Video Preview: First Lady Michelle Obama On 'The Biggest Loser'

First Lady Michelle Obama appears for the first time tonight on a two-part episode of NBC's competition weight-loss show The Biggest Loser. Above, the video promo from the network. Click here to read all about the two episodes.

Sam Kass: School Chefs Are Heroes

A visit to Ole Miss...
Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass traveled to Oxford, Miss., on Wednesday to bring the Let's Move! campaign to the University of Mississippi. He spoke at the school's National Food Service Management Institute's "Major Cities Training Symposium." Kass discussed the National School Lunch Program and the Chefs Move to Schools project, and hailed school chefs as heroes for overcoming budget, equipment and time challenges.

"There is not a school chef that doesn't have very limited resources, a very limited kitchen, very little time to serve a lot of kids," Kass told Ole Miss News. "I think that they're heroes."

Click here to watch the video interview.

Food Network Celeb Chefs Anne Burrell And Claire Robinson Visit The White House

Sam Kass gives the chefs a personal tour of the Kitchen Garden...and they Tweet their visit...
Anne Burrell and Claire Robinson, two chefs with popular shows on the Food Network, visited Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass at the White House on Tuesday. They got a personal tour of the Kitchen Garden, newly replanted for Spring by First Lady Michelle Obama. The two tweeted their visit, including the above photo of themselves on the South Lawn. Burrell is at left.

"Are y kidding me? With @chefanneburrell chilling on the front lawn of the white house! amazing!!!" Robinson, host of 5 Ingredient Fix, tweeted.

Burrell, host of Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, has visited the White House before, but she was still excited: "Omg!!! I'm IN the white house!!!" Burrell tweeted.

In another tweet, Burrell posted the above photo of Kass leading the tour through the Kitchen Garden. "Sam Kass in his white house garden!" Burrell tweeted.

The two were in Washington for a gala dinner in support of America's military service members, according to their tweets: "On the way to the "Armed Forces" dinner- it benefits wounded vets and their families @supportAFF," Burrell tweeted.

The White House chefs frequently host guests: New York chef Maria Loi visited last week, to cook for President Obama's closed-press Greek Independence Day reception.

Burrell also visited the White House in June of 201o, joining Mr. Obama and Kass for the massive South Lawn launch event for the Chefs Move to Schools project, a component of the Let's Move! campaign. Above, Burrell Tweeted this photo of herself in the Kitchen Garden during her 2010 visit.

*Photos by Anne Burrell and Claire Robnson

No 'Pink Slime' In President Obama's White House Beef; First Lady Unlikely To Join Ban Campaign

First Lady didn't wade into school lunch controversies over white potatoes, or pizza qualifying as a vegetable, either...
The White House serves thousands of hamburgers annually at various events hosted by President Obama and First Lady Obama, including the Independence Day Barbecue and the Congressional Picnic. But the chefs do not use ground beef containing the cheap, ammonia-treated filler now popularly known as "Pink Slime," Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass told Obama Foodorama.

"We don't serve that here," Kass said on Monday at the White House, when asked about the high-profile controversy surrounding "Pink Slime" being allowed in the ground beef that is served in the National School Lunch Program.

The White House kitchen grinds its own beef, according to Kass. Thus there is no chance that "Pink Slime," which requires no labeling when it is in ground beef, is accidentally used.

Known in the meat industry as "lean, finely textured beef," the product is currently a public relations nightmare for its producer, Beef Products Inc., which, supported by the US Department of Agriculture, claims it is entirely safe. Members of Congress and hundreds of thousand of citizens, through a petition on Change.org, are now calling for USDA to ban ground beef containing the product from America's school cafeterias. But when asked if First Lady Michelle Obama, the nation's foremost healthy eating advocate, will speak out and join parents and schools in lobbying for a ban, Kass changed the subject. (Kass, above)

"Look at how beautiful this garden is," Kass said, and pointed to Mrs. Obama's South Lawn vegetable plot, where the First Lady was due to arrive any minute for a Spring planting party. He suggested discussing the subject with USDA.

Mrs. Obama last year declined to wade into school lunch controversies when Congress was legislating the unrestricted serving of white potatoes on cafeteria menus, and she also remained mum when lawmakers declared that pizza could qualify as a vegetable in the National School Lunch Program, which serves 32 million children. The First Lady was the most high-profile champion of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010, which improved the nutrition standards for the federal program.

The legislative centerpiece of the Let's Move! campaign, the measure does not ban the product from schools. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week announced that "lean, finely textured beef" is safe for children and all consumers to eat, but initiated a program beginning this Fall in which schools may opt out of purchasing ground beef containing the product. The program was due to a request from school districts across the nation, Vilsack said. But critics still say that is not good enough.

Sen. Robert Menendez (NJ) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME) both separately called on Vilsack to ban the product from school meals, and to require labeling when it is added to ground beef. They have now been joined by more than forty Democratic House Members.

"It is wrong to feed children a slurry that was formerly only used for dog food," Pingree wrote to Vilsack in his letter calling for a ban.

Major fast food chains, including McDonald's, do not use the product. In recent weeks, following a media and social media firestorm, major grocery chains, including Safeway and Hy-Vee, have announced they will not sell ground beef containing the filler. On Monday, Beef Products Inc., announced the temporary closing of three of its four facilities. The company said it is suspending all operations at plants in Texas, Kansas and Iowa. Its headquarters in Sioux City, S.D., will remain open. Workers will be paid for 60 days as the company launches a public relations program designed to restore confidence in its product.

