as the sugary foods are.  So we need to do a better job of getting you all the information that you need to make good choices.

MS. SWAIN:  Once again, let’s see a hand for a future question.  All right, this young man in the blue shirt, you’ll be next.  But first, we’re going to take a call.  And this is Kyle Street.  And Kyle is an honorable mention winner for his video called “Childhood Obesity.”  He is a student at Throop Elementary in Paoli, Indiana.  And Avenue Cable is where he watches C-SPAN.  Kyle, you are on and what’s your question?

Q    Well, first of all, I’d like to say thank you for this opportunity.  And in our small rural community, volunteers have just started a wellness program to promote a healthier lifestyle.  (Inaudible) physical activity at a young age (inaudible) offering organized sports, team (inaudible).  Mrs. Obama, as you mentioned, physical education programs are getting canceled or cut back because of the struggling economy.  What other ways can the community help motivate kids to stay active and exercise?

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, thanks for the question, Kyle, and it’s important.  I’ve spent a lot of time talking about food, the food side of this equation.  But as Kyle points out, the physical activity piece is just as important.  Because the truth is, is that when I was growing up as a kid, we didn’t worry about what we ate.  And we ate the cupcakes and this -- we didn’t eat it every day.

But the difference was that when I was growing up, kids -- every kid played outside for hours and hours, because, number one, it was safe and, number two, we only had like seven TV channels and not 700.  So there was a period at which kid TV was over, so you were bored and your parents were going to kick you out of the house.

MS. SWAIN:  And no computer, right?

MRS. OBAMA:  No computers.  Life has just changed.  And now in my household, my kids could watch SpongeBob 24 hours a day, the same shows over and over and over again.  I even know all the episodes.  (Laughter.)

So you guys just have -- you’ve got computers, you’ve got your iPod.  A lot of what you’re drawn to has nothing to do with movement.  And if you’re not signed up with an activity or you don’t have a ballet class in your neighborhood -- or maybe it’s too expensive, because all these after-school programs are just really, really expensive for parents and families -- if you’re not engaged in any of that, then a lot of times kids nowadays are just sitting in front of the TV or watching -- playing on the video games.  And guidelines basically say that kids should be getting, what is it, 60 minutes of exercise, physical activity every single day.  That’s really what you’re supposed to do, right?

And when I was growing up, 60 minutes of playing around outside was nothing, it was just play.  So things have gotten tougher for you all in so many ways.  So we have to do a better job -- and not just in schools, but outside of school -- to figure out how do we get you guys moving again. 

And, again, some of that is on you all.  Some of that are the choices that you make, because you’re at the age now where you can make a decision to sit in front of the TV, or get up and jump rope, or walk up and down the stairs, or do a pushup, or figure out something fun, or turn on the radio and dance.  I mean, exercise isn’t about sports.  It’s not always about throwing a ball.  It’s just about moving, right?  And those are some choices that you have to make.  But we have to do a better job in giving you guys options to play. 

And Kyle’s community, it sounds like what they’re doing is what we need to have happen in all communities across this country, where the adults -- the mayors and the city officials and the businesspeople and the community groups and the churches -- are figuring out how do we open up parks and spaces for you guys to play?  How do we organize leagues that aren’t going to cost an arm and a leg?  How do we open up gym facilities for longer periods of time?  Those solutions have to come from the bottom up, because it’s going to be different in every community.

But getting you guys moving, which is one of the reasons why we’ve called our campaign “Let’s Move” is because we really don’t have time to wait.  We can’t let you guys sit around for another generation and not make physical activity a regular part of your lives.  So we need to be modeling what’s going on in Indiana.  Is that where Kyle is from?

MS. SWAIN:  He is, yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  And it’s a small community.  They figured out a way to make it happen.  But there are also bigger cities like Somerville, Massachusetts, where they’re figuring out how to just restructure that whole city so that they’re focused on health and physical activity.  And we’ve got to be doing that in cities and towns all across this country.

MS. SWAIN:  What’s your question?  And what’s your name?

Q    My name is Francis Wells.  And my question is, what is the main cause of childhood obesity?

MRS. OBAMA:  You know, I don’t know that they know that there’s one single cause for it.  Sometimes, it’s genetics.  And a lot of times, it’s lifestyle.  As I said before, things have changed.  The way we live as Americans have changed.  We walk less, sometimes because it’s not safe to walk; sometimes it’s because the schools your parents need you to go to are further away than they used to be.  I know when I grew up, I went to the neighborhood school around the corner and everybody went to the school in their neighborhood.  So you could walk to school, right?

But if you’re being -- going to a magnet school or a charter school or a new school somewhere else where you don’t have the ability to walk, what are you -- you’re in your parent’s car, or you’re on a bus, or maybe the walk is shortened.  And then you get to school and there’s no physical education, there’s no P.E., there are no sports programs.  And there were always those when I was growing up.  You played outside before school.  You had recess.  You played out during lunch time.  And you played in the playground after school.  And now, kids are going straight home to sit in front of the TV, do their homework, usually watching TV, or on videogames. 

And parents are much busier, right?  Because of the economy, a lot of parents have to work.  You guys know.  Your parents would love to give you every single minute of their time but they’re trying to pay the bills.  And that may mean that both parents or one parent has got two jobs.  So parents are busy and it’s harder to get you guys where you have to go.

So things have changed in society, and slowly but surely I think that that’s affected how healthy kids are.  And we’re eating more processed foods, we go out more, fast food is no longer a treat, right?  It’s something that you do several times a week because it’s convenient.  So we’ve changed the way we live and it affects you all.  And we got to sort of dial that back.  We have to rethink those kinds of things to figure out how do we create healthy lifestyles in the world that we live in today.  How do we do that for you.

And again, you guys are going to be helpers in this because, you know, the question that I have for you is how do I get you to turn off the TV?  How do I get you, in this culture of all this TV and all these videogames, what do I do as a mom to get you to move?  I don’t know.  I’m working on with it my kids.  But you guys are going to have to help us figure out how to engage you in a way that’s going to make this fun and not work so that you want to do it and don’t feel like you’re being forced to do it, right?

So we’re going to need your help in figuring this out.

MS. SWAIN:  We have about nine minutes left in our conversation with Mrs. Obama about childhood obesity.  Who will be our next questioner?  Let me get someone -- you’re going to be next, right in front of the camera -- okay, so just a second.  And in between, we’re going to hear from Lauren Shatanof.  Lauren is in Weston, Florida, Advanced Cable, Falcon Cove Middle School and a documentarian with the film titled “America’s Biggest Challenge:  Obesity.”  Lauren.

Q    Hello.  It is a great honor for me to speak with you, our First Lady.  Mrs. Obama, my question is:  A country facing challenging economic times, with limited resources to address childhood obesity, what measures will you take to ensure that this problem is prioritized?

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, I think this initiative is one of the biggest ways that I think that I can help.  Having the platform of the White House is really helpful in getting attention to stuff, right?  A lot of times when I do something, a lot of cameras show up and people tend to watch and write about it.  Sometimes they write about more than what I’m wearing.  (Laughter.)  So I think it’s my job to help shine the light on things that are already working.  So that’s one of the reasons why I chose this as my initiative.

I also think that one of the ways that I think we can move this effort, one of the reasons why I think that we can be successful, is that it doesn’t require -- I don’t believe, and others may have struggled a bit more -- it doesn’t require whole-scale changes in your life.  The beauty about kids, you guys, is that you’re young, your metabolisms are really healthy, which essentially means that once you start moving and eating right you’re going to -- you guys change really quickly.  You’re growing and everything is working right.

So if we make some little changes, get you guys moving more, a little more movement, a little less TV, if we take out sugary drinks, if we can make school lunches better, if we get you guys educated and your families about what to eat -- these are all things we can control and it doesn’t take millions of dollars and a whole bunch of legislation to get it done.  We don’t have to count on people passing stuff, thank God, to move this problem along.  And if we all get pumped up and empowered, right, we can move this issue along. 

And that’s why I’m so excited about it and that’s why I’m counting on all of you.  Because my thing is that if we get you thinking differently now as middle schoolers and folks headed to college, you’re going to enter adulthood with a whole different baseline of understanding about nutrition.  So you’re not going to carry these problems into your adulthood and you’re going to help your kids learn a bit differently.

So you guys are the beginning of the solution, right?  Our goal with “Let’s Move” is to ensure that kids born today, right, grow up healthy.  And that means you’re going to be taking the lead. 

So if you’re thinking differently about how you eat, if you’re thinking about access and affordability to foods, if you’re thinking about growing your own foods, if you’re thinking consciously and making different choices and knowing that exercise isn’t a luxury, it’s like a necessity to keep up alive and you’ve got to find the thing that you’re going to do that gets you moving every day -- if you’re growing up like that, then you’re not going to have the bad habits that a lot of us grown people have a hard time getting rid of.

So we’re trying to teach you guys differently.  That doesn’t take -- that’s not rocket science.  That’s good information and a coordinated effort and I think that the country from what I can see is ready to respond.  People around the country -- I haven’t gotten a negative response from anybody -- not people, members of Congress, not people in the media, entertainers.  Everybody believes that this is an important issue and they think that they can help move it.  And they’re ready to help make you guys healthier.

So if all of us are online, right, then there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to significantly change this trend in your lifetime.

MS. SWAIN:  What’s your question?  Would you stand up and tell your name, too?

Q    My name is Robert.  Good morning.

MRS. OBAMA:  Good morning.

Q    How do you feel about childhood obesity and adult obesity -- do you think they’re the same problem?

MRS. OBAMA:  You know, I am not an expert on sort of the science of this issue.  What I do think is that it’s, as I said, it’s harder to break habits when you’re older.  The longer you do something, right -- eat a certain way, get adjusted to a certain kind of food, get used to a certain taste, get used to not exercising -- it’s hard to break that habit.  It’s hard for grownups to make changes.  It just is.

You guys are still open.  Your brains are still taking in new information.  Trust me, you can learn to love vegetables -- (laughter) -- even though it doesn’t feel that way.  Your taste buds change over time.  Right now if you get used to the taste of a really sugary food, your taste buds are going to adjust to that as being normal, right?  But if you start drinking more water and trying more vegetables, over time you’re taste buds will adjust to where that’s what you crave.  So you can adjust yourself at a young age to want healthy things.  But if all you’re eating is fast food and junk food, that’s just what you’re going to want.

So I just think it’s easier to help people change habits earlier.  That doesn’t mean that it’s not hard for kids to make different choices.  It’s just if it’s hard now, it’s going to really be hard when you get to be an adult.  So why get there, right?  Why not stop it now?  Why not get you guys in the habit of exercising and moving now so that you’re not struggling with these issues for the rest of your life?

MS. SWAIN:  Katie Romos (ph) is in Caro, Michigan, Charter Cable, and also a student documentarian.  Katie, what’s your question?

Q    Good morning, Mrs. Obama.  How do you think parents should address the issue of obesity with their young children?  Should they take a strong obvious approach or a more subtle approach that does not let the child know (inaudible) situation?

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes.  You know, I think it’s a real delicate balance because you want to make sure that kids feel good about themselves, right?  And I think that all parents know their kids better than anyone.  That’s one of those things where it’s -- that’s not -- you can't get involved in how somebody deals with their kids. 

But in the process, I think that we have to make sure that our kids still feel good about themselves no matter what their weight, no matter how they feel.  We need to make sure that our kids know that we love them no matter who they are, what they look like, what they’re eating.  That’s really important.

But what I found in my household is that making small changes and involving my kids in the changes without making it a problem, right -- without saying we’re now -- “Now you’re in trouble, now you’re no longer be able to do this or you’ll have to” -- it’s not a punishment.  I did it more as a, “Let’s figure out how we can do this.  Do we really need this many sugary snacks, and have we thought about what’s in our food?  Why don’t we think about this?”  And I tried to engage them in the process so that it didn’t feel like you’re being punished for something and that they felt more ownership over it.

So, I don't know, that might be viewed as a softer approach, but again, this isn’t about how our kids look -- this is about how our kids feel and it’s about helping our kids take ownership over their lives and what they eat and making sure they have the information that they need to make those choices.

MS. SWAIN:  Do you mind if we go over one minute for a student who’s been on the line for a long time?

