Recently, during a harvest celebration at the White House first lady, Michelle Obama spoke to a group of students from Bancroft elementary school congratulating them on their implementation of a garden at the White House and at their school. Michelle Obama also addressed the growing need for a change in the way Americans eat. She stated that 1/3 of the children in the U.S. are overweight or obese and that 1/3 will suffer from diabetes in their lifetime. The first lady pointed out that these numbers are even higher in African American and Hispanic communities. She also pointed out that many people live in food deserts and do not have access to healthy food and rely on convenience stores and fast food places for their food. With these gardens, she is hoping to not only make healthy food available, but also to get kids excited about healthy eating. Michelle Obama also emphasized that more needs to be done than just plant gardens and is working on improving the quality of food in subsidized meals, as well as, improving the child nutrition program. I encourage you to follow Michelle Obama’s example. If you are an educator, make it a point to inform students about healthy eating. Lastly, whether or not you are an educator or a student, advocate for your own school garden and start cultivating a healthier future.
To view the speech visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1vUBYr0-LE
To watch a CNN overview of what she is doing visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBTZ0hZ9Q4w&NR=1
Written by: Briana Surin
Welcome to EcoLife! This blog, which is hosted by Portland State University students, aims to motivate, inform, and inspire change. We want you to learn about the complicated issues surrounding homelessness, while going beyond the tip of the iceberg. We hope to establish a connection with you through our posts regarding the lives and experiences of homeless individuals, expressed in these numerous stories and articles. We hope you enjoy our blog!
No comments:
Post a Comment