Though there's no "Pink Slime" in White House ground beef, the President could well have eaten it elsewhere, since burger runs--including with fellow world leaders, such as Russia's Dmitri Medvedev-- have become a regular part of his food adventures. Mrs. Obama has also been known to go on burger runs.

*In the photo at top, the President enjoys a cheeseburger as he dines outside the White House at DC's Scion restaurant, with the winners of the second "Dinner with Barack" contest.

*Kass photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; President Obama photo by Obama for America

Let's Plant: Potatoes And Politics As First Lady Michelle Obama Preps Kitchen Garden For Spring

On the heels of school lunch battle, the National Potato Council is thrilled that spuds are now growing at the White House; regional TV outlets invited to interview First Lady and her swing-state helpers...
Washington was gloriously sunny on Monday as First Lady Michelle Obama refurbished the White House Kitchen Garden for the fourth time since breaking ground in 2009 for the project she has hailed as "the most important achievement of my life."
For the last Spring planting of President Obama's first term, Mrs. Obama was joined by the largest number of groups--six--that have ever participated at one time in a garden event: 31 kids selected from New York, Iowa, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and the District joined Mrs. Obama as she hit her crop rows in mid-afternoon. (Above: Planting Mustard Greens with helpers)

White House chefs including Executive Chef Cris Comerford, Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass were on hand, as was the First Lady's chief of staff, Tina Tchen.

Mrs. Obama arrived gardenside just after 2:15 PM, striding down from the residence as heavily armed security agents ducked into the surrounding trees and bushes to keep watch. The First Lady, greeted with cheers and applause, was clad in black slacks, a black cardigan, a "vintage" orange J. Crew t-shirt, and blue Superga low-tops, her hair rolled back. Minutes before, the guests had been put through a dress rehearsal for their planting duties by Kass. Clad in a chefs jacket and jeans, he stood to the side, beaming, as Mrs. Obama welcomed all.

"Yay! It's so exciting!" Mrs. Obama said. The garden, she explained, is part of her Let's Move! campaign, and "an important way to have a good conversation about your health."

Although building supermarkets in areas identified as food deserts is a pillar of the Let's Move! campaign, Mrs. Obama expressed little faith in store-bought crops.

"A lot of times when you grow your own vegetables and fruits, they taste really good," Mrs. Obama said. "They taste better than a lot of stuff you’ll get in a grocery store -- trust me."

She kicked off the action simply: "Let's plant!"

Potatoes and controversy...
Cold-season crops were the order for the day, in case of late frost: Before an hour had passed, Mrs. Obama and her crew had installed spinach, lettuces, radish, bok choy, broccoli, chard, rappini, carrots, and onions in the boxed beds in the 1,500 square-foot garden. Mrs. Obama personally planted Mustard Greens--"Southern Giant Curled"--and Dill seed, and five varieties of potatoes, which was something of an historic and controversial moment. (Above: Mrs. Obama slices seed potatoes with helpers)

"These are the first potatoes we've had," Mrs. Obama told her three Girl Scout helpers, who came from Troop 60325 in Fairport, NY. "I can't wait to see what happens."

Mrs. Obama knelt and sliced seed potatoes in half, handing these to the Scouts, who dug them into a boxed bed at the front of the garden, situated directly in front of the huge crowd of media covering the event. The varieties included red Sangre, purple fingerlings from Peru called Purple Sion; Mountain Rose, Red Thumb and Canola Russet. Controversy: Last year, Congress passed a law mandating that servings of white potatoes and other starchy vegetables could not be restricted under the US Department of Agriculture's upgraded nutritional guidelines for the National School Lunch Program, legislation Mrs. Obama vocally championed.

The measure followed an aggressive PR campaign from potato state lawmakers and the National Potato Council (NPC), which included a special website and a petition urging Congress to keep spuds on lunchtrays; USDA wanted to restrict servings to make more room on menus for other vegetables. An East Wing spokesman said the First Lady's potato planting had nothing to do with the controversy, though previously only Sweet Potatoes were grown in the Kitchen Garden. (Above: Bed markers for two kinds of potato varieties)

Still, Mrs. Obama had hardly finished planting when the National Potato Council issued a press release, alerted through social media that their product was front and center in the White House garden: "America's potato growers are excited the first lady is helping educate children that healthy eating includes nutrient-rich potatoes," said NPC Executive Vice President and CEO John Keeling.

For their school lunch campaign, the NPC had made much of Mrs. Obama's declaration that French fries are her favorite food. She'll have heady gourmet fries when the new potatoes come in.

Mrs. Obama and her helpers were of course unaware of any controversy as they continued on with young Mustard Greens, and scattered Dill seed. The First Lady poured the seeds into the kids' hands, and watched as they worked these into the dirt. (Above: With Kass and helpers by a Dill bed)

"If we don't get a ton of dill from that, I'll be surprised," Mrs. Obama said.

She chatted easily with the girls as they worked; ages 10 and 11, they quizzed Mrs. Obama about daughters Malia, 13, and Sasha, 10. Mrs. Obama admitted that getting both to enjoy their vegetables has sometimes been a challenge.