MRS. OBAMA:  I don’t mind at all.

MS. SWAIN:  Okay.  This is Reshad Jaji (ph) who is in Cohoes, New York, and Boght Hills Elementary School, a Time Warner community.  Reshad, are you there?

Q    Yes.

MS. SWAIN:  Do you have a question for Mrs. Obama?

Q    Yes.

MS. SWAIN:  Go ahead and ask it please.

Q    Good morning, Mrs. Obama.

MRS. OBAMA:  How are you?

Q    Fine.  Good morning, Mrs. Obama.

MRS. OBAMA:  Good morning.  (Laughter.)

Q    (Inaudible.)

MRS. OBAMA:  I think it’s a great idea.  I think that the more information, the better.  That’s my bottom line on this issue.  There isn’t a thing as too much information.  The question is, what information and what format is right for what age and what community at what time.  And that’s, again, why I think that decisions about what’s taught in the schools and how should be something that principals and teachers and parents in those schools really think through and make sure it makes sense and works for the kids in their community.

MS. SWAIN:  Mrs. Obama told us how cameras follow her wherever she goes, which is why it’s easy to highlight an issue.  I brought along a photograph from the newspaper from last week when she and her two daughters went to New York City and all of the photographers followed as they went to a pizza parlor.  So I think the message here is it’s possible to eat pizza and still eat healthy?

MRS. OBAMA:  Absolutely.  Like I said, I don’t believe in any absolutes in this thing.  It’s really about balance, right?  Can you have junk food every day?  No.  You just can’t.  I wish the answer was yes.  We talk about this in my household all the time.  Why on Earth is there not -- why doesn’t healthy food taste like candy?  And that’s really the question.  And it’s one of those dilemmas of humankind.  I mean, the thing that is best for us isn’t always the thing that tastes the best, right? 

But that’s life, right?  I mean, that’s -- those are the beginnings of the lessons of life.  There’s a lot of stuff that you really need to do that you don't want to do, but you really need to do it.  And I know you’re looking because I’m sure your parents have told you that, right -- but they’re right.  And eating right is one of those things.

So in my household there is no -- there are no absolute nos.  We eat a lot of great, fun stuff.  We eat junk food, snack food -- but it’s a balance.  And desserts are on the weekend.  We set up some basic rules.  But sometimes you break that because if there’s a special occasion or a birthday party at school, there’s no way I’m going to tell my kids, “No, you can’t have that cake.“  It’s not going to work.  It would never work.

So balance and moderation is really to me the key not just to how we eat and exercise but how we live in this country.  And hopefully you guys develop those -- that sense of balance.  Know that you can’t have candy every day.  And if you’re doing it, you’re ruining your teeth, you’re making your parents mad, and you’re not going to be healthy.

MS. SWAIN:  Well, Matt Shimura, thank you for your documentary that brought all of us together today at the White House, and congratulations.

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, Matt.

MS. SWAIN:  And Mrs. Obama, on behalf of our students here and also watching around the country, thank you for your hospitality and the discussion.

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, guys.  Great questions.  (Applause.) 

END
12:04 P.M. EDT

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Remarks by the President and the First Lady at the 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll

11:01 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  How about Amber?  Please give Amber a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

Is everybody having a good time?  (Applause.)  Happy Easter, everybody.  We are thrilled that all of you could come.  I'm not going to make a long speech, because we’ve got the best speaker, the smartest and best-looking of the older Obamas -- (laughter) -- and that would be the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.  (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA:  Hey, everybody!  (Applause.)  Is this not the most perfect day for the Easter Egg Roll?  (Applause.)  Let’s say thank you to Mother Nature, yeah!  (Applause.)

You guys, we are so excited to have you.  Welcome to the 2010 Easter Egg Roll.  The theme for this year’s event is “Ready, Set” what?

AUDIENCE:  Go!

MRS. OBAMA:  Go!  And as you guys know, this year I launched a nationwide initiative to try to end the epidemic of childhood obesity.  It’s called “Let’s Move.”  And today we have transformed the South Lawn into a playground.  And our hope today is that in addition to having fun and doing some of the traditional activities like the egg roll and the Easter egg hunt, that you can learn about beginning to live a more healthy life.

We’ve got wonderful food stands over in the back.  We’ve got some of the area’s and the nation’s best chefs.  You can learn to cook.  There’s a farmers market.  You can see the garden. 

But we also have some great activities.  We’ve got several athletic centers.  We’ve got football, we’ve got basketball.  (Applause.)  We’ve got tennis, we’ve got yoga.  And we have some of the most phenomenal athletes here.  We’ve got our Washington Redskins here.  (Applause.)  We have Olympians -- Apolo Ohno.  We’ve got Billie Jean King.  (Applause.)  In the center we’re going to have some dancing, some hula-hooping.  We’ve got DJ Tony from the Ellen DeGeneres Show who’s going to do some stuff.  (Applause.)  And then if that's not enough, you can go over to the music stage and just have some fun with Justin Bieber.  (Applause.)  You guys know Justin Bieber?  (Applause.)  You’ve heard of Justin Bieber?  (Applause.)  Well, he’s here.  (Applause.) 

And we have Sara Bareilles, one of my favorites; the cast of Glee.  (Applause.)  Yay!  And thank you, Amber, for that wonderful rendition of the national anthem.  (Applause.)

And then we’ve got readers.  There’s always -- reading is important.  We’ve got J.K. Rowling, one of our favorite authors here.  (Applause.)  Reese Witherspoon.  We’ve got tons of people who are here just to have fun with you guys today.

So the only thing you need to do is get ready, set, and do what? 

AUDIENCE:  Go!

MRS. OBAMA:  One thing I want to do -- I want to thank all of the volunteers who helped put this thing together.  Everyone, our volunteers working all weekend, setting up this amazing event. 

I want to thank our staff, Ellie Schafer.  Ellie!  (Applause.)  And Joe Reinstein for putting this together.  They have done just an amazing job.  We are thrilled to have you here.  We’re going to have 30,000 people in our backyard today, and we want every single one of you to have fun, to think about living a healthy life, and to get moving.

So with that, we’re going to go over and we’re going to do a little Easter egg rolling.  We’re going to do a little reading.  So we look forward to seeing you all.

Have fun, and thank you for being here.  (Applause.)

END
11:05 A.M. EDT

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Remarks by the First Lady, Senator Bill Frist, Mayor Cory Booker and Dr. Jim Gavin at Foundation Chair Announcement Conference Call

Via telephone

11:02 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, good morning, everyone.  This is Mrs. Obama.  It’s good to have you all on the line.  Thank you so much for joining us as we take another very important step forward in the work to address America’s childhood obesity crisis.  This is a very exciting step for us.

As all of you know, nearly two months ago we launched this magnificent campaign, “Let’s Move.”  The nationwide goal of the effort, as all of you know, is to rally this country around a single and very ambitious goal, and that’s to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation so that children born today will grow up at a healthy weight.

And with this initiative, we’ve issued a call to action for the nation.  We said let’s move in so many ways.  We said let’s move to give parents the information that they need to make good decisions for their kids’ health.  We said let’s move to get healthier food into our schools.  Let’s move to get more supermarkets into underserved areas, so that every single American in this country has access to fresh and nutritious foods.  And we’ve also said let’s move to help our kids be more physically active –- not just in school but outside of school as well.

But we were also clear from the very beginning when we launched this effort that the solution to this problem isn’t going to come from Washington.  I have had the pleasure of talking to a number of experts around this issue, and not a single one of them has said that the answer to this problem is for the federal government to tell people what to do.  This is going to take all of us getting involved. 

It’s going to require a non-partisan effort because there’s nothing partisan about this issue.  There’s nothing Democratic or Republican about wanting our kids to lead active and healthy lives.  And there’s really nothing liberal or conservative about wanting to reduce the billions of health care dollars we spend each year treating obesity-related conditions. 

Ultimately, this solution is going to be about families and communities making manageable, commonsense changes that fit with their budgets that fit with their needs and their individual goals.

But we all have to play a role in making this happen.  Families can’t do this alone, which is why we’re bringing together governors, and mayors, and parents, and educators, and doctors, and businesses, community groups, all of us.  And I’ve spoken to almost all of these groups over the last month asking them to come together to tackle this challenge once and for all.

And that’s why a new foundation that we’ve created along with this movement -- the Partnership for Healthy America -- is going to be so critical to these efforts.  And I’m very proud of the work that's been done to pull this foundation together.

The Foundation is going to serve as an independent, non-partisan player that’ll mobilize the private sector, foundations, government officials, the media and others around the goals of the “Let’s Move” campaign.

The Foundation will seek truly meaningful commitments from all of these players, and will do something very critical -- and that is measure the success of these efforts and hold us all accountable.

The Foundation is going to also connect potential partners from the public, private and non-profit sectors, working to support the best, the most innovative programs in our communities -– and working to replicate these success stories all across the country.  And that's really the key to this.  As I’ve traveled around, we have many of the answers already at our fingertips.  If you go into states and cities across this country, many are already working to bring their local solutions to this problem.  We need to highlight and elevate those successes.  This Foundation is going to be critical in playing a role in that.  So it’s very exciting.

I have agreed to serve as the honorary chair of this Foundation.  And today, I am pleased and very proud to announce that two incredibly outstanding individuals –- Mayor Cory Booker and Senator Bill Frist -– have agreed to serve as the Foundation’s honorary vice chairs.

As all of you know, Senator Frist and Mayor Booker are both distinguished public servants who are passionately committed to the health and well-being of not just our young people but this country.

Over the past four years, Mayor Booker has made tremendous strides transforming the city of Newark.  He’s done work to increase affordable housing, doing a fabulous job of reducing crime in the city, renovating the parks, playgrounds and recreation centers to provide safe places for children in the city to be active.  And he’s committed to making Newark a model for what a city can do to address childhood obesity.

So I’m so happy to have Mayor Booker with us.  I’m thrilled that he’s agreed to bring the kind of energy, that contagious energy that he has, to focus on this issue and lead this new Foundation.

 In addition to being a renowned heart surgeon and lung transplant surgeon, Senator Frist served, as you all know, as the Senate Majority Leader from 2003 to 2007.

Since he left the Senate, he’s devoted himself to health and humanitarian efforts around the world, leading medical mission trips to Africa and founding an organization called Hope Through Healing Hands to improve health care in developing nations.

In the Senate, he took the lead in sponsoring legislation to address childhood obesity, and I am truly delighted that he’s agreed to bring his passion and expertise to this Foundation.

I also want to recognize the diverse and talented group of advocates, business leaders, dedicated philanthropists who have come together to serve on the board of this Foundation.

Specifically, I’d like to thank the Board’s Chair, James Gavin, for offering his strong leadership to ensure that this Foundation attracts the kind of commitments that are going to be essential to reach our goals.

And I also want to end by thanking the extraordinary organizations that have come together to organize the fund, and fund this new Foundation.  We would not be here if it weren’t for these organizations, and they include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente, Nemours, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Brookings Institute, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

This is a phenomenal group of organizations, people, of leaders that represent all of America.  I am thrilled that all of you have come together to support this effort.  This is why I’m confident that we can move the mark on this issue, because this effort and this issue means so much that we’ve just been able to bring together a group of individuals that has been working on this issue for decades, that understands these challenges in a very powerful way, and will have the commitment and the passion that we need to move this issue forward. 

So I am grateful, truly grateful, to all of you -- not just for being on this call, but for taking the time that it’s going to require to get us to our goals.

So with that, it is now my pleasure to turn this meeting over to Senator Frist.  Senator Frist, I know you’re there.  Thank you, it’s good to have you onboard.  I’m very excited.

SENATOR FRIST:  Well, thank you, Mrs. Obama, and I just, with everybody on the phone, want to thank you and really applaud you for your vision, for your leadership, your commitment, and your demonstrated understanding that this is a solvable problem and that we can do this and we can end this epidemic within a generation. 

It’s an issue that was not an issue in my early childhood years, so it is generational in the way it’s been created, to where it is a true epidemic today.  But also it is a solvable problem, and we can do so, just as you outlined, through partnerships, working together.

