In yet another break with the Bush family legacy, the Obamas, led by matriarch Michelle, have embraced broccoli and other local greens and encourage others to do the same. New York Times reporter Rachel L. Swarns chronicled the pro-vegetable, pro-local eating agenda of the first family. Swarns leads with the First Lady praising a local soup kitchen’s steamed broccoli and homemade mushroom risotto, then digs deeper into her struggles to promote a healthy agenda both around the country and around her own dinner table.
White House officials say the focus on healthy living will be a significant item on Mrs. Obama’s agenda, which already includes supporting working families and military spouses. As the nation battles an obesity epidemic and a hard-to-break taste for oversweetened and oversalted dishes, her message is clear: Fresh, nutritious foods are not delicacies to be savored by the wealthy, but critical components of the diets of ordinary and struggling families.
Some healthy-eating advocates want the Obamas to go even further, Swarn found.
(Gourmet magazine Editor Ruth) Reichl would like the White House kitchen to issue regular news releases that describe what the first couple and their daughters are eating. (Then parents across the country could tell their children, “You know, Malia and Sasha were eating salad yesterday. …”)