Swing state helpers...and special TV interviews with Mrs. Obama...
Politics were in the air for reasons other than potatoes, too: Some of the invited kids just happen to be from battleground states critical for President Obama's 2012 re-election: Iowa (students from Mitchell Elementary School in Ames); North Carolina (Sumner Elementary in Greensboro); and Pennsylvania (Stetser Elementary in Chester). They were accompanied on their White House visit by local-market TV crews from their home states. (Above: The First Lady pours Dill seed into the hands of a helper)

The Let's Move! campaign, which now has a huge national audience, has been a terrific way to spread President Obama's message about "winning the future," and revitalizing communities. The White House has previously invited local TV stations to visit for "media days" for the President, and the crews on hand for Monday's planting were given the rare opportunity to interview the First Lady. --Rare for local outlets; Mrs. Obama has become an almost weekly staple on the talk show circuit as the 2012 Campaign has ramped up. There's more to come shortly, when she appears in NBC's The Biggest Loser, in scenes filmed at the White House.

Mrs. Obama's second anniversary tour for the campaign in February also included stops in battleground states: She kicked off the tour in Des Moines, Iowa, and had four different events in Florida. The East Wing said the children were invited to the White House because they'd written to the First Lady about their own healthy eating projects, including school gardens.

"You guys wrote some really nice letters telling us about stories of the work that you're doing in your schools, in your communities," Mrs. Obama said as she welcomed the kids.

Junior gardeners from DC's Bancroft and Harriet Tubman Elementary Schools also helped. The two schools have previously supplied students to work in the Kitchen Garden, and Tubman has been adopted by the White House chefs as part of the Chefs Move to Schools program.

An international garden...
The Kitchen garden contains two beds that pay homage to President Thomas Jefferson's kitchen garden at his plantation home of Monticello, located in Albemarle County, VA. Peter J. Hatch (l) the master gardener who oversees it, and who ran the decades-long historic re-build, brought a wide variety of starter plants for the Kitchen Garden, as he has each year since 2009. Hatch and his wife Lou brought Brown Dutch and Tennis Ball lettuce, Sea Kale, Brussels Sprouts, and Caracalla and tree onions. These are also called "walking onions," Hatch said, because bulbs grow at the top and the bottom, and the top bulbs fall over and re-plant themselves in the earth.

"Brown Dutch and Tennis Ball were Jefferson's favorite lettuces," Hatch said. The Sea Kale, he said, is an heirloom British variety, grown in seaside areas, and relatively rare.

"Jefferson harvested it early, and prepared it like asparagus shoots," Hatch said.

With this Spring planting, Mrs. Obama's garden is very international, Hatch added: The five varieties of potatoes are the only crop that originate in the New World, the only vegetables that weren't originally imported from Europe and other continents. Yale University Press has just published Hatch's beautiful new book about Jefferson's garden, A Rich Spot of Earth, and it includes descriptions of his work with Mrs. Obama.

The Kitchen Garden, while not certified organic, does not use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. The soil is "seething with life," Hatch said, rich with earthworms and beneficial insects. A special composter, called a biocycler, sits at the back of the garden, and food scraps from the kitchen are used. (Above: A long view of the planting action)

After forty minutes of planting, Mrs. Obama and her helpers were done. As she gathered the kids for farewells, she autographed the shoulders of their t-shirts before handing out hugs.

Mrs. Obama's forthcoming book about her garden, American Grown, will be published at the end of May. A combination Kitchen Garden memoir and how-to guide, the $30 hardcover will include instructions for all kinds of gardens, from windowsill herb gardens to back-yard plots. Though Mrs. Obama has been encouraging gardening for three years, the White House has never put out its own set of instructions on how citizens can participate. The book will include recipes, too. (The book jacket, above)

CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the event. The transcript of Mrs. Obama's remarks.



*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; book jacket photo courtesy of Crown Publishing Group

White House Kitchen Garden, Before & After 2012 Spring Planting

First Lady Michelle Obama replanted the Kitchen Garden for Spring on Monday afternoon, joined by the White House chefs and 31 kids invited from four states and DC. Above: The garden before the planting. Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass is center left. Click on the photo to view it in larger form.

The young plants and seeds that were dug into the planting boxes in the 1,500 square-foot garden included spinach, lettuces, radish, bok choy, broccoli, chard, rappini, carrots, and onions in the boxed beds in the 1,500 square-foot garden.

Mrs. Obama personally planted Mustard Greens, Dill seed, and five varieties of potatoes, including red Sangre, purple fingerlings from Peru called Purple Sion; Mountain Rose, Red Thumb and Canola Russet. Above: The garden after the planting.

*Photos by Obama Foodorama

Kitchen Garden Autographs...

First Lady Michelle Obama autographed the t-shirts of the 31 kids who joined her on Monday for the fourth Spring planting of the Kitchen Garden, inscribing her name on the shoulder of each. Above, Mrs. Obama's signature is visible on one of her helpers as he watches her.

The kids, invited from four states and the District, helped Mrs. Obama plant cold-season crops that can withstand late frosts, including lettuces, root vegetables, and a special selection from President Thomas Jefferson's kitchen Garden at his restored plantation home, Monticello, in Albemarle County, VA.