And it’s an honor for me to join you and Mayor Booker and Jim Gavin as leaders on this initiative, an initiative that has been important to me.  As you mentioned, as a heart surgeon, when I’ve dedicated my professional healing aspects of my life to dealing with heart disease, which has a direct causal relationship to obesity, and as a former public official and current public health advocate, this is a huge problem to individuals, their individual lives, to children, and to our health care system broadly in terms of the costs that it imposes. 

It is reversible.  We know that obesity is associated with more chronic conditions than smoking or excessive drinking.  Data suggests that health care costs of obese adults exceed the health care costs by other healthier people by 91 percent -- almost a doubling in health care costs; clearly an issue, as we look ahead in terms of health care costs and the impact they have on individuals and the fiscal state of our country.

The obese patients consume more health care resources, and we see this across the entire continuum of health care, from hospitals to ambulatory care centers to pharmacists. 

The problem is increasing, so it’s not a static problem.  So our first goal is going to be flatten it out and then eliminate it over a generation.  The United States is expected to spend over $340 billion on health care costs attributable to obesity just 10 years from now -- 10 years from today.  That’s a cost of about $1,425 per person -- four times what it is today.  Today it’s about $361.

Just by holding the current rate of obesity steady, we can save $55 billion in projected health care costs, much of which could be passed along to the American taxpayer, or invested in other aspects of quality of life issues.

And lastly I just thought I'd mention -- because this -- and I say this as a physician, as someone who has dealt regularly with obesity in my own practice -- this is an issue about individuals, as well -- maybe even predominantly individuals; their dignity, the stigma, the self-esteem, the prejudice that’s associated with being overweight today.

You know, I made this whole fight against childhood obesity a priority, as the First Lady mentioned, during my days in the Senate, championing such legislation as the Childhood Obesity Reduction Act.  And I think, as the First Lady says, this is not going to predominantly be a government solution.  It’s going to be partnerships with businesses and families and parents and children and philanthropists and organizations and foundations all working together. 

I’ve extended my work in the Senate, since I’ve been out of the Senate, and focusing on kids -- more recently through efforts to provide simple things like athletic shoes to children in Tennessee and indeed in the developing world.

So the challenge is achievable, but only through this broad-based participation.  And as I think both Mayor Booker and I demonstrate on the surface, it’s something we all know that it is no one political party or sector that can solve this problem.

It’s important that this issue not get swept up in all the partisan politics of Washington.  The fact that Mayor Booker and I are outside of Washington mean in part our responsibility to join the First Lady as we get the message out across the country.  But it is clearly a target that we all strive together and address in these partnerships in working in public and private sectors together.  We need to get out of Washington, take this message to people all across the country.  And both Mayor Booker and I have expressed our willingness not just to be names on the masthead, even though we’re called honorary vice chairs of the partnership, but to be on the ground to work it, to travel, to give voice, to study it, and to work with the Foundation.

So I enthusiastically join the First Lady and the partnership and this cause, and I truly believe that together we can end this epidemic within a generation.

So thank you, Mrs. Obama, and I will turn it over to Mayor Booker.

MAYOR BOOKER:  Hey.  It’s so fantastic to be on this call, and I’m deeply grateful for my partner who just spoke, Senator Frist, who has been an inspiration to me on many levels for quite some time.  Dr. Gavin, who will speak next, is just, again, is a great relationship for me personally to make through this partnership.  And exciting things are going to happen by, I believe, the leadership that we’re bringing together.

     But more importantly, we can’t lose focus about what this is about.  This is about young people.  This is about our families.  It’s about our neighborhoods.  It’s about our communities.  Those are the fundamental building blocks for America.  And what we are seeing here on the local level, what we all know, is that this is an epidemic problem within our nation, and we see it in urban areas in particular. 

     And it’s very difficult, as I deal with many children every day, to see the impact that obesity has on self-esteem, self-confidence, the kids’ prides in themselves, kids’ love of themselves.  And I tell you, I know more than anything that if our children don’t love themselves, don’t have pride in themselves, we can’t ask them to love their neighborhoods, their communities, their cities, or for their nation.

     And we see that not only is it hurting those seminal parts of our very being and our soul, but it means decreased academic performance, it means a loss of productivity.  We even see connections between obesity and violence.

     And so we know ultimately that it’s about our children, but as the great American writer James Baldwin said, children are never good at listening to their elders, but they never fail to imitate them.  And so we as adults within communities and within families and neighborhoods and cities really have to start setting examples, being the role model, doing more -- but empowering.  This is not about finger pointing to what families aren’t doing; it’s about creating strong communities that nurture the kind of outcomes and habits and cultural norms that we can indeed enjoy and celebrate and create what’s important.

     And so we know in Newark and in cities all across America that there are families that don’t let their children play because there’s no safe places to play, no green spaces to play.  They want to keep their kids in the house for the basic human need of security.  We also know that there are no healthy food options for many families, either at the schools that they send their kids to, or no healthy options even because they don’t have access to supermarkets or places with even green vegetables.

     Now, these are challenges and problems, but we also know that all around America there are activists and innovators and concerned citizens who are trying to find solutions, and indeed showing and demonstrating ways to make a difference. 

Here in Newark we’re trying to do it in many different ways, not only by working in partnership with the private sector in building parks, but also creating fun activities that get people out of their homes into the communities.  Last year we started a triathlon that was about getting people to bike ride to all the city’s different recreation centers so that they could rediscover those gyms that we actually already have in our community.  We’re experimenting with urban gardens and many other things.

     And that to me is the beauty of our nation.  We have islands of excellence everywhere in America, and what this partnership is about is growing those islands of excellence into hemispheres of hope.  I was taught by my mother that African wisdom that spider webs united could tie up a lion.  And this is why I’m just so honored and humbled that the First Lady would choose to involve me in this because she -- by doing this call to our country’s consciousness, to our country’s awareness for our country to come together, she really is weaving together a lot of those great leaders and activists and foundations and businesses to try to create truly a unified nation around the issues that we all indeed agree upon, which is the welfare and future of our children.

     So I’m looking forward to celebrating the success of our efforts to be not just honorary but ornery at times in trying to push hard to get change to happen.  I’m looking forward to joining with other leaders, and the First Lady has already done a great job at shining the light on many of my partner mayors around the country, whether it’s Chip Johnson from Hernando, Mississippi, or Joseph Curtatone from Somerville, Massachusetts.  We’re going to really be making a clarion call to people all around this country to come together.

     And the beautiful thing about this is by finding those innovations that are going on in other neighborhoods, I’m a big believer and I know from my parents’ upbringing that real social change in America around any issue always happens from the grassroots up.  And by shining the light of the First Lady and our national partners and players on those local activities, we not only will be able to celebrate them but we will be able to study them, learn from them, figure out how to grow them.

     So I just want to again thank the (inaudible) of coming together, the vision of our First Lady.  This is something that we can do, that we must do, and I believe with this auspicious start that we will do.  Thank you.

     DR. GAVIN:  This is Jim Gavin.  And on behalf of the Partnership for a Healthier America Board of Directors, I want to thank the First Lady, Senator Frist, and Mayor Booker for the important support that they bring to this partnership.  We are honored to have this commitment and their leadership from these very special individuals as we chart a new course for this private/public effort. 

By setting the first national target for childhood obesity, the First Lady has taken an important step to move the nation towards addressing one of the greatest dangers facing our children today. 

     Now, along with our honorary chair and vice chairs from whom you’ve heard, we are also pleased to publicly present the first board of directors of the partnership.  The board is a diverse and powerful group of stakeholders who are committed to providing real leadership on this issue. 

Now, the partnership has been organized by the collective vision of the organization that has already been mentioned by the First Lady in her remarks.  You can expect to be hearing a lot from this new organization as we begin to mobilize for action around this important initiative.

With the First Lady’s support, we are at a (inaudible) to address these challenges from childhood obesity.  Now, many of us have been fighting the battle against childhood obesity for decades.  But some in our country are just (inaudible) to the seriousness of this obesity epidemic where one in three of our children are overweight or obese.

The rates of childhood obesity have doubled in the last 10 years, has increased fourfold in the last 40 years, and as many as one in every three of our children will develop diabetes or high blood pressure in their lifetime.  It’s a very serious issue.

     With the “Let’s Move” and the grassroots pressures that are emerging, large corporations, non-profits and public institutions are feeling the pressure to respond to the crisis. 

Now, our goal is to complement and accelerate efforts that are already underway across America to address the important issues.  In addition to the work of cities like Newark, state governments as well have enacted legislation or implemented programs to improve the nutritional quality of the lunches and snacks provided in schools and in childcare settings, or to strengthen physical education class.  Other private sector and private foundation initiatives have focused on comprehensive multi-step approaches and environmental factors that make neighborhoods more conducive to healthy eating and regular physical activity. 

     There are a lot of community intervention, such as those funded by the Healthy Eating Active Living Convergence Partnership, that includes increasing access to park, sidewalks and fresh groceries, including (inaudible) and educating caretakers of children about nutrition.

As a doable, independent, nonpartisan foundation, the Partnership for a Healthier America -- PHA, as we will refer to it in shorthand -- will (inaudible) in the large ecosystem of communities, state, and nationally based efforts in that it will focus not only on identifying the solutions to this challenge, but also on creating new norms across all sectors and levels of our society.

     PHA does not seek to compete with (inaudible) or grant-making foundations who are doing important work of their own around these issues, but rather will serve to facilitate partnerships with meaningful and scalable programs at the community, state and national levels and lift up and help scale and replicate their success.  It will do so by convening private, public and non-profit sector members to facilitate meaningful and substantial commitments and hold them accountable by measuring their impact.

     Now, as you heard from the First Lady, we have given ourselves an aggressive mandate and we expect to meet it.  Over the next year, and throughout the lifetime of the foundation, you can expect us to negotiate directly with those organizations and individuals most equipped to bring measurable impact to the First Lady’s target, even some CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, national bank leaders, and the leading non-profits. 

     But we also want to celebrate local community heroes and grassroots leaders whose innovating solutions simply lack the resources needed to reach scale.  We look forward to hosting our first annual meeting with the First Lady towards the beginning of next year to take stock of our progress and recognize those that have stepped up to this cause, while at the same time encouraging those who haven’t yet joined us to do so in this mission.

     Now, we want to encourage that you get more information and updates on our progress by visiting our Web site, www.ahealthieramerica.org.  That’s www.ahealthieramerica.org.  I’d like to thank all of you for your participation in this exchange today, for your help and for your interest in this critically important health issue for our nation.  Thank you and goodbye.

END
11:28 A.M. EDT

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Remarks by the First Lady at Spring Garden Planting event

4:05 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Hey, guys.  What’s going on?  Are you awake?

CHILDREN:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes!  What have you been doing?  Just sitting here?

CHILDREN:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  Did they let you have an apple?

CHILDREN:  No.

MRS. OBAMA:  Sam, what are you doing?  (Laughter.)  You can have an apple.  How about that?  Way to start.

Hi, everybody.  Welcome to the White House!  How many of you have been here before?  Yes, I see my familiar faces.  What’s going on?  How was summer?  How was the start of -- how was winter break?  How was Christmas?  I haven’t seen you in a while.  Was it good? 

CHILDREN:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Are you ready to work? 

CHILDREN:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  How are my new faces?  Let me see the new people.  See some hands.  Good to have you.  Welcome.

Well, thank you.  Thanks for coming here.

I wanted to start by thanking a couple of people besides you all, right.

Okay, the first -- I want to thank the President’s Cabinet members who are here today with me:  Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary Vilsack, this gentleman to my right.  (Applause.)  And the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary Sebelius.  (Applause.)  They have done so much to help us get the “Let’s Move” campaign going, and I am so grateful for their support.  Some of you have seen these guys around.  You’ve seen Secretary Vilsack.  He’s been at stuff with us.  So they’ve been really helpful.

And I also have to thank Melody Barnes.  Is Melody here?  Melody is coming, but Melody has also been a big help.  She’s the President’s Domestic Policy Advisor, and she’s chair of the Childhood Obesity Task Force, so she’s been a big help.

And I also want to thank somebody special who’s with us today, and that’s Christy Vilsack who is Secretary Vilsack’s wife.  Raise your hand, Christy, so the kids can see you.  (Applause.)  I know that Christy is a really good cook, so she’s going to really be excited about what we’re going to plant, because she’ll really know what to do with all the stuff that we plant.

