Michelle Obama and Elmo Tell Kids to Grow Their Food

Published October 01, 2009 @ 04:24PM PT

Michelle Obama has been hanging out with a Grouch recently. No, not Rahm Emmanuel, but down on Sesame Street with Oscar the Grouch and Elmo, encouraging kids to grow their own food and eat healthily for a fortieth anniversary episode.* Earlier today, Katherine asked how we can instill good habits in kids. This sort of attention from the right person in the right place does a lot to help. In the Sesame Street episode the First Lady lets kids know, "if you eat these healthy foods, you're going to grow up to be big and strong like me," but she finds time to talk directly to parents, explaining their responsibilities too.

It's all part of Sesame Street's Let's Get Healthy campaign, a series of videos, recipes, games, and resources to help parents help their children. It follows Michelle Obama planting an organic garden on the White House lawn, and helping set-up a farmers' market near The White House. Is she the greenest-fingered First Lady yet? Of course, Time see through the charade, calling her out on Marxist indoctrination:

The First Lady encourages children to plant and grow vegetables in their own gardens. In the midst of a jobs crisis, why is the Administration using public television to undermine America's farmers and agribusiness?

* We don't actually know if she got a chance to meet Oscar the Grouch, but if she did, I really hope she made a point about where eating junk gets you. The episode airs November 10.

Photo credit: The White House

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I can appreciate the message she is sending. I really enjoyed hearing this past spring, that she was planting a garden at the White House and had local kids there to help. It was encouraging.

It's all fine and good to have a garden...grow your own food. But how is this possible for kids that live in the city? Not to mention the costs involved in growing even a small garden. It isn't something that every child can do.

Posted by Christine Winsor on 10/02/2009 @ 04:22AM PT
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Ah, Seseme Street is always doing the right thing. And, it seems, so it Michelle Obama, at least when it comes to food and healthy eating!

Posted by Katherine Gustafson on 10/02/2009 @ 09:21AM PT
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