The First Lady's helpers came from Mitchell Elementary School in Ames, Iowa; Stetser Elementary School in Chester, Pennsylvania; and Sumner Elementary School in Greensboro, North Carolina. Girl Scouts from Troop 60325 in Fairport, New York, and kids from DC's Harriet Tubman and Bancroft Elementary Schools also helped. (Above: Mrs. Obama autographing a helper's t-shirt)

CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the event.

*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden Fashion

Spring 2012 planting: Superga low-tops, J. Crew top...
First Lady Michelle Obama was clad in a black cardigan, black slacks, a bright orange J. Crew t-shirt with a faded paisley design, and some extra spiffy sneakers on Monday afternoon as she replanted her Kitchen Garden for Spring. Mrs. Obama was joined by 31 young helpers from four states and DC. (At top: Mrs. Obama with helpers and assistant chef Sam Kass; in inset, giving Dill seed to a helper)

Mrs. Obama knelt among the boxed beds of vegetables wearing a pair of overdyed blue canvas Superga low-tops. They're a special edition, from the Cotu series, and retail from the Italian shoemaker for between $100 and $200, depending on where they're sold.

Supergas are popular among fashionistas, and sell at places such as Barney's New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. The First Lady has been credited with giving J. Crew a hefty boost in sales since 2008. Her J. Crew t-shirt retails for $49.99.

*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

Waiting For The First Lady...

Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass (l) and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses look toward the White House, awaiting the arrival of First Lady Michelle Obama to begin Monday's Spring planting of the Kitchen Garden.

This well-armed fellow ducked into the bushes beside the garden moments before Mrs. Obama walked down to the South Lawn from the residence:

Transcript & Video: First Lady Michelle Obama's Remarks, 2012 Kitchen Garden Spring Planting

Let's Plant: First Lady joined by 31 kids from Iowa, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and DC...
First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed 31 kids from four states and DC to the South Lawn of the White House on Monday as she re-planted her Kitchen Garden for Spring. The kids came from Mitchell Elementary School in Ames, Iowa; Stetser Elementary School in Chester, Pennsylvania; and Sumner Elementary School in Greensboro, North Carolina. Girl Scouts from Troop 60325 in Fairport, New York, and kids from DC's Harriet Tubman and Bancroft Elementary Schools also joined Mrs. Obama for the planting. (Above: Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass chats with Mrs. Obama and her three Scout helpers)



It was a bright and sunny day, and a little windy. Mrs. Obama wore black pants, a black cardigan, an orange patterned t-shirt from J. Crew, and blue suede Superga tennis shoes as she worked.

Potatoes were the big news: Mrs. Obama, joined by three Girl Scouts, planted five different kinds, the first to be planted in the Kitchen Garden other than Sweet Potatoes. The First Family will soon be enjoying Sangre, Purple Peruvian Fingerlings, Mountain Rose, Red Thumb and and Canola Russet potatoes.  (Above: Mrs. Obama cutting potatoes to be planted)

Mrs. Obama also planted Dill seed and Mustard Greens with her helpers. The visiting children were all followed by TV news crews from their hometown markets. (Above: Mrs. Obama poses with her helpers after the planting, which took about 40 minutes for the 1,500 square-foot plot)

Mrs. Obama's remarks before the digging began:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the First Lady
_________________________

For Immediate Release
March 26, 2012

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
AT WHITE HOUSE KITCHEN GARDEN PLANTING

South Lawn

2:20 P.M. EDT


MRS. OBAMA: How are you guys doing?

AUDIENCE: Good.

MRS. OBAMA: Welcome to the White House. What are these? Are they good?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Looks good. And you've got some apples. Yes. What's going on?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Do you like living here?

MRS. OBAMA: Do I like living here? Yes, it's fun to live here. It's fun, especially on a day like this because you guys are going to help us plant the garden, right?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Yay! It's so exciting! All right.

Well, we have a lot of special guests here. Because every year we do this -- and what year is this? This is our fourth planting. This is the fourth time we've planted the White House garden.

So we're here again. And we've got students from Tubman and Bancroft. Yes, where are our Tubman and Bancroft students who are here? But we also have special guests from all over the country. We've got some Girl Scouts who are here. (Applause.) Woo for the Girl Scouts! We've got students from Iowa. (Applause.) Woo! We've got students from New York.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: That’s us.

MRS. OBAMA: You guys, the Girl Scouts from New York. We've got students from Pennsylvania. (Applause.) Woo! And North Carolina. (Applause.) Woo hoo! Very good.

Well, you guys, the students from around the country, you guys wrote some really nice letters telling us about stories of the work that you're doing in your schools, in your communities. And your letters were so wonderful, I thought, why not come and see me at the White House and help me plant my garden? And you made it! Welcome. It's good to have you. (Applause.)

Well, I don’t know if you know, one of the reasons why we plant the garden is that it's an important way to have a good conversation about your health. Because one of the things that I've been trying to do as First Lady is work on an initiative that I call Let’s Move. Have you guys heard about Let’s Move?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: And what’s it all about, Let’s Move? All right just yell it out -- exercise, good eating, getting healthy. That’s right, because we guys want you to grow up healthy. And the garden is a good way to start the conversation, because vegetables and fruits are a big part of a healthy diet.

And a lot of times when you grow your own vegetables and fruits, they taste really good. They taste better than a lot of stuff you’ll get in a grocery store -- trust me. My kids have done it. They’re not big fans of all vegetables, but if they help to work on it they’re much more excited about trying it out. And we found that with the students here.

