Michelle Obama Fights Childhood Obesity and Starts Letsmove.gov to Help

As the mom of two young kids, I feel like I am constantly dealing with food.  Meals, snacks, what do we have in the pantry, what can I grab for them that is healthy, not over-packaged, quick and easy?  It is a constant struggle, and I feel like they are eating all the time.  Do they need to?  Are they really hungry?  Or are they, like lots of Americans, just bored and wanting to eat?

I don't know the answer.  I do know that I am glad to have a focus on childhood obesity from the first lady.  What we have is an epidemic like smoking, drugs, and cancer-- and we need to treat it as such. In our society, healthy eating is a constant challenge.  We parents need all the help we can get.

So I was happy to read an article written by first lady Michelle Obama in Newsweek.  In it, she points out how it is our responsibility to make the tough choices for our children, to give them healthy food and the opportunity for plenty of physical activity.  It is our job, and we need to take it seriously.  No matter how loud the whining is, or annoying it seems to get the kids dressed to go outside (which takes 20 minutes) and then they are only outside for 20 minutes!

Eating well, and getting exercise can get lost with jobs, stress, childcare, and our media intensive society.  Days can go by in American families (like my own) with out much thought about food and excercise.  But Mrs. Obama reminds us to keep it in the forefront of our minds, because what befalls obese children is not child's play.  Type 2 diabeties, increased risk of heart disease, depression and low self esteem are reasons to keep paying attention. In fact, according to Obama, "Obesity rates tripled in the past 30 years, a trend that means, for the first time in our history, American children may face a shorter expected lifespan than their parents."

First lady Michelle Obama started website called LetsMove.gov to help busy parents with this complex problem.  There are some great links here, with lots of good information.  I just read the food and eating tips for preschoolers.  I really need to improve some of my language around eating!  Here is a list of what to say (and not to say) that is very eye opening.  There are multiple resources here-- for schools, teachers, parents, community leaders, and health professionals.

I'm motivated from the quick look I had at the site tonight. I will talk to the girls about eating only until they feel full.  I will start to let them serve themselves (even "if" it makes a mess!), and I will not praise them for having a clean plate.  Thanks to first lady Michelle Obama for making me think more about my my role in developing healthy eating habits in my girls, and for providing resources, funding and prestige to the crucial task of lessening the rates of obesity in children.