I was honored to be invited to the White House this week to hear from Let's Move, an initiative dedicated to helping kids and families lead healthier lives. One of my goals is to teach my children and others how to live healthier lives. Sitting in that room of powerful influencers, I was inspired to see people from all backgrounds, nationalities, and political leanings coming together to support this great cause. We should all be doing what we can to make the next generation a healthier one.
Let's Move was built to inspire action, with the idea that everyone from parents to politicians have a role to play in the health of our nation's children.
We heard from several people representing multiple facets of the Let's Move organization. I had a fan girl moment when Dominique Dawes took the stage. Her words resonated with me as a parent. The disappearing of physical education and recess time in schools is a travesty. Kids need to move.
“Physical activity and nutrition should be taught young. We don't wait to teach hygiene, so don't wait to teach healthy habits.” – Dominique Dawes
If you have a 4th grader then I have exciting news for you. Every Kid in a Park allows 4th graders nationwide to obtain a pass for free entry for them and their families to more than 2,000 federally managed lands and waters nationwide for an entire year! Looking for Spring Break ideas? Time to check out those parks!
From a panel of USDA leaders , we learned more about the Healthy-Hunger Free Kids Act. This act is to help tackle the problem of obesity and hunger in our children. Not only does it seek to provide students with healthier choices at school but also to educate them on what these new choices are. These programs and guidelines only go so far. Bottom line: We as parents, need to push our schools to create wellness policies with higher standards for our kids' nutritional and physical health.
“As parents, we decide where to spend our money. And believe it or not, we truly have the power to control the marketplace for food in this country. Just think about it. All these healthier, better-for-you products that we’re seeing on the shelves now, they didn’t just come out of nowhere. Fast-food places didn’t just randomly decide to add apple slices and skim milk to their kids’ meals. No, these products were developed because we demanded them, and companies stepped up to meet the demand.” – Michelle Obama, FLOTUS
Here is First Lady, Michelle Obama's speech I was happy to hear that she is committed to Let's Move even after her family leaves the White House. Afterwards as I walked down through the gardens, I felt the empowerment to continue to fight the good fight, not only for my own family but for all families.
“Our children's health isn't a joke.” – Michelle Obama, FLOTUS
How do you encourage your children to make healthy choices?
Sounds like a neat event. I will be in DC again next month 🙂
Great initiative! It’s true that we need to teach healthy habits to our kids from a very young age. Thanks for the info about parks. My elder daughter is in 4th grade.
I have always admired the First lady and I am so glad that when her time at the white house is over she will still continue to stand behind this initiative.
Seems so strange that when we were little we were outside all the time and in just one generation we have become couch potatoes. I don’t want my kids to have a life like that!
Sounds like it was a well attended event and I’ve always admired the first lady and the way she fights for the kids. I’m however not happy to hear that it’s only 4th graders that get to enjoy Every Kid in a Park. Why not kids from other grades as well?
What A great event. I believe all kids should have some form of exercise everyday even if it’s just a short family walk.
What an honour to attend this. I think the idea is great people (kids and adults alike) need to be more active for health sake.
That must have been the most exciting day ever! I love the healthy initiatives that the First Lady has introduced.
What an amazing event! I love Michelle Obama’s passion for our children.
This is great especially since schools don’t have regular gym classes anymore! So glad that this is available to kids and their families!
It’s so cool that you got to hear from Michelle herself. She’s clearly passionate about this and it will help so many kids!
What an amazing opportunity! I think Michelle Obama is doing so many great things, and I will miss the First Family when they leave the White House.
I’m so excited that I’ll have a 4th grader next year. We will be planning our vacations around the parks!
That is so cool that you had a great time. I am sure it was an experience that you will remember forever.
We have so many people, kids included, who need to take better care of their health. What a great initiative to help get kids healthy and staying that way
What a great opportunity and initiative. I hope that you had a great time in DC.
It’s so important to motivate our children to move! I love that Michelle Obama is so passionate about this! Every Kid in a Park, what a wonderful program for our kids. Thanks for sharing this with us!
This looks amazing! What an honor to be a part of a great initiative! The First Lady is so passionate about this cause and that’s awesome!
What an amazing opportunity to visit The White House. I would have loved to do that and especially hear First Lady Michelle Obama speak.