Yes?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Do you have Just Dance?

MRS. OBAMA: Do I have Just Dance? What is that?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: A video game.

MRS. OBAMA: I don’t have Just Dance. We might have it, but I don’t play it. Is it a good exercise game?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Does it make you dance? Is it like Dance, Dance Revolution? We have Dance, Dance Revolution. Do you guys know what that is?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: I don’t know about Just Dance, though. I can’t say I can vouch for that. But I’m sure the Just Dance people are happy that you brought it up. (Laughter.) Should give her some commission or something. (Laughter.)

But we get a chance to talk about your health. And you guys, I know you’re doing it at your schools and in the Girl Scouts. You’re talking about planting tomatoes and planting vegetables, incorporating that kind of food into your diet, and talking to your families about doing good, healthy food? Are you guys doing some of that at home?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: That’s excellent. So I’m very proud of you all and I’m happy to have you here. We get this done so fast because you all are here. It would take us forever to plant this garden if we didn’t have your help, so it’s really special to have you all here. So are you ready to do some work?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: All right, so I’m going to turn it over -- back over to Sam. Sam? All right, let’s plant!

END 2:23 P.M. EDT
##

*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

Let's Move!: Michelle Obama To Appear On NBC's "The Biggest Loser"

The weightloss show films for the second time at the White House: "The Biggest Makeover Episode Yet"...
First Lady Michelle Obama was happy to beat celebs Jimmy Fallon and Ellen DeGeneres in fitness challenges on national TV, but will she be so gleeful about trumping the regular (but supersized) folks who compete on The Biggest Loser? America will find out on April 3rd and April 10th, when Mrs. Obama brings the Let's Move! campaign to the airwaves with a star turn on not one but TWO episodes of NBC's weightloss competition show. The cast, including hosts Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince, visited the White House to film on Feb. 16th. In the photo above, they perform a workout with Mrs. Obama in the East Room. (Dolcett is in red at left; Harper stands in the background) Update: This photo has now been scrubbed by the WH; see note at bottom of post

The two-parter is billed as "The Biggest Makeover Episode Yet." Mrs. Obama first appears onscreen in a special video and invites the six contestants to the White House. They then get makeovers from celeb fashionista Jeannie Mai, who helps "find stylish new clothes to flatter their slimmer selves," while celeb hairstylist Ken Paves "crafts stylish new looks."

In part two, the Losers have "heartwarming, emotional reunions" with their own families before meeting the First Lady in person at the White House. "The First Lady talks to the contestants about how adult behavior impacts kid behavior, congratulates the contestants on being good examples of health and fitness, and visits with each player and their family members," according to NBC. Then they hit the East Room for what the show bills as the "first ever White House workout."

Mrs. Obama also challenges the contestants with a competition to get more Americans healthy and active. There's more workout action, minus Mrs. Obama, in the Nation's Capitol before a contestant is kicked off the show.

The Biggest Loser seems a peculiar choice for a First Lady who has spent a lot of time promoting "balance and moderation" and encouraging Americans to make "small changes," because the show advocates extreme weightloss over a short period of time and the kind of workouts that would flatten an Olympian. But it's the second time the White House has welcomed the show to film at the mansion. Just days before the February visit, host Harper joined Mrs. Obama in Des Moines, Iowa to kick off the second anniversary celebration for Let's Move!.

The first White House visit...
Waaaay back in November of 2009, before Mrs. Obama launched Let's Move!, Loser cast members, including Harper, co-hosts Allison Sweeney and co-host Jillian Michaels (now departed), visited the White House and plucked vegetables from the Kitchen Garden. The First Lady did not appear onscreen; instead, the contestants "cooked" The Biggest Loser Salad in the kitchen with Executive Chef Cris Comerford and Assistant Chef Sam Kass. (Above: Kass is center; Harper kneels beside Michaels, and Sweeney is in yellow)

Since moving into the White House, Mrs. Obama has joined Jay Leno, Rachael Ray, Oprah Winfrey, Cory Condry, and David Letterman on their shows, and appeared on iCarly, Extrwme Makeover: Home Edition, The Nate Berkus Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, multiple Barbara Walters specials, HGTV Christmas specials, BET Honors, The Kennedy Center Honors, the PBS series In Performance At The White House, to name just some of her TV outings. She's also done plenty of network and cable newscasts and feature segments.

The show airs on Tuesdays at 8:00/7:00 Central. Check your local listings.

*Top photo by Sonya N. Hebert/White House; second courtesy of NBC.

UPDATE note on photo: When this blogpost was written, neither the White House nor NBC had yet announced Mrs. Obama's appearance on the show. The photo at top of Mrs. Obama and the cast appeared on the White House Flickr as part of a set for February, posted on March 21, and then was removed by March 23. Mrs. Obama's Director of Communications did not respond to a query about why.

March 26th: First Lady Michelle Obama Will Replant White House Kitchen Garden For Spring

Children from four states invited to the White House... 
UPDATE: CLICK HERE for the post about the event
Inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden, so many children have written to the Gardener in Chief about their own projects that last year the White House created a special memento to send out, a portrait of the First Lady seated in the lush crops rows with First Dog Bo (above). This Monday, March 26th, some of those junior gardeners will visit the White House. The East Wing has announced that children from Iowa, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New York, as well as students from the District of Columbia have been invited to join the First Lady as she replants the garden for Spring.

"All wrote to her about their own gardening experiences," the East Wing said about Mrs. Obama's out-of-state guests, noting that the kids included descriptions about their healthy eating and food access projects.

Mrs. Obama has been assisted by young helpers for each of her harvest and planting events, but never by so many different groups at one time. About 34 kids will join the First Lady for the digging party, which comes ahead of the publication in late May of American Grown, Mrs. Obama's book about her signature project.

Mrs. Obama has invited second graders from Mitchell Elementary School in Ames, Iowa; the school offers each grade "their own raised bed plot" in a vegetable garden, which is also open to community members, according to the East Wing. The students invited from Stetser Elementary School in Chester, Pennsylvania include two former students who wrote to the First Lady about their experiences with their school garden and three current fourth graders. Students invited from Sumner Elementary School in Greensboro, North Carolina are hoping to start a garden. Third graders wrote to Mrs. Obama for advice, the East Wing said. (Above: Mrs. Obama and a helper at last summer's Three Sisters planting, which spotlighted Native Americans)

All three of these states happen to be battlegrounds for President Obama's re-election effort, and have gotten plenty of the First Lady's attention recently. Last week she was in New York to fundraise, and she visited North Carolina, home to the upcoming 2012 Democratic National Convention, earlier this month. She traveled to Iowa in February for a stadium-sized event to kickoff her national tour for the second anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign. With its focus on community revitalization and job creation through food access projects, Mrs. Obama's childhood obesity initiative is a swell calling card for the President's re-election effort.

Members of Girl Scouts of Western New York Troop 60325 from Fairport, New York have also been invited to Monday's planting; they told Mrs. Obama about the 100 tomato plants they'd grown to give to members of their community. Mrs. Obama is National Honorary President of the Girl Scouts. Kids from DC's Harriet Tubman and Bancroft Elementary Schools, longtime partners in the project, will also be on hand.

Bancroft students--who have their own school garden that Mrs. Obama has visited--have worked in the Kitchen Garden since it was first planted in 2009. The Tubman kids have also been at a number of garden events; White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses have adopted the school through the Chefs Move to Schools program, which marries professional chefs to public schools.

The planting...and Thomas Jefferson...and no, the garden is not organic
On Monday, Mrs. Obama and her junior helpers will plant a wide variety of crops, including seeds and seedlings sourced from President Thomas Jefferson's historic restored kitchen garden at his plantation home Monticello, in Albemarle County, VA. It is overseen by master horticulturalist Peter Hatch, who has served as an advisor for the White House project, and donated seeds and starts each year. The Kitchen Garden is now 1,500 square feet, expanded in 2010 from its original size of 1,100 square feet at the First Lady's behest. With boxed beds, it grows through all four seasons with the use of protective hoop houses. The plastic covering were removed last weekend thanks to very warm weather. (Above: The Kitchen Garden earlier this week, with the uncovered hoops still in place)

Though not certified organic, no chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used in the Kitchen Garden. Fresh vegetables, including Brussels sprouts, micro cabbage sprouts, kale and winter lettuces were used last week when the President and Mrs. Obama hosted the State Dinner honoring British Prime Minister David Cameron, for more than 320 guests. (Above: Chefs harvesting greens for the State Dinner, with the hoop houses visible in the background)

The Kitchen Garden is visible daily to the thousands of tourists who gather outside the South Lawn fence line to view the White House, and is meticulously cared for by the White House chefs, employees of the National Park Service who maintain the historic grounds, and volunteers. During the annual Garden and Grounds tours at the White House, visitors wait in long lines to get a first-hand look at the project.

As exclusively reported here today, on May 29, Crown Publishing Group will release Mrs. Obama's book about the Kitchen Garden, American Grown. The date is the second delay for the book, Mrs. Obama's first effort as an author. Subtitled "The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America," the book is a combination memoir and how-to guide, richly photographed. It includes details for how to plant all kinds of gardens, as well as recipes. The 256-page hardcover edition will sell for $30 in the US market. (Above, the book jacket)

*Check the sidebar of the blog for a complete listing of White House recipes inspired by the Kitchen Garden.

Related: The White House Beehive is ready for Spring, too.

*Top photo by Lawrence Jackson/White House; hoop house photo by Chuck Kennedy/White House; book cover photo by Crown Publishing Group; other photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

White House Honors Ten Citizens As Let's Move! Physical Activity "Champions of Change"

First Lady praises leaders from across the US who have created unique programs...
The White House on Thursday will welcome ten citizens who have been longtime leaders in bringing physical activity and nutrition programs to their communities, honoring them as Let's Move! "Champions of Change" during a visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Now in its third year, First Lady Michelle Obama's childhood obesity campaign has a renewed emphasis on getting children active, and the Champions have each created unique projects. (Above: Mrs. Obama during a Let's Move! event earlier this month in North Carolina)

"I’m so proud that leaders like these have found new and exciting ways to help our kids get up and moving," Mrs. Obama said.

The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative, and today's group is the first to be honored for community achievements in physical activity; chefs were honored last year. The honorees come from around the US, and have impacted the lives of thousands of children and youth with projects ranging from soccer, to using public lands for physical activity, to a program for differently abled athletes run by an Iraq war veteran. During their visit, the Champions will meet with policy advisors for a roundtable, and tour the White House.

