HEALTHY EATING AND HALLOWEEN AT THE WHITE HOUSE

HEALTHY EATING AND HALLOWEEN AT THE WHITE HOUSE

By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger

Each one of us has a cause that we are passionate about. For First Lady Michelle Obama, she is a huge advocate of children eating healthier meals and getting plenty of exercise.

On Wednesday, October 30, 2013, a couple of very special childhood friends of ours, Sesame Street’s ELMO and ROSITA, joined the First Lady at the White House to spread a very important message. Healthier foods being marketed to children should be our top priority. Also joining the First Lady was the Produce Marketing Association & The Partnership For a Healthier America.

The announcement comes on the heels of the first ever White House convening on food marketing to children, during which Mrs. Obama called on stakeholders to leverage the power of marketing to promote healthy products and decrease the marketing of unhealthy products to kids.

But the afternoon was truly meant for the children that are going to become the future of this country as well. As Michelle and ELMO and ROSITA held the annual Fall Harvest of the White House Kitchen Garden, they were joined by students from schools in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia as well as students from Harriet Tubman Elementary and Bancroft Elementary in Washington, D.C.. These particular schools are leading the pack by starting to offer healthier snack options. They will soon be followed by schools all across the nation as that will be one of the 2014 directives.

“Just imagine what will happen when we take our kids to the grocery store, and they see ELMO and ROSITA and the other Sesame Street Muppets they love up and down the produce aisle,” said First Lady Michelle Obama today. “Imagine what it will be like to have our kids begging us to buy them fruits and vegetables instead of cookies, candy and chips. That’s what this new collaboration between Sesame Workshop and the Produce Marketing Association is all about – showing our kids that healthy food can be fun and that fruits and vegetables don’t just make us feel good, they taste good too.”

Fresh fruit and vegetables are the healthiest choices that children can make for snacking. Parents will be happy to learn that beginning in mid-2014, Sesame Street characters may be on produce in stores across the country.

“Sesame Workshop has long been committed to the health and well-being of children through our longstanding Healthy Habits for Life initiative—since 2004, we have been integrating messages about healthy food choices and exercise into Sesame Street, the television program, in our community outreach and on our other off-air activities,” said H. Melvin Ming, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop. “We are proud to work with the Produce Marketing Association and Partnership for a Healthier America to continue this important work.”

“One of the key challenges we face is competing for share of mind and share of plate,” said Jan DeLyser, immediate past chairman of PMA’s board of directors. “Other food marketers – companies who have seemingly endless budgets enabling them to position and sell their products, especially to kids – are steep competition. As a parent whose kids grew up with the Sesame Street characters, I’m thrilled to be a part of a program that will give the produce industry additional marketing opportunities for our naturally healthful products. The power of the Sesame Street brand is undeniable, especially given the trust parents have in it.”

Mrs. Obama’s dedication to the cause is seen by the proud work she has done with the help of youngsters in her home-grown vegetable garden at the White House.

Another White House event that took place last week specifically for children was “Halloween At The White House”. Local children of military families flocked to the White House to trick-or-treat at the South Portico which was lit up in orange to celebrate the spirit of the spooky holiday. Over 5,000 ghosts and goblins and costume-dressed kids visited.

Over 185 pumpkins were carved to decorate the grounds. Topiaries of the First Dogs, Bo (dressed as a pirate) and Sunny (dressed as a sunflower) welcomed families. The Black Bear Combo Brass Band from Chicago played Halloween music and spooked all in costumes.

Although eating healthy is a top priority, once in a while for special occasions it is fun to be festive with delicious sweet recipes. Here are both types of recipes direct from the White House.

The White House Sweet Dough Butter Cookie Recipe

1 lb Sugar 1 tsp Vanilla

2 lbs Butter 1 tsp Salt 3 Eggs 3 lbs All Purpose Flour

Mix the butter and sugar till soft and well beaten. Then add eggs, vanilla, salt and half the flour. Beat on slow speed till mixed, then add the rest of the flour and mix until incorporated.

Push flat onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight. Roll out to one quarter inch thick and cut out cookie shapes with cookie cutter.

Bake at 350F for 14 minutes and then allow to cool.