And finally I want to thank all of you -- you guys.  We’ve got our old familiar faces from Bancroft School who are here.  Yay, Elementary School Bancroft.  (Applause.)  And we also have students from Hollin Meadows Elementary School.  Hey, guys.  (Applause.)

Some of your classmates and some of you guys were part of helping us get the first garden ready, right?  You guys did all the hard work.  And this year we’re ready to do it again.  Can you believe it’s been a whole year?  Can you believe it?  (Laughter.)  A whole year!  You guys have grown so much!  But I’m excited you guys are here.

Just last year we began by getting -- what did we do first?  The first thing you did when you came here, what did we have to do?  We had to get the soil ready, because if you remember, this was all grass.  And you remember we had to create those mounds because the soil wasn’t really ready to plant; we didn’t even know if it was going to grow anything?  So you guys helped us get the soil ready.

And then we came and we did what after the soil was ready?  What did we do?  What did we put in the ground?  We put some seeds in and we put some buds in.  Last year we did broccoli.  What else did we plant?

CHILD:  Sweet potatoes.

MRS. OBAMA:  We did some sweet potatoes in the fall.  What did we do in the spring?  What were the vines that came up?  Peas!  We did some peas.  Sam knows.  Very good, Sam.  (Laughter.)  And we did some onions.  And we did a bunch of herbs.  Don’t you remember we did chives and garlic and rosemary and all that good stuff?  And for dessert, remember over there we planted all the berries?  We have blueberries and raspberries and blackberries. 

And you guys remember the beehive that’s right over there that’s still there?  We got good honey, and we used it to make a salad.

So then we did all that and we watched it grow.  And wasn’t it amazing how it went from this to -- what?  Do you remember what the garden looked like when we were tunneling through and planting?  Everything was high.  Everything gets to be about my height.

So it is pretty exciting.  So last October, with all the work that you guys did, you know what we were able to do?  We harvested over 55 different kinds of healthy foods -- 55 in that little piece of dirt -- 55.  And you know how many pounds of fruits and vegetables we harvested?  Can you guess?  Give me a guess.  What’s your closest guess?  Yes.

CHILD:  One hundred and four?

MRS. OBAMA:  No, higher.  What?

CHILDREN:  Eight hundred?

MRS. OBAMA:  Eight hundred?  Close.

CHILD:  Five hundred?

MRS. OBAMA:  Higher.

CHILD:  One thousand.

MRS. OBAMA:  One thousand pounds.  One thousand pounds of food.  Can you imagine that?  That’s pretty amazing. 

So we learned a lot about how fun gardening was -- at least I did.  I wasn’t really a gardener, and I’ve had so much fun.  No matter where you live or what age you are, you can grow stuff.  And also it’s pretty fun being outside here with all of you guys.  I look forward to being outside in the sun.  It’s getting a little hot now, but it’s good digging in the dirt, getting a little dirty, getting dirt under your nails.  Remember we were pulling up those big leeks?  What were those things we were pulling up?  Some were potatoes, but you were pulling up something heavy.  What were those big root things we -- the fennel, that’s right.  You remember the fennel that we pulled up?

So there’s nothing like watching tiny seeds grow into something amazing.  But the thing is -- and I don’t know if you guys have been watching -- but the garden was about more than just planning healthy food, right, because we were able to feed not just the staff at the White House, but we provided food to people at homeless shelters.  So we used that food to feed a lot of people.  But we also began a conversation about getting kids and parents and teachers all across the country thinking about living healthy. 

So just think, the work that you did helped start a national and international conversation.  You guys did it.  Everybody is talking about that garden, not just here in Washington, not just here in the United States, but all over the world.  And we’ve been able to start thinking about things like getting kids to try new foods that they’ve never tried, vegetables that they’ve never had.  You guys have been helpful in getting your families to think more healthy about what they eat, getting your communities to make different decisions.  We’ve also even started talking to schools about how do we make your school lunches even more healthy, right?

So everyone is really focused on this.  We’ve even talked to the grocery manufacturers, the people that make the food.  And they’re trying to figure out how do they lower sugar and salt and fats in your food so that you get healthy.  Everybody is really focused on this.

So this has been great.  And it’s because of the work that all of you guys have done.  Would you ever imagine that what you did last year would lead to all of this?  Would you?  Could you?  And we’re ready to do it again this year.  Are we ready?

CHILDREN:  Yes.

MRS. OBAMA:  So we’re going to get started this year with our new group of students, because each of you has a garden in your school.  Bancroft, you guys have a garden, and you’re doing good work, and I got to go and visit your garden.  You guys taught me some new things about planting and we worked together.  And I hope to visit your school again sometime this year or in the fall.

And you guys from Hollin Meadows, I got to visit your garden as well.  You guys are doing some really cool stuff with education and figuring out how to tie your garden in with science and math and everything.  How many of you guys from Hollin Meadows work in your garden?  How many people have helped with the garden?  And that’s probably why you’re here.

So it’s important for you all to know that with the power of what you’re doing with gardening, you’ve got the whole country talking about gardening and eating healthy.

So I am grateful to you all for the work that you’ve done.  You’ve done an excellent job, and we couldn’t do it -- I don’t think anybody would have paid much attention to this garden if it weren’t for you.

So I am so proud of you all for what you’ve done, and we’re ready to get started again.  And as a result of your efforts, we started this big campaign called “Let’s Move,” where we’re asking parents to get better information and make different decisions.  We’re working with athletes who are going to start trying to get you guys moving.  We’ve asked you all to do your parts.  We’ve asked you to make different choices.  We’ve asked you to turn off the TV a little bit and get more exercise and play outside.  Everybody is ready to do their part.

So you guys have just been a great support to us here at the White House, and I’m looking so forward to starting this garden for the second year.  And hopefully we can make some more changes, we can get more kids focused on eating healthy and we can educate the whole country and maybe even the whole world.  What do you think about that?

All right.  So now I’m going to turn it over to Secretary Sebelius -- you’re next.  And then Secretary Vilsack is going to say a few things to welcome you guys, and then we’re going to get going, okay?

All right, so here’s Secretary Sebelius.

END
4:14 P.M. EDT

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Remarks by the First Lady at Newsweek Q&A Event

12:39 P.M. EDT

Q    Thank you so much.  Thank you, Ms. Weymouth, for your hospitality, and thank you all for coming.  This is our cover subject.  We tried to make the picture a little bigger.

MRS. OBAMA:  I know, right.  (Laughter.)

Q    But I will say Newsweek has been publishing for 77 years, and I believe this is the first time within six weeks or so we’ve had both a husband and a wife write the cover story.  So -- (laughter) -- I know you’ll --  

MRS. OBAMA:  So whose was better, though?  (Laughter.)  That's ultimately how spouses operate, right? (Laughter.)

Q    That’s a very good point, that’s a very good point.  So with all this “first” stuff and living in the White House, forget it.  It’s the Newsweek --

MRS. OBAMA:  This is the one.

Q    It’s the Newsweek cover.

MRS. OBAMA:  I agree.

Q    Why this issue?  Why childhood obesity, of all the things you could have picked?

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, first of all I think it’s absolutely relevant right now.  The statistics are clear, you know.  We’re seeing rates of childhood obesity go up like never before.  And I think the country is also at a point where we’re ready.  And I think that's one of the reasons why the “Let’s Move” initiative has been so well received by so many industries and parents and teachers, is because I think we know there’s a problem, and we’re going to have to come together to solve it.

Now, personally, the issue for me is a personal one.  I’ve spoken about this often, how in my busy lifestyle, before coming into the White House, I was living like most busy mothers -- a husband traveled a lot, I had a full-time job, I bought for convenience and cost.  And I saw some changes -- or my pediatrician saw some changes in my children’s diet that caused him to say, “Hold on.”  And I think I was like most mothers -- I thought I was doing absolutely everything that I was supposed to be doing.  And to me my kids looked fine.  They were perfectly -- hey, you know, they’re my kids, they’re gorgeous.

But I made some changes.  And they were very simple changes in our lifestyle, but it made significant differences -- made a significant difference in how the kids felt, how we felt as a family. 

And I started thinking, well, if I didn’t know these things -- and I’m educated, have resources, I have the support that I need -- what are other families doing?  How are other mothers, people who live in communities that don't have grocery stores -- how are they making these decisions?  How are we teaching kids how to eat?  What’s happened to our habits? 

So even before coming to the White House, this issue moved me in a way that made me think we need to explore this a little bit more.

And then we planted this beautiful garden, 1,100 square feet of pure joy.  And that gave us an opportunity in a very sort of non-confrontational way to begin exploring the questions of how do kids respond to nutritious food and vegetables if they’re part of the process of growing and getting involved.  That's one of the reasons why getting the kids in the D.C. area involved in the work was critical.  And their response really sent us the message that we might be ready to begin this conversation in a more comprehensive way.

So, you know, the time is right.  It’s also important in my husband’s administration, which is something that I try to do with the issues that I take on.  I mean, I say this a lot:  I am here to support the President of the United States, and health care is one of the most important issues that this country is facing.  We are spending $147 billion on obesity-related conditions that are preventable.  And if we can make ourselves healthier, that's going to go a long way to helping find some solutions to this problem.  And these issues intersect in a very important and compelling way.

Q    How did we get here?  What is the history of this?

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, you know, I don't think there’s any one path to how we got there.  I know I have my theories.  I think lifestyles have changed significantly.  I reminisce with people about what it was like for me growing up on the South Side of Chicago in a simple working-class community.  You went to the school around the corner from your house because all the schools were solid enough that you just went to the school in your neighborhood.  So you walked to school, number one.

And there was recess and gym.  I was talking to one of my staff members just about how lunchtime, it was an hour. And my mother was one of the mothers that didn’t work, so me and all my friends, we’d come back to our house, we’d watch soap operas, we’d eat lunch.  (Laughter.)  We’d complain about our teachers.

Q    Which ones?

MRS. OBAMA:  “All My Children,” I have to say.  (Laughter.)   That was a big one.

Q    We just made news, ma’am.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  But that was a lunchtime treat, and it was a way -- you know, I thought -- so we ate, we had time to eat our food, have a conversation with our parents, and then go back to school, catch that last minute of play.  So it was a lot of activity. 

We didn’t -- we had seven channels, not 107.  Internet, video games were not a part of the culture.  You had to go outside to play.  So I think kids were naturally more active than they are today.  And now kids are going to schools where they have to take a bus, a car ride.  Some neighborhoods are not safe.  And no matter what you say, in some neighborhoods you can’t tell parents, “Just let your kids go out and play,” because it isn’t safe.  Some kids don't even have friends in their own neighborhood because they live in different communities.

So things have changed, and we are a busier culture.  Parents -- two parents working in the household, so you’re coming home, you’re tired.  We all do it, right?  You know you shouldn’t go to that drive-thru, but you’re just tired, and you know they’ll eat the food without complaining.

We’re also a culture and a society right now that snacks a lot more.  Just some of the statistics I talked about in my speech yesterday was that the average snack amount when I was growing up was one snack a day, if you were lucky.  And now it’s averaging two to three.  They say the average school-age kid is getting six snacks a day.  So we’re taking 200 more calories than we were 40 years ago, 30 years ago just from snacks alone.

So I think some of that convenience, you know, makes it very easy.  You pick up a little bag of chips, you throw it in, the kids are hungry, they’re grabbing this, they’re grabbing that, and before you know it, they’ve snacked their way through the day.

So I think those are just some of the things.  But there are many, many, many -- physical education, the level of activity.  All of that is I think a part of it.

Q    What’s an analogous public health campaign that you think has been successful that could be a kind of model for this? 

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, that’s a --

Q    Is it smoking?  Is it seat belts?

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, you know, I think seat belts is one of those.  And I actually was talking to Mike Huckabee about this, because he actually made the analogy that this is one of those issues where culturally folks have to be ready to make the shift, you know.  You cannot mandate, legislate seat belt wearing.  You could, but does it really work?  The same thing is true for how we eat and how we live.  You can’t tell people what to do in their own homes, and nor should you.  But there comes a point when we start seeing enough statistics, we sort of get aware of the problems in our own homes, and we start -- we get emotionally ready to make some of those changes.