"If we’re going to end our nation’s epidemic of childhood obesity, we need to make sure our kids get the physical activity and nutritious foods they need to grow up healthy and strong," Mrs. Obama said. "These leaders have done just that, and that’s what makes them true champions for their communities and our country.”

The White House is also encouraging schools to embrace physical activity, with Let's Move in School, a subcomponent of the campaign. Last week, Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass visited Boston, MA to speak at a "Let's Move in School Showcase," presented by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Kass was joined by sports icons Doug Flutie, a Heisman Trophy winner, and Carl Lewis, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist in track and field, as he met with representatives from area schools and students.

UPDATE: The video of the entire roundtable:



Below, from the White House, the list of Let's Move! Physical Activity Champions of Change, and their bios.

Let's Move! Physical Activity Champions of Change

1. Andre Ashley, Portland, OR
Ashley has been employed with Portland Parks & Recreation for the past 18 years and directing Sports Programs for more than a decade. In his role as Sports Management Supervisor, Andre works with the many users of Portland Parks & Recreation’s sports fields to ensure access for sports of all kinds and athletes of all ages. He oversees the city’s wide range of sports programming, which ranges from competitive league sports to casual leagues to individual recreation, and sports facilities.

2. Hector Avila, Houston, TX
Avila is the Program Coordinator for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) “Soccer for Success” program, an inner city soccer program that focuses on life skills development through sports. Funded by a grant from the US Soccer Foundation, the program offers over 1,000 low-income youth the opportunity to learn soccer and much more. Hector Avila knows the long term benefits this type of programming offers as he, too, benefited from a free soccer program that changed his life and career path.

At 16, a free HPARD program offered him the opportunity to learn soccer. When he was 18, the same HPARD soccer program offered him a job and a way to give back to his community. Today, Mr. Avila holds licenses from both the United States Soccer Federation and the South Texas Youth Soccer Association. For 14 years he has dedicated his life to working with inner city youth to teach them soccer, team work, life skills development and healthy and active lifestyles.

HPARD’s “Soccer for Success” program is a model for the benefits that sports can bring to the lives of young people. Hector Avila is an example of the way free athletic and academic programs can turn young lives in directions that benefit them and society as a whole.

3. Sarah Bucher, Toledo, OH
Bucher is the Director of Healthy Living at the YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo, works to improve the nutrition and physical activity of employees and participants in companies, child care centers and YMCA programs. Sarah has helped increase the health and well-being of children in 27 child development centers by educating teachers, implementing a physical activity and nutrition curriculum, overseeing hydroponic gardens, and improving the quality of food being served.

In an effort to improve the overall health of the community, Sarah brought community leaders together to create lasting policy, systems and environmental changes at local and state levels. Through Sarah’s leadership, the YMCA and its community partners are continuing the fight against childhood obesity.

4. Robert Castaneda, Chicago, IL
Castaneda is the co-founder, along with his wife Amy, and executive director of Beyond the Ball, a sports-based youth and community development organization which uses the power of sport to change lives, give hope, reclaim space and develop a culture of opportunities for youth and families in Chicago. In 1998, gang members twice set the Castaneda’s house on fire in retaliation for reporting gang activity to the police. Instead of giving in to gang intimidation, Rob and Amy decided to stay in their house and have dedicated their lives to making their west side community of Little Village a peaceful place through sport and play.

Beyond the Ball now serves over 2,500 residents throughout the year, using sport to teach personal and social responsibility. In 2010, selected from over 400 organizations from 120 countries around the world, Beyond the Ball received a Beyond Sport “Most Courageous Use of Sport Award,” for Project Play, a program designed to reclaim public play spaces from gangs. Robert was also selected as a 2012 Chicago Community Trust Emerging Leader Fellow for his continued efforts to bring life back to his community, making it healthier physically and socially.

5. Cindy Coughlin, Springfield, MA
Coughlin is a physical education and health teacher at Alice B. Beal Elementary School in Springfield, Massachusetts. She has been working in the Springfield Public School system for 11 years and has been teaching for 17 years. Throughout her teaching career Cindy has worked to teach children the importance of exercise and healthy eating habits. Her hope is that children will take the lessons that they have learned about healthy lifestyles and use that knowledge to make changes that will last for a lifetime. In 2011 Cindy was named Massachusetts’ Program Advisor of the Year for Fuel Up To Play 60. She serves on the executive board for Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD). Cindy is member of the Schools Committee for the New England United States Tennis Association (USTA).

6. Cameron Hajialiakbar, Los Angles, CA
Hajialiakbar is the founder and president of the Coaching Corps chapter at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Coaching Corps trains, and places volunteer coaches into after-school programs serving girls and boys in low-income communities to bridge the ever-growing access gap between those that have and those that don’t have access to quality youth sports programming with trained and caring coaches. Cameron joined Coaching Corps as an AmeriCorps member in 2011 and his passion for direct service influenced him to expand the program into the greater Los Angeles area. Cameron is currently a third year student at UCLA where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with plans to continue on to law school.

7. Richard Kozoll, MD, MPH, Cuba, NM
Kozoll has practiced family and preventive medicine in the small community of Cuba, New Mexico since 1975. An avid outdoors person, Richard has increasingly devoted his time to creating opportunities for an active outdoor lifestyle in his community through leadership of a Federal, State and local partnership, Step Into Cuba.

The program connects local people – especially youth – to surrounding public lands through trail development, community campaigns, point-of decision prompts, exercise prescriptions and referrals, social support and roadway pedestrian enhancements. Step Into Cuba was awarded the 2010 American Trails’ national Trails for Health award. His personal reward is observing his neighbors and patients improve their health through introduction of outdoor physical activity into their lives.

8. Kenny Owens, Washington, DC
Owens is a native of Washington, DC and a Woodrow Wilson Senior High School alumnus. Kenny is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he was a four-year starter on the men’s soccer team, including captain his senior year. Prior to DC SCORES, Kenny taught Sports and Society at SEED PCS in Southeast Washington and coached middle school basketball and soccer. Kenny holds a USSF ‘C’ Coaches License and a State Diploma from the NSCAA. Kenny joined DC SCORES in 2006 and is responsible for DC SCORES’ elementary and middle school soccer leagues as well as the training of DC SCORES’ soccer coaches.

9. Melissa Stockwell
Stockwell is an above the knee amputee from the war in Iraq and a World Champion Paratriathlete. In early 2011 she co-founded the dare2tri Paratriathlon club with two friends, Keri and Dan, with the goal of getting athletes with disabilities to the starting line of a triathlon. As avid triathletes, the 3 of them truly believed that these athletes would gain confidence that would carry over into all aspects of their life by challenging themselves in the sport of triathlon. Dare2tri currently serves over 85 athletes and 120 volunteers and runs by the motto that “One Inspires Many’ as they inspire anyone that they encounter.

The athletes, youth, adult and injured service members, are continually pushing the limits in what they are capable of and they look forward to seeing how many lives they can impact!

10. Shawanda Weems, Bronx, NY
For over ten years, Weems has been an English teacher at PS/MS 15 in the Bronx, New York, who, in collaboration with the Youth and Community Division of New York Road Runners, has established youth-running-for fitness programs, which serve more than 350 children in her school. Shawanda has seen firsthand the correlation between physical education and academic excellence and the tremendous positive impact of both on student lives.

Ms. Weems coaches a Young Runners team for 50 elementary and middle school students ages 10-16, a program that combines cross country with track, and leads a Mighty Milers program which services 300 elementary school students ages 5-9. Since 2004, her efforts before, after, and during the school day, including many weekends, have enabled her to bring students to special New York Road Runners running-related events. She is making the physical activity of running, along with the collateral component of goal-setting, a prominent element of her school’s culture and her students’ lives.

*Photo at top by Chuck Kennedy/White House. Mrs. Obama visited the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament and 100th Anniversary celebration on March 2.

White House Beehive Is Ready For Spring 2012

The hive is now larger...and the special White House Honey Cupcake recipe...
The White House Beehive, the first to ever be on the grounds, has been expanded from when it was first installed on the South Lawn beside First Lady Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden in 2009. More bee boxes have been added, to increase the output of honey. In 2011, the hive produced 243 pounds of honey, up from 164 pounds in 2010 and 124 pounds in 2009. The base the hive stands on has been changed, too, and lowered for easier access. Last week, Mrs. Obama presented Mrs. Samantha Cameron with a gift of a specially inscribed crystal vase of the honey during the Official Visit. Above, the beehive on St. Patrick's Day, on a beautiful spring afternoon at the White House.

"The honey has been amazing," said Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass recently.

"We have taken out some incredible numbers in terms of what we've got, and it's been amazing for the kids to see the whole process, and to learn the importance of pollinators to what we eat."

In the above photo of the hive taken exactly one year ago, Beekeeper in Chief Charlie Brandts makes repairs on the then-smaller hive. Spring came later last year to Washington: The magnolia tree beside the hive was not flowering in March of 2011, but it is already dropping its blooms this year.

Brandts has worked at the White House as a carpenter for more than three decades, and in 2009 brought his home beekeeping efforts to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue at the behest of Kass, to ensure that the Kitchen Garden has optimum pollination. In addition to being given as diplomatic gifts, honey from the White House Beehive is used for State Dinners and First Family Dinners, as well as given to Miriam's Kitchen, a community organization that provides meals for DC's homeless.  Honey is also used by the chefs when they homebrew beer. The Obamas' chefs are the first in history to homebrew at the White House.

Kids who visit the Kitchen Garden for tours are given an explanation of the importance of bees in the food chain, and at the last two Easter Egg Rolls, Brandts had a booth set up in front of the Hive, explaining how it works. (Above: A longshot of the beehive on St. Pat's Day, with the White House in the background)

A delicious and easy recipe for White House Honey Cupcakes, created by Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses, IS HERE. Check the sidebar for all White House recipes, including salad recipes that use honey in the dressing.

Brandts and Kass explain the White House beehive in this fun video:



*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

Senior Policy Advisor Sam Kass Joins Celebs On "Sexy Chefs Of Television" List

America's most powerful chef has plenty of fans on the other side of the  globe...
The charms of White House assistant chef/Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass have an international reach: He's on a new list of culinary hotties from The Times of India, "Sexy Chefs of Television." Kass is named alongside "favorite celebrity chefs" Tony Bourