White House Lunch Features Healthy Recipes by Young Chefs

Michelle Obama has done a great job spreading the word and encouraging American children to eat healthier. Although this contest was not her idea, she basically made it happen by making the prize so special. In the article author Jennifer Steinhauer states, “On Friday, winners from every state, Washington, D.C., and four United States territories joined Mrs. Obama and other officials for lunch at the White House, followed by a visit to the White House kitchen garden.” Surely the thought of sharing their recipes with the President and First Lady lit a fire under many young chefs. I don't believe that there has been a First Lady as dedicated as she in making the next generation healthier, or making them feel more involved. Obama's "Give Me Five" movement has affected many children and families who might not always think about what is the more nutritious choice. The farm-to-table concept has been a main focus of hers, and she has set up many gardens in low-income neighborhoods. Not only did the contest spark an interest in more than 1,000 children’s, but has given them an idea of what they can do to make their families and America healthier. Also, by providing a tour of the White House kitchen garden, some children may be inspired to make a community or personal garden. Obama’s “Give Me Five” movement and the work she has done to improve other people’s diets shows how dedicated she is to this country. Mrs. Obama makes a fantastic First Lady/“nutritionist in chief.”

I think that this was a magnificent idea by Michelle Obama. Not only did it allow young children to become more independent and familiar in the kitchen, but it also allowed them to create meals with fresh, healthy ingredients. Kids could take their favorite family meals and personalize them to make it gluten free, vegetarian, have low cholesterol and lactose free. Some meals incorporated the participant’s culture in American food. Unhealthy ingredients were substituted for better options, and the children learned how to have healthier eating habits while working on their meals. This was an event that benefited people in many ways, kids learned to eat healthy and make their own meals, parents discovered healthier options by watching their children cook and some got the once in a lifetime experience to meet the president, first lady and visit the white house.

What a lovely, educational, memorable, and encouraging event for these young people. Hurrah Michelle Obama!

Unbelievable how some folks find the glass half empty. So what if I or others do not agree w everything presented as healthful . Let's celebrate what the White House is doing to acknowledge healthful choices, and young children's contributions. Praise to the children who made recipes to help their parents. I believe that even if on the physical level some were not so "healthy" that those who ate the dish prepared w love and good intentions were nourished.

This is a wonderful idea. Michele Obama's quiet initiative to promote more healthful food, from the garden to our plates, needs to be picked up by the younger generation. Giving people control of their food means giving people control of their health, and less dependence on drugs for cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc. "American Grown," Obama's book about food and the people who pursue social justice through food around the country, is a great book that features a few recipes.

What a waste of food for the centerpieces

Maybe they tried healthful recipes

Independent thinking. Creativity. Famlly bonding. A trip to the White House.
Children are the stars here.

I am unsettled by those that bothered to post a negative comment toward this article, at the only agenda I could see was a breezy report about a feel-good event.

No wonder we are raising a generation of bullies and internet trolls.

There were brussels sprout pyramids for goodness sake, and thrilled kids and parents alike. Just smile, enjoy, and calm yourselves.

I really like how people are starting to help kids have a healthier diet. The Children don't know how bad junk food is for them. Many people can say, when they were younger, they hated vegetables. This is a big problem because as the children get older, all they like is junk food and nothing else. This is a big health concern and can lead to many things.

FEED THE SOUL The wilding of food was the subject of a video with Mark Bittman and two Berkeley experts in stalking wild foods, weeds and all. The pictures of Michelle digging in the White House vegetable garden are endearing. But less endearing would be Barack checking out the lawn and garden beds for edible weeds (no, not THAT kind of weed). One thing amiss in the article is the fact that in Europe, much of what is sold is what we would call whole food, using natural fertilizer, no insecticides and banning organically modified foods. While I gave a wide berth to the overpoweringly odorous tripe sausages in an open air market Aix-en-Provence, much of what I've eaten in my travels in Europe has been wonderful. The prices are much higher than here, due partly to the Value Added Taxes. But somehow people manage to eat well and more healthfully than we do. Oh yes you can find junk food, much of it imported from guess where--the US, or an imitation of our empty calorie snacks and drinks. And yes, exotica do exist. Snails are definitely not favored by everybody. Can't even say they taste like chicken. Haggis, sheep's stomach filled with oatmeal and organ meats topped by Scotch whiskey--I'll pass on that. But pizza is a universal favorite in Europe. So you can, indeed, eat well by eating food that's good for you. Without overly taxing either the kitchen staff or the diners.

Cool! Can we see the recipes?

"Others were concerned with diabetes or their parents’ fight against other health concerns. Thus arose Caribbean Delight, a concoction of tropical fruits and cheese on a whole wheat pita...."

Wrong, wrong, wrong! Tropical fruits and whole wheat are high in sugars or starch which converts to sugars which has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and... you guessed it... high levels of LDLs and triglycerides. (check out webmd for sugar and cholesterol)

Just unbelievable how regressive the politically correct food recommendations are.

So proud to have this family in the white house; and where can we buy the 'cookbook'?

Making it is one thing; making it tasty and pallatible for all age ranges is quite another. Taking a whole foods' approach to designing a food service is extremely difficult, risky, and expensive. Raw foods need thorough cleaning and prep work; and without a salad dressing that is sweet or has an offsetting flavor, few people will eat just raw veggies. What's even worse is that while 'ripe' veggies and fruits maximize sugars, flavor and nutrients; finding them in a market that cherishes shippability and shelf life is impossible. The final caveat is that few people chew their food carefully, so that all too often what they eat usually passes intact out the other end undigested! ....Been there, done that, and political stunts with kids aside, this is a very difficult task to undertake; and after trying it, you come to appreciate the many advantages of a fryolator.

I never knew the White House itself is encouraging the U.S. to eat healthy. This event in itself won't change anything. McDonalds will keep on being McDonalds. So will KFC, Subway, etc. America will remain the one of the nations which has the most people who are, so to say, plump-er than the average size of a human. It's sad to see the white Gouse itself indulged in such a vain effort to emphasize the importance of healthy food. Ah well, 'twas a noble effort. It's not like the White House is doing this for the sake of their nation. An effort to show they are trying to help 'young chefs', more likely. Private enterprises like McDonald's and KFC and the taxes they pay to the White House is such a necessary part of the U.S. economy that I doubt the U.S. will forgive themselves if they let those companies fall. Good luck, America.

Appreciate the sentiment. But following the USDA nutritional guidelines are part of the problem, not the solution.

That healthy eating habits equals quality of life and longevity has been Mrs. Obama's message for the past 7 years, thanks.

What's wrong with Greek Yoghurt?

Thank you, First Lady, for her relentless efforts to make us a healthier nation. We are so much better off and healthier since you arrived in 2008...you have made eating nourishing and nutritious food a joy for young people.

Maybe the White House could feature use of the word healthful to describe the recipes and food. There is no harm in using correct English.

Way to go White House. Wonderful thing to do.

Tanya Steel deserves the Medal of Honor (or its non-military equivalent) for promoting new cooking ideas among youngsters. I find ii somewhat unfortunate that the emphasis of this enterprise is on "healthy diet" rather than on "enjoyment of gastronomy". Even though the US has given the world the hamburger, the country does not have a high standing on the scale of international gastronomic excellence. May the young chefs and Ms. Steel's efforts produce novel gastronomic sensations!