So we’re at a point now where I think the society is ready for more information.  Parents are looking for the answers.  They know that something is off, and they just now want to figure out, well, what do I need to know?  What am I doing wrong?

Had a conversation with a girlfriend at dinner last night, and we were talking about, “Well, is apple juice okay?  And what about chocolate milk?”  I mean, and this is an educated woman who is confused about what beverage is actually going to be okay, outside of water, which we know is fine.  But parents, societies, schools, we’re now ready to figure that out so that we can make good choices. 

We all care about our kids -- that goes without saying, and that’s why this is not a “blame game” kind of issue.  People are just trying to figure out how to survive, how to make sure their kids are happy and healthy.  And sometimes we just don’t get the information that we need.  And seat belt laws are a similar -- one of those similar challenges, that once we were ready, we were ready to take in the information and make the changes.

Q    It has worked.  How much -- you’ve talked about the cultural shift -- how much of this is regulatory?  What is government’s role in these issues, which I suspect is both a federal and a state, even local question too?

MRS. OBAMA:  Right, right, right.  Well, as I said, there is no expert that will tell you that having government tell people what to do is going to make a difference in this issue.  So the role of government is not to mandate.  And I think the roles are different.  I think at the federal level, at this level, we can highlight and inform.  There are things that we can do at this level, with the FDA, for example, working with food manufacturers to have better front-of-package labeling, things like that.  We can finance and leverage money to try to get more groceries into underserved communities.  We can make sure that we pass legislation that gets us a strong Nutrition Authorization Act so that we get better food in our schools and that there are guidelines that the private sector and schools can follow.

But I think the real work happens on the ground.  It’s our governors, our mayors, our schools, our communities.  And that’s one of the reasons why I’ve been traveling so much, is that a lot of the answers are already out there, even in states like Mississippi who struggle more with this issue than most.  I did some visits with the governor and his wife, terrific folks.  They care about this issue; they know it’s a problem.  And they’re doing some great work to really ramp up physical education in the schools.  You’ve got teachers who are redesigning play spaces and they’re getting kids hula-hooping and jumping rope and they’re making teachers do more work and having them think about their diets.  They’ve created requirements where teachers have to eat lunch with the kids, and they’ve seen vegetable and fruit consumption go up because -- not just with the kids but with the teachers as well.  (Laughter.)

So you can go into many states and see some wonderful examples of things that work in those communities, because there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.  What works in Mississippi may not work in Arizona, may not work in Connecticut.  So we really need to look to the governors and mayors who know their communities, who understand their issues, their challenges, and that we work from there, and that we highlight those things that work -- like in Pennsylvania.  They’ve done an amazing job to deal with the issue of food deserts that I’ve talked about; you know, the 23.5 million Americans that live in communities without access to a supermarket.  And there were neighborhoods like that when I was growing up. 

There’s one community in Philadelphia -- we went to visit a grocery store -- that community hadn’t had a grocery store in a decade.  So you think about -- you know, that’s a child’s life, right?  Ten years of a child’s life where their mother couldn’t walk down the street and buy some fruit and a head of broccoli. 

So they’ve structured a financing initiative that leverages government dollars with private sector dollars, and they’ve been able to incentivize getting grocery stores into underserved communities, not just in urban areas but in some of the more rural areas in the state.

So we need to -- we can highlight those successes and hopefully give other states an example of what they might try, what might work.

Q    On Tuesday, you spoke to the Grocery Manufacturers Association.  They sell not only in those supermarkets, those grocery stores, they sell vegetables and fruit; I hear that there’s also some sugary stuff around -- (laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  A few things, a few things.

Q    My five-year-old has briefed me on this.

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes, yes.  (Laughter.)

Q    And my question is, one logical extension, if the epidemic is as significant and widespread as it seems to be, what would you think about a warning label on Twinkies or Froot Loops that says --

MRS. OBAMA:  “Warning.”

Q    -- “This is known to cause obesity in the absence of other kinds of eating and exercise”?

MRS. OBAMA:  You know, that strikes me as extreme, because a Twinkie is not a cigarette, you know.  And what -- what parents need is just information about what’s in the Twinkie and how much of this can we eat.  It’s not that we can’t have a Twinkie.  And our kids would be pretty upset.  And I am not supporting that.  (Laughter.)  So all the kids out there -- right? 

Q    It’s called triangulation, ma’am.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  I’m all in favor of good snacks.  We grew up with snacks and chips.  We did.  But we have to exercise more, parents have to understand what’s in the Twinkie; again, how does it fit into the overall diet.  So we don’t need a warning, we need information.  And we need information that’s easy to understand.  That’s something that I said yesterday in the speech.  You read labels now and it’s like the small print and it’s all “oleosutomay” -- or I don’t -- the chemicals, you can’t even pronounce them, and the portion sizes compared to one, and you’ve got a small one and a big one.  And then, before you know it, you don’t know what to buy and how much to give to your kids and in what amounts.  That’s the kind of information that families need.

And I think that the Grocery Store Manufacturers who are -- they have been magnificent.  And I know that there are those who say, well, are they going to really make changes?  Look, the people who run those companies are parents and grandparents, too.  They care about their kids.  They’re trying to figure out how to meet the demand and how to give information.

And we know that they’re going to sit down -- you know, we know they’re going to sit down and help us figure this stuff out.  You know, what are the facts that parents need to know; how do we structure it in a way that they can understand; and how do they meet the demands that we are now going to make -- because it’s really up to us, as the parents and the consumers, to change the demand. 

They will make what we tell them we want to buy.  And if we want healthier foods for our kids, and that's what we’re purchasing, our power will shift their market.  We don't need much more than our own demands to change, and we need to work with our kids to also get them to change their eating habits as well.

So it’s going to require all of us to do their parts, and then we don't need the warning labels.  We just need common sense and good information.

Q    Twinkies are safe in the Obama administration.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes, we are -- (laughter) -- yes, I think I'm -- I feel good going on record.  (Laughter.)

Q    Okay.  We don't have to pass a special rule.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  No.

Q    Where do you stand on a beverage tax for sugary beverages?

MRS. OBAMA:  You know, the “Let’s Move” initiative doesn’t -- we’re not -- doesn’t involve a tax.  But there are communities that believe that taxing sodas and other things works for them.  And again, because, you know, we believe that those ideas and those approaches need to come from the bottom up, there are going to be cities and states and towns who believe that that's what they need in their communities.  And, again, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.  And I think that's where mayors, governors, citizens, schools, you know, working in your own states and communities -- to figure out really what’s going to work and what’s going to move the bar on this issue.

Q    What’s your sense of posting calorie counts?  It happens in New York -- actually, where I live, and it’s very depressing, actually.  (Laughter.)  The mayor of New York has made it very hard to go to Dunkin’ Donuts.  (Laughter.)  But it works.  Is that something else that should be a weapon in the arsenal?

MRS. OBAMA:  I think the more information we can give to consumers, families, parents, the better.  There are examples outside of New York -- in Somerville, Massachusetts, the mayor there has been working with some of the local restaurant owners to get them to change their menus so that there are healthier options and customers have more information about what’s in stuff.  I think that's a good thing. 

But also in Somerville they’re going beyond just what we eat and they’re also thinking more creatively about how in every aspect of what they do to run that city, they’re thinking about the health and well-being of kids.  So that comes down to how many parks they have; and what their roads look like; and if they’re building a new street, making sure there’s a sidewalk and a place for kids to ride their bikes.  I mean, again, this isn't just about what we eat, this is about how we live.

In some of the towns in Mississippi they have to think creatively about where they don't have places to play -- you know, maybe you take an old field and turn it into a soccer field and let the city pay a dollar for it.  And you find ways, creative ways, to make sure there are spaces for families to live in a healthy way.

Those are the kind of ideas that we want to promote.  Those are the kind of things that are working.  We just need to do more of it and we need to do it faster.

Q    There’s also, both in rural areas and in urban areas, there’s an economic issue, which is -- you mentioned convenience, but often the fast food can be even less expensive sometimes than getting healthy food.

MRS. OBAMA:  Absolutely.

Q    Can you talk about that disparity and what we can do about it?

MRS. OBAMA:  That disparity is very real.  I mean -- no, I talked about it with the grocery manufacturers as well.  It’s not just making healthy food, but it’s making healthy food that's affordable.  And that's a challenge, as well, but we have to recognize that we need to move in that direction.  There are -- you know, we can't look families in the face and say, “You fix this problem,” but then you can't afford the food that they need to fix the problem; they don't have access to it.  We have to figure this out.

The school lunch program is a major -- is going to be a major player in the whole resource issue because many kids are getting the majority of their meals at school.  So that's one of those areas where we have some control over as a society because, you know, we’re going to feed these kids for two out of three or four of their meals, depending upon how many they have.  So we need to make sure that we pass legislation that makes sense, that sets clear basic nutritional guidelines, not just in the school lunch lines, but in the vending machines and a la carte lines; that we have the resources to help schools bring their standards up.

Things like -- in Mississippi, what Governor Barbour did with some of his stimulus money was to remove fryers and put in ovens.  I mean, it’s just something as simple -- the school nutritionist will tell you, we want to do better, but all we have is a fryer, which means when you have a fryer then you have to fry stuff.  (Laughter.)  So we need to make sure that the schools have the resources they need to make the changes to get healthier food into the schools.

But we also have to make sure that every single child that is eligible for free and reduced lunch actually gets it, that we reduce the paperwork to make sure that -- if you look at some of the paperwork that families get to sign up, and then they have to re-sign up and then they have to fill it out.  You know, you look at that, you're busy and, you know, you just brush it under the rug, you don't complete it.  We have to make those processes and procedures easier.  And I think we can go a long way to helping underserved families with the school lunch program.

Q    How does obesity affect classroom learning?

MRS. OBAMA:  I think, you know, this week it opened this up, right, to the audience.  I mean, we know -- in our own kids, in our own lives -- how kids respond when they have a good meal, they’ve eaten the right things.  We know what happens to kids when they are hyped up on sugar and they’re operating on too much sugar and not enough substance.  We see it in our own lives. 

So you just imagine if you send a kid to school with a sugary breakfast and a sugary drink, and they have to learn for a few hours and they stop maybe for 10 minutes for lunch -- maybe -- and they haven’t had a chance to run and run off that energy.  And then they start dropping because they’re coming down from all that sugar.  And they don't even know it.  They don't even know why they feel lethargic, why they get sleepy at about eleven o’clock during the day -- just like we all do when we don't eat right.  I mean, we all experience it.

So it definitely affects how kids feel throughout the day, which is something that we have to remember.  This issue is not about looks and appearance.  This is about how our kids feel and how they feel about themselves, because how you feel inside affects the way you approach the day; even the way you tackle the challenge.  If you feel like, you know, you're full and you've eaten some fruit and you've gotten some grains, that affects the way you think.

So this isn't an image issue.  This is truly an overall health issue.  And kids, in addition to needing to eat well, have to run.  They have to run around during the day.  They have to get the energy out, you know?  I mean, you've got kids.  You imagine trying to teach your child sitting still for hours --

Q    Oh, in our house (inaudible) the time.  (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA:  Right.  All right, okay, Jon.  (Laughter.)

Q    We read “Newsweek” aloud.  (Laughter.)  They love the Obama collection.

MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, good.  It’s very good.  (Laughter.)

Q    No, you’re right, absolutely.  But why isn't -- I mean, we’re lucky in that our kids -- where our kids go to school, they run around.  That's not true in a lot of places.  Physical education is often the first thing to go.  Recess has been cut back.  From a policy perspective, is that simply a financial issue?  Is it because the standards, classroom standards have been set at a point where they can't afford a single moment of classroom time?  What’s your analysis of the end of recess?

MRS. OBAMA:  I think that educators, administrators, parents would say it’s all of it.  Some of it feels like a resource issue.  And some of it is when you’re testing so much and you’re meeting requirements, you feel like the first thing that goes -- if your money is tied to a test score and not to recess, you know, and whether your kids can run around, then the choice is already made for you, some administrators feel.

But there are also examples where schools are figuring out how even in this current climate of testing and lack of resources, how to put that stuff back into the curriculum.  The Department of Agriculture has the U.S. Healthier School Challenge, which is an initiative that we’re promoting as part of the “Let’s Move” initiative.  We’re going to -- we want to double the number of schools in this country that qualify as U.S. Healthier Schools.  There are currently about 600 of them around the country.  Our goal under “Let’s Move” is to double that, because these are schools that are the models for what we’d like to see happening with nutrition and physical education, because without any additional resources, they figured out how to restructure their curriculum, how to use nutrition education as part of math and science; they found ways to mandate and reincorporate recess and gym back into their classrooms.

I mean, there are schools -- wonderful, public schools -- all over the country that are figuring how to restructure the day.  But what I’ve found when I’ve talked to principals, administrators who’ve made that choice, they have decided as a school community that exercise and nutrition isn’t an extra; that it is an essential part of what a good curriculum has to look like. 

So in one school that I visited in Virginia, they don’t allow teachers to take recess or gym away as a punishment because their feeling is that’s counter-productive.  So now you’ve got a problem, so you’ve taken away the one thing that may help the kid wind out of the problem.  So they’ve -- you know, they’ve said you can’t take that away, because that’s part of the curriculum.  That’s like telling the kid, well, you didn’t do well in spelling, so you’re not going to be able to do math today.

Q    In addition to the Twinkie thing, that might be a very good political move -- (laughter) -- pull them out of math. 

MRS. OBAMA:  Right, right.  (Laughter.)  But I am not -- now, I did not say that.  (Laughter.)

Q    No, ma’am, just me.  (Laughter.)  It was me. 

MRS. OBAMA:  That’s your idea. 

Q    Yes, ma’am. 

MRS. OBAMA:  But there are schools that are figuring out how to make this happen.  Our job is to give them the resources they need, hold them up, celebrate those successes and help other school districts figure out how do they do the same thing.  How have they managed in the current climate?  What’s the difference?  Why does one school manage to do it and another can’t?  Is it at the regional level?  Is it the superintendent support?  I mean, we could probably talk to educators in this room right now who are -- just they know the answer to this, and they’re ready to jump on it.

But there are schools that are doing it.  And we need to make sure that more are doing it.  This should be the standard of how our kids get an education in this country. 

Q    Last question, ma’am.  How will you measure success, as you look at the lifetime of the administration, of your own ongoing work, presumably?

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, the goal for “Let’s Move,” the whole goal of this initiative, is to end the problem of childhood obesity in a generation.  So this is a generational issue.  And our view is that we want kids born today to grow up at a healthy weight.  And it will take a generation to see how that’s going.

But one of the things that the administration is doing now -- the President signed an executive order creating the first ever Council on Childhood Obesity.  They are now reviewing every single program and policy, not just in the government but in the country, that focuses on education and nutrition.  And we need to figure out how to use the resources we have more smartly.

But we’re going to get that report in May.  We’re looking forward to that.  And part of that -- the interesting thing about that approach is that we’re saying we need real, measurable outcomes.  And the foundation that was set up as part of this initiative -- and we’ve got some wonderful foundations who have been researching and investing in this issue for decades -- RJW, Kellogg -- I don’t want to begin to name all of them, because I’ll miss some -- but they are going to be sort of the future arm of this, so that when I’m gone, when the President is gone and the next administration comes in, you’ve got an independent group that’s going to continue to look at these goals and help us figure out whether we’re reaching the goals, and keep our feet to the fire, because, again, this isn’t something that’s going to happen in this administration.

This is -- we are looking at this as a forever proposition, because fundamentally, as I said in my speech to the food manufacturers, we have to change the way we view food and health forever.  And we can start with kids, because they haven’t -- their habits haven’t been ingrained.  We can shift the way they think, even the way they taste food.  We can do that.  Us, you know, grownups -- (laughter) -- not so much.  We’re a little stuck in our ways.

But we can still guide our children.  I still think of my mother, who said -- you know, she had no problem doing things that she told me I couldn’t do.  (Laughter.)  So even though we, as parents, haven’t conquered it and maybe we don’t -- we’re not doing it, we can still help our kids get to a different place.  And it’s going to take time.  And it’s going to take patience.  And we’re going to need everyone involved.

But I think about where we started a year ago with the planting of this little garden.  And now, we have this wonderful initiative that has the food industry coming together; and bipartisan support all over the country; parents feeling excited and support it; kids -- (laughter) -- you know, they’re coming.  (Laughter.)  We’ve got the professional sports community standing by. 

This is an issue that can unite the country.  And it can unite us with the rest of the world, because the truth is there isn’t a single head of state or spouse of a head of state who I have met who has not been fascinated by our garden and our conversations around nutrition, because so many other countries are beginning to see some of the effects as they develop.  They’re seeing their rates go up.

So this is an issue for the world.  And we can truly be a leader, but we have to be patient.  And we also have to be clear that we need to work really hard and stretch.  So when we talk to the food industry, we say, you have to do more.  When we talk to ourselves as parents, we have to push ourselves.  We have to talk to Congress.  And we have to say, you have to push to ensure that we’re getting the kind of regulations and support so that our school meals are healthy.

We all have to stretch on this one.  And if we do, I think we can -- we will see a change in our kids that we can be proud of.

Q    Well, thank you so much for your work, for your piece this week --

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  Thank you for investing in this conversation.

Q    -- and for this remarkable presentation.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

END
1:02 P.M. EDT

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Remarks by the First Lady at a Grocery Manufacturers Association Conference

11:40 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everyone.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  And Rick, thank you for that very kind introduction.  I enjoyed our meeting, as well.  And thanks to all of you for having me here at this year’s Science Forum.  It is a true pleasure to with all of you today.  And I hope you get out and see a little sunshine, because we have some. 

I understand you’ve gathered here in Washington this week to discuss some of the most pressing issues that your industry faces.  And I’m very pleased to see that your agenda today includes sessions about helping customers meet their lifestyle needs and about advancing America’s public health, because the topic that I’d like to discuss with you today –- the epidemic of childhood obesity -– falls at the intersection of these two issues.

Now, I know you’re all familiar with the statistics here: how childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past three decades –- nearly one in three children in this country are now overweight or obese.  And you all know the health consequences –- from hypertension to heart disease, cancer to diabetes. 

And I know you’re well aware of the economic consequences: how we’re currently spending billions of dollars treating obesity-related conditions -– costs that many of your companies pay in the form of rising health care expenses; expenses that will only continue to rise and affect your bottom lines if we fail to act.

But you also know that this is a relatively new phenomenon, because back when many of us were growing up, we tended to be able to lead lives that kept us at a pretty healthy weight.  Most of us walked to and from school every day, and then we ran around all day at recess, in gym class, and then for hours after school before dinner.  We usually ate more sensibly.  Oftentimes we had home-cooked meals with reasonable portion sizes -– and like it or not, there was always a vegetable on the plate.  And fast food was a rare treat.  Snacking between meals was frowned upon.  I mean, we all had our share of soda, chips and desserts, but certainly not every day, and not at every meal. 

But our kids today lead a very different kind of life.  Those walks to and from school have been replaced by car and bus rides.  Gym class and school sports have been cut, replaced by afternoons with the TV, and video games, and the Internet. 

And while parents want to provide healthy food for their kids, many of them are working longer hours, or some of them more than one job -- so they just can’t swing those home-cooked meals anymore. 

And today, snacking between meals has become more the norm rather than the exception.  And while kids 30 years ago ate just one snack a day, we’re now trending toward three –- so our kids are taking in an additional 200 calories a day just from snacks alone.  And one in five school-age kids has up to six snacks a day. 

And portion sizes have exploded.  Food portions are two to five times bigger than they used to be.  And beverage portions have grown as well.  In the mid-1970s, the average sweetened drink portions were about 13.6 ounces.  And today, our kids think nothing of drinking 20 ounces of soda at a time. 

As of 2006, folks were spending about 22 percent of their grocery dollars on sweets, salty snacks, and desserts -- and that’s compared to a little over 12 percent on fruits and vegetables. 

All told, we’re eating 31 percent more calories than we were just 40 years ago –- and that’s including 56 percent more fats and oil and 14 percent more sugars and sweeteners.  In fact, we now add sweeteners to all kinds of products in amounts unimaginable just a generation ago. 

So sometimes, when we buy the foods that our parents bought us, we don’t realize that they’re not always as healthy as they used to be.  And today, the average American is actually eating 15 more pounds of sugar compared to a year -- than they were back in 1970. 

So it’s just gotten to the point where we as parents know that things have gotten out of balance.  And we know that many of our kids aren’t as healthy and active as they should be.  And we desperately want to do the right things.  But we’re inundated with conflicting information.  Our kids sometimes are bombarded by ads for unhealthy products.  And many folks in this country are struggling to find foods that are both healthy for their kids but affordable for their families.    

And I know what that’s like, because I’ve been there.  Now, while today I have way more help and support than I could have ever imagined, I didn’t always live in the White House.  You remember.  I didn’t have all these resources.

And it wasn’t long ago that I was a working mom dashing from meetings and phone calls, ballet and soccer and whatever else.  I felt like it was a miracle just to get through the day and get everybody where they were supposed to be. 

So the last thing I had time to do was to stand in a grocery store aisle squinting at ingredients that I couldn’t pronounce to figure out whether something was healthy or not.  Like many busy parents, I was shopping primarily for convenience and cost.  I bought products that were pre-packaged, pre-cut, pre-cooked.  If it was “pre,” I was getting it -- (laughter) -- because I was looking for anything that was quick and easy to prepare and to consume.  And I was grateful for the time and the effort that I saved with these kinds of products. 

But I was also completely unaware that all that extra convenience sometimes made it just a little too easy for me to eat too much, for my kids to eat too much, and to eat too often.  And like so many families, my family fell into the habit of living that “grab-and-go” lifestyle, eating more and more between meals.  And slowly, all of those extra calories really just started to add up. 

Now, I’m not saying by any means that we should try to turn back the clock to how things were when we were kids, because those days are long gone.  And life is far more complicated these days. 

And I also know that we can’t solve this problem by passing a bunch of laws in Washington.  I’ve talked to a lot of experts about this issue, and not a single one has said that the solution is for the federal government to tell people what to do.

But what we can do is that we can help families make changes that fit with their budgets, with their schedules, with their needs, and with their tastes. 

What we can do is bring together all of us -- governors, mayors, doctors, nurses, businesses, non-profits, educators, parents, all of us -- to tackle this challenge once and for all. 

And what we can do is finally make this national public health threat a national priority.

And that’s why we launched “Let’s Move” –- a nationwide campaign to rally this country around a single and very ambitious goal:  to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation, so that kids born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight.

With “Let’s Move,” we’re issuing a call to action.  We are telling everyone let’s move to give parents the information they need to make better decisions for their kids.  Let’s move to get healthier food into our schools.  Let’s move to get more supermarkets into underserved areas so that all Americans have access to fresh, nutritious foods.  And probably most importantly, let’s move to help our kids be more physically active -- both in and out of school.

But here’s the thing –- we can build shiny new supermarkets on every block, but we need those supermarkets to actually provide healthy options at prices people can afford.  And we can insist that our schools serve better food, but we need to actually produce that food.  And we can give parents all the information in the world, but they still won’t have time to untangle labels filled with 10-syllable words or do long division with these portion sizes.

And that’s really where all of you come in.  As you know, you all produce much of the food that our children eat –- and have marketed to them -- each day.  The decisions you make determine what’s in our grocery store shelves, what’s in our school lunches, and what’s in the thousands of advertisements our kids are exposed to each year.  And I know that many of you are undertaking efforts to significantly reformulate your products -– and I hope that the time will come when all of you are.

Many of you are also working to educate kids about good nutrition, and to limit advertisements for certain products to our children.  And I know that a number of you -- and I’ve met several of the committee -- have come together to create the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation to help address the issue of childhood obesity.  So there are so many good examples, wonderful examples, of folks beginning to move in the right direction.  It’s very exciting.

But I’m here today to urge all of you to move faster and to go farther, because the truth is we don’t have a moment to waste -- because a baby born today could be less than a decade away from showing the first signs of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, if he or she is obese as a child.  A recent study even found that three-year-olds who were obese already had one of the symptoms of heart disease.

So we need you all to step it up.  We all need to step up in this country.  This is a shared responsibility.  That’s why I’ve gone to parents and I’ve asked them to do their part.  They have a responsibility to watch what their kids eat and teach good habits.  I’ve asked medical professionals to do their part.  They have a responsibility to screen kids for obesity and help parents with these issues.  Educators have a responsibility to build healthy schools.  Governors and mayors have a responsibility to build healthy communities.  And all of you have a responsibility as well.

And we need you not just to tweak around the edges, but to entirely rethink the products that you’re offering, the information that you provide about these products, and how you market those products to our children.

That starts with revamping or ramping up your efforts to reformulate your products, particularly those aimed at kids, so that they have less fat, salt, and sugar, and more of the nutrients that our kids need.

And I understand that this is easier said than done.  This doesn’t happen overnight.  We all know that human beings -- I, for one, know -- are hard-wired to crave sugary, fatty, salty foods.  And it is temping to take advantage of that –- to create products that are sweeter, richer, and saltier than ever before. 

But doing so doesn’t just respond to people’s natural inclinations -- it also actually helps to shape them.  And this can be particularly dangerous when it comes to our kids, because as all of you know, as parents, the more of these products they have in their diets, the more accustomed they become to those tastes, and then the more deeply embedded these foods become in their eating habits.

But here’s the good news:  It can also work the other way around as well.  Just as we can shape our children’s preferences for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods -- with a lot of persistence, we can also turn them on to high-quality, healthier foods as well.

But the only way we can do this is to work together.  And this needs to be a serious industry-wide commitment to providing the healthier foods parents are looking for at prices they can afford.

And again, I know these changes will not happen overnight.  It’s going to take a lot of tries to come up with products that are both healthy and still palatable for our kids.  And that may mean some real creativity and effort on your part. 

But what it doesn’t mean is taking out one problematic ingredient, only to replace it with another.  While decreasing fat is certainly a good thing, replacing it with sugar and salt isn’t.  And it doesn’t mean compensating for high amounts of problematic ingredients with small amounts of beneficial ones -- for example, adding a little bit of Vitamin C to a product with lots of sugar, or a gram of fiber to a product with tons of fat doesn’t suddenly make those products good for our kids.

This isn’t about finding creative ways to market products as healthy.  As you know, it’s about producing products that actually are healthy -- products that can help shape the health habits of an entire generation. 

It’s also about giving parents the information they need to make good decisions about purchasing those products.  A recent survey by the FDA shows that the vast majority of Americans rely on labels to help them decide what foods to buy.  But we know those labels aren’t always as helpful as they could be.  And it’s hard enough to figure out whether any one food item is healthy.  It’s even harder to compare items.  And folks just don’t have the time to line products up side by side and figure out whether these compare or not.  And they shouldn’t have to.  Parents shouldn’t need a magnifying glass and a calculator to make healthy choices for their kids.

That’s why, as Rick said, we need clear, consistent, front-of-the-package labels that give people the information they’ve been asking for, in a format that they understand.  And I am so pleased that you all have committed to working with the FDA to develop these labels.  We are so eager to hear your thoughts and ideas of getting this done right. 

And you know there’s absolutely no reason why we cannot find common ground on this issue.  This one’s a no-brainer, because this is the bare minimum we should do for our kids to help their parents make good choices.  And this fall the FDA is going to begin pursuing voluntary agreements from your companies, and I hope that all of you will join in on that effort.

But your role in helping address childhood obesity isn’t just limited to what you put in your products and how you label those products for parents.  It’s also about how you market those products to our kids.  Our kids didn’t learn about the latest sweets and snack foods on their own.  They hear about these products from advertisements on TV, the Internet, video games, schools, many other places.  And any parent knows this marketing is really effective.  We’ve all had to endure those impassioned pleas in the grocery store for one product or another.  Some of us have been treated to full-scale reenactments of TV commercials and jingles, word for word, right on key.  (Laughter.)

I was sharing with somebody -- I was talking to Sasha about who I was speaking to, and she said, “Who are these people?”  I said, “They make the food that we eat.”  “Oh, like Honey Nut Cheerios?  Part of a healthy breakfast?”  (Laughter.)  Like, all right, kid.

So this isn’t surprising when studies show that even a single commercial can impact a child’s brand preferences -- and that kids who see foods advertised on TV are significantly more likely to ask for them at the store.

So whatever we believe about personal responsibility and self-determination, I think we can all agree that it doesn’t apply to kids.

I think we can all agree that parents need more control over the products and messages their kids are exposed to.  Parents are working hard to provide a healthy diet and to teach healthy habits -- and we’d like to know that our efforts won’t be undermined every time our children turn on the TV or see a flashy display in a store.

Again, I know many of you have voluntarily committed to limit your marketing to children, which is a step in the right direction, an important step.  And I hope that those of you who haven’t will think about doing so as well.

But we also have to be honest.  Even with this commitment, a study found that last year, while there were fewer food ads in children’s programming, more than 70 percent of foods marketed to kids were still among the least healthy, with less than 1 percent being among the most healthy.

And in the face of these statistics, we have to ask ourselves, are we really making sufficient progress here?  Are we doing everything that we can to secure the health and future of our kids?

So today I want to challenge each and every one of you to go back to your companies, take a look at your marketing budgets and ask some questions.  For example, when you put money into reformulating a product to make it healthier, do you then invest enough in marketing that product to kids and parents?   Or is most of the marketing budget still going to the less healthy versions?  In other words, which products are you really selling?  And what kinds of messages are your advertisements sending? 

As a mom, I know it is my responsibility -- and no one else’s -- to raise my kids.  But what does it mean when so many parents are finding that their best efforts are undermined by an avalanche of advertisements aimed at their kids?  And what are these ads teaching kids about food and nutrition?  That it’s good to have salty, sugary food and snacks every day -- breakfast, lunch, and dinner?  That dessert is an everyday food? That it’s okay to eat unhealthy foods because they’re endorsed by the cartoon characters our children love and the celebrities our teenagers look up to? 

So let’s be clear, it’s not enough just to limit ads for foods that aren’t healthy.  It’s going to be so critical to increase marketing for foods that are healthy. 

And if there is anyone here who can sell food to our kids, it’s you.  You know what gets their attention.  You know what makes that lasting impression.  You know what gets them to drive their parents crazy in the grocery store.  And I’m here today to ask you to use that knowledge and that power to our kids’ advantage.  I’m asking you to actively promote healthy foods and healthy habits to our kids. 

And we know there’s a huge and growing market for these kind of foods.  I have yet to meet a single parent who doesn’t understand the threat of childhood obesity.  I’ve yet to meet a single parent who is not eager to buy healthier products. 

And this administration is committed to doing the same.  As we reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, we’re working to ensure that all food served in schools -- not just through the school meal program, but in a la carte lines and vending machines as well -- meets basic nutritional guidelines.  And we’re proposing a historic investment of $10 billion over the next 10 years to help fund these efforts.  And your support for this is going to make a huge difference in helping us get this done. 

We’re also putting our money where our mouth is with an initiative to provide fresher, healthier food in all federal government workplaces.  And to give you an idea of the scope of that, just think, there are 2.7 million federal employees working at thousands of sites all across this country.  This can have a huge impact.

But in the end, as First Lady, this isn’t just a policy issue for me.  This is a passion.  This is my mission.  I am determined to work with folks across this country to change the way a generation of kids thinks about food and nutrition.

So if you all create the supply, we know there will be a demand.  And if you have any doubt about that, just look at what we did for the hula hoop.  (Laughter.)  I hula hooped.  (Laughter.)  The reality is that with so many people looking for healthier options, this isn’t just going to be a fad.  Hopefully, this is the future of food in this country. 

So I hope all of you will help support our efforts.  I hope that you’ll embrace this future, because really that’s what this industry has always done.  Just think back to the early part of the last century when food manufacturers helped pass the first major federal law establishing basic standards for our food, beverages, and drugs.  Back then, consumers had little protection against unscrupulous manufacturers who tainted their products with all sorts of chemicals and fillers.  When these abuses came to light, Congress responded, drafting the 1906 Food and Drug Act.  And instead of opposing that law and instead of viewing it as a threat, many manufacturers decided to embrace it. 

Companies like most of you that were already doing the right thing by making safe, quality products realized they stood to profit.  They also realized that increasing public trust and improving products all across the industry as a whole would benefit each of them individually. 

And today, with the issue of childhood obesity, we all face a similar opportunity.  And you face it not just as food industry leaders, but you face it as parents who love your kids and as citizens who love this nation.  And in the end, I am hopeful that you will choose to make the changes that we need not just because they’re good for your company, but because they’re good for our country. 

I know that you’ll do these things not just to fulfill your obligation to shareholders, but also because you have a sense of obligation to our children -- because the truth is, all of us are paying the cost of childhood obesity.  But the truth is also that we all will gain from addressing it once and for all. 

So I hope that all of you will do your part to give our kids the future they deserve.  I’m proud of what’s happened through this industry so far.  The work together that we’ve done has been tremendous.  All of you come to this with the right heart and the right vision and the right passion.  My only urging is that we move faster, we go farther together.  And I’m looking forward to working with you all in the months and years ahead. 

Thank you so much.  (Applause.)

END
12:04 P.M. EDT

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Remarks by The First Lady at the National PTA Conference

Doubletree Hotel Crystal City
Arlington, Virginia

12:20 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you all so much.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Please, please, be seated.

Thanks so much.  It is a pleasure to be here with all of you today.  And thank you for the wonderful work that you do every day in schools and communities all across this country.

And I also want to say thanks to Chuck.  Chuck was here -- where did he go -- for his outstanding leadership for the National PTA.  I understand for the first time in its 113-year history, an organization that began as the National Congress of Mothers is now led by a father.  (Applause.)  So I commend Chuck for his work to get more fathers involved, right?  (Applause.)  That’s right.

I also understand Chuck got his start with his local PTA almost 20 years ago for one simple reason -– and that was, his first son, Matthew, was entering the first grade.  And that’s really the same reason why I know that most of you got started with your own local PTA -- my mom was a PTA mom -- because you had a child -- yes, she was -- (applause) -- because I know each of you got involved because you had a child in a school that you cared about.

And that’s one of the great things about this organization –- that anyone can get involved, anyone can get engaged.  All that’s required is that you care about our kids; and that you care about their well being, and their potential to grow up into happy, and healthy, and successful adults; and also that you care about the future of our community and our country.  And that’s really why we’re all here today, why I’m here, because we care deeply about our kids.

And I know this organization shares my conviction that it’s finally time to take on one of the most serious threats to our children’s future and to ours: and that’s the epidemic of childhood obesity in America today.

Now, as Chuck said, when you start talking about this issue, we often begin with the statistics -– how over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled.  Tripled.  Or how today, nearly one in three American children is overweight or obese.  And these statistics are breathtaking.

But as far-reaching as this epidemic is, the truth is it’s also deeply personal –- for our kids and for us.  So while I travel this country speaking about this issue as a First Lady, I really come to it first and foremost as a mother.

As parents, we know that this isn’t just about how our kids look.  It has nothing to do with it.  It’s about how they feel -– and it’s about how they feel about themselves.  It’s about the impact this issue has on their health, and the impact that it will have on their futures.

And I know these issues aren’t new to any of you.  I know that in PTA meetings around the country, you’re probably hearing from teachers who see the teasing and the bullying kids endure.  You’re probably hearing from counselors who see the depression and the low self-esteem.

You may even be hearing from coaches who see kids struggling to keep up –- or pediatricians who see kids coming into their offices with conditions like high cholesterol and blood pressure -- high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes -– and these are conditions that they used to only see in adults.

And if you’re like me, you might be thinking to yourselves:  How on Earth did we get here?  How did this happen?  Because it wasn’t always like this.

I imagine like many of you in this room we share similar memories of our childhoods, which were very active.  It included walking to and from school every day, running around at recess and gym every day, and playing in the neighborhood for hours after you got home from school until somebody called you in for dinner.

And then when you got inside, usually sitting around the table as a family, you ate what your parents fixed -– no questions asked.  (Laughter and applause.)  And if you didn’t, what, you went to bed hungry, right?  (Laughter.)  Back then, vegetables were a given.  You had them at every meal.  And dessert was something that happened on Sunday, if you were lucky.

I know this may sound like nostalgia -- because the reality is, times have changed.  You know, the world’s gotten faster, the economy’s gotten tougher, and parents and kids keep taking on more and more.  And as a result, healthy habits all too easily give way to habits of convenience and necessity.

For many kids, those walks to school have been replaced by car or bus rides.  And then in schools there are cuts to recess and gym, which mean less play time. Lunchtime may mean a meal heavy with calories and fat, and snack time might be no better.  And afternoons running outside after school have been replaced by afternoons sitting inside with the TV, video games, and the Internet -– habits that expose our kids to 40,000 advertisements each year, many for unhealthy foods and drinks.

And meanwhile, we as parents, we’re facing our own challenges.  You know, parents might want to buy healthy food and they might want to buy that head of broccoli, but let’s be honest, in so many cases those chips are cheaper.  You know, they may want to go buy fresh produce, but sometimes there’s no supermarket in their community.  So they’re stuck with a choice between fast food and something off the shelf of the local convenience store.

Every parent I meet wants to do the right thing for their kids.  But it’s easy to feel like the deck is stacked against us.  And too often, we slip into bad habits.  But we know we’re not bad parents.  But we end up feeling guilty anyway.  And believe me, I know what that feels like, because I’ve been there.

And I know there’s some people in the room thinking, oh, sure, Michelle Obama -- she can’t relate, she lives in the White House.  (Laughter.)  And I’ll be the first to say that I know I am blessed today with more help and support than I ever could have dreamed of.  So don’t hate.  (Laughter and applause.)

But it really wasn’t that long ago that I was a working mom, just like many people in this room, struggling to balance meetings and deadlines and soccer and ballet and a husband whose work kept him away a lot.  And there were nights when everybody in my house was tired and hungry, and we just went to the nearest drive-thru.  Or I popped something into the microwave.  And like any parent, there were times when I made excuses and I told myself that my kids would turn out fine no matter what I did -- because I loved them.  They’re cute.  (Laughter.)

Until one day, my pediatrician pulled me aside and he said, “You know, you might want to think about doing things a little differently.”  And that was my wakeup call.  That was when I was reminded that I am the parent and I’m the one in charge.

And let’s be honest:  Our kids didn’t do this to themselves.  They don’t decide what they’re served at meals.  They don’t go shopping.  They don’t decide whether there’s time for recess and gym.  We make those decisions.  We set those priorities.  We’re the ones in charge.

But that’s the good news -- because if we helped create this problem, then we can solve this problem.  We can do that.  But instead of just talking about it, instead of worrying and wringing our hands about it, we have to do something about it.  We have to move.  Let’s move.

And that’s precisely what people across this country are already doing.

For example, in Mississippi, which is the state that leads the nation in overweight kids and adults, they’re not waiting around to tackle this issue.  They’re working to get healthier food into their school cafeterias, and more physical education for kids all across the state.

As I saw this firsthand when I visited the state last week:  They’re bringing together state and local leaders; principals and teachers; parents, students; doctors, nutritionists.  And they’re proving that even without tons of money and resources, which they don’t have, there are plenty of creative ways to take back control and give our kids the kind of lives they deserve.

And that’s the spirit behind Let’s Move –- the nationwide campaign that we launched to help kids lead active, healthy lives right from the beginning, so that we can end childhood obesity within a generation.  And there’s no doubt that this is an ambitious goal.  And there’s no doubt that achieving it is going to take every last one of us doing our part to get our kids healthy and to get them to stay that way.

That’s why I have met with mayors and governors and I’ve asked them to do their parts to build healthier cities and states.  I’ve met with food service directors and workers in the School Nutrition Association and I’ve asked them to do their part to offer healthier meals and snacks for kids in our schools.

I’ve even met with kids and I’ve asked them –- I asked them very nicely -– (laughter) -- to do their part to make healthier choices for themselves each day.  Now, they were all excited until I told them it meant trying new vegetables -- and then they got a little quiet.  (Laughter.)  But it’s okay.

And next week I’ll be meeting with the food manufacturers and I’m going to ask them to do their part to improve the quality of the food that they provide to us so that we have healthier options to choose from.  (Applause.)

And of course I’ve been meeting with parents –- because we have to do our part.  We all know that we play the most important role in this effort -- because truly, healthy habits start at home.  But how do we encourage those habits?  How do we sift through all the information on how to help our kids eat better?  How do we do that?  How do we know that what we do at home won’t be erased when our kids go to school?  How can we get our kids to think about exercise not as work, but as play?

It’s going to take nothing short of a comprehensive and coordinated effort in our homes, in our schools, in our communities to get this done.  And that’s what the four parts of Let’s Move are all about.

The first part of this campaign:  Let’s move to offer parents the tools and information they need to make healthy choices for their kids.  So we’re encouraging pediatricians and family doctors to regularly measure our children’s BMI, and then to actually write out a prescription for parents with detailed steps that they can take to keep kids healthy and fit.

And we’re working with the FDA and the food industry to make our food labels more customer-friendly, so that parents don’t have to squint at words they can’t even pronounce to figure out which foods are healthy and which ones just claim to be.

And already, the nation’s largest beverage companies have announced that they’re taking steps to provide clearly visible information about calories on the front of their products –- as well as on vending machines and soda machines.

We’ve also started a one-stop shopping Web site called LetsMove.gov -– so that with a click of a mouse, parents can find helpful tips and strategies, including recipes and exercise plans.

Now, we can also do more to make healthy living fun and exciting for kids, believe it or not.  One way to do that might be with video games.  Now, we know our kids spend way too much time with these games.  And we know we’re going to have to fix that.  But we also know that that’s not going to happen overnight.  So we might as well try to use some of that time to our advantage.

That’s why today I’m announcing a wonderful contest called the Apps for Healthy Kids challenge.  It’s going to be run through the USDA.  And we’re challenging software and game designers -- both professionals and amateurs -- to come up with games that incorporate nutritional information and make healthy living fun.

And maybe you’ve seen those dance video games or those exercise games that families are playing together at home, or the ones that kids play using their mobile phones and home computers.  Those are the kinds of games that we’re talking about.

We’re also challenging designers to come up with apps and tools for us, the parents.  So if, for example, you’re at the grocery store and you’re trying to figure out whether one food is healthier than the other, then you can pull up that answer on your iPhone.

To select the winners of this contest, we’re putting together an all-star panel of judges that will include leaders in the fields of gaming and technology and nutrition –- and even a co-founder of Apple.  And we’re offering tens of thousands of dollars in cash prizes for the winners.

But here’s the thing:  No matter how much parents want to instill healthy habits in their kids, all the tools and information in the world won’t help if they don’t have access to healthy food in their neighborhoods.

And right now, 23.5 million Americans, including 6.5 million kids, live in what we call “food deserts” -- these are areas without a supermarket.  And as a result these families wind up buying their groceries at the local gas station or convenience store, places that offer few, if any, healthy options.

So let’s move to ensure that all families have access to healthy, affordable foods in their community.  (Applause.)  And that’s the second part of the initiative.  And we’ve set an ambitious goal here:  to eliminate food deserts in America within seven years.

To do that, we’re creating a Healthy Food Financing Initiative that’s going to invest $400 million a year -- and leverage hundreds of millions more from the private sector -- to bring grocery stores to underserved areas and help places like convenience stores carry healthier options.

Now, we can help families make healthier choices, and we can help communities provide healthier food, but let’s not forget that our kids spend most of the day in school.

So the third part of the initiative is to make our schools healthier places for our kids to learn and grow.  We’re going to start -- (applause) -- we’re going to start with a priority that I know is important to this organization, and that’s updating and strengthening the Child Nutrition Act.  (Applause.)

We’ve proposed a historic investment of an additional $10 billion over 10 years to fund that legislation, allowing us to dramatically improve the quality of food we offer in schools -- including in school vending machines.

And here’s the thing, this is how important this is, just a couple of weeks ago, 66 retired generals, admirals, and other senior military leaders sent a letter to Congress supporting these efforts because they said this was a matter of national security.

Now, when you think about it, that’s not surprising, because the National School Lunch Program was started after World War II because the most common disqualifier for military service back then was malnourishment.  And today, if you can believe it, one of the most common disqualifiers is obesity.

So, we’re also going to work to dramatically increase the number of schools that meet the Healthier US School Challenge.  And these are schools that provide healthy meals, physical education, nutrition education, and ensure that kids receive the free and reduced-price meals that they’re eligible for.  These healthier schools are going to be the model of what we want for every single school in America.

To help us meet this goal, several major school food suppliers have, for the first time, come together and made a pledge to help us by decreasing sugar, fat, and salt and increasing whole grains and doubling the amount of fresh produce.  (Applause.)  Big.

And our food service workers, our principals, our superintendents, school board members all across America are also coming together to support this effort.  It’s been very encouraging.

But we know that eating right is only half the battle.  Experts recommend that our kids get at least 60 minutes of active play a day -- and we know that many of them don’t even come close.

So let’s move -- and I mean that literally.  Let’s find new ways for our kids to be physically active, both in and out of school.

That’s the final part of this initiative.  We’re expanding and modernizing the President’s Physical Fitness Challenge, and we’ve recruited professional athletes from dozens of different sports leagues like the NFL, Major League Baseball.  They’re going to work with us to encourage kids to get and stay active.

And last Friday, we worked with soccer -- players from Major League Soccer and Women’s Professional Soccer.  They joined us in a fun clinic with kids in the area to teach them about staying active.  And I played a little soccer myself.  (Laughter.)  I was embarrassed by the little people -- (laughter) -- but it was fun.

But the reason I did that is because we have to admit that as parents we all know that we have to spend more time being active with our kids.  And the truth is you don't have to be some specialist, you don’t have to have special skills or equipment to do this.  Sometimes it’s as simple as going for a walk with your kids, taking the stairs with them instead of the elevator, or going up and down them a few times.  Even something as simple as turning on the radio and dancing with them for a while, working up a sweat.

But it’s also about making sure our communities have safe places for kids to play.  And there’s this terrific non-profit organization -- I’m sure you all know KaBOOM -- that’s working to do this.  Right now they’re working to map every single playground in the country, so that parents can find the closest one in their neighborhood.  And I encourage you all to check it out and add the playgrounds in your own community to their list.

And just as parents can do more at home in their communities, teachers can also do more at school.

When I was in Mississippi last night -- last week -- it felt like last night -- (laughter) -- I visited a school where teachers were required -- now, listen to this -- required to actually eat lunch with their students.  Oh, scary proposition, right?  (Applause.)  But as a result, what they’ve seen was fresh fruit and vegetable consumption going up.

In other schools, teachers are educating kids about proper nutrition, and they’re working to set good examples themselves with their own eating and exercise habits.

But we have to remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to solving this problem.  And what we have to remember is that something that works in one school or family may not work in another.  The key is to find an approach and keep working until we find and you find what works in your families and communities.

But to help do that, in the coming weeks, we’re going to be creating an online “toolkit” with tips and strategies for parents and teachers and students to use to help them find their approach, and they’re going to be able to go to letsmove.gov to check those out.

These are just some of the things that we’re doing to achieve our goal.  And we know it won’t be easy.  And we know it is not going to happen overnight -- because what we do know as parents is that in the end, we cannot control every single thing our kids eat or every single moment of their time, nor should we.

But what we can do, what is fully within our control, is to give them the very best start in their journeys; to teach them what we’ve learned, even if we don’t do it ourselves in our own lives; to live in a way that gives them some kind of model to follow.

So let’s act.  Let’s move.  Let’s do everything we can for the kids that we were inspired to join causes like the PTA in the first place.  Let’s do everything we can to ensure that our kids have the energy and the endurance to succeed in school, and then to pursue the careers of their dreams, and hopefully to build families and lives of their own.  Let’s do everything we can to give our kids the future they deserve in this country that we all love.  I know we can do this.  I know we’re all ready.  Are we ready?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

MRS. OBAMA:  Yes we are!  (Applause.)  So I look forward to working with you all in these efforts in the months to come.  Thank you so much.

END
12:44 P.M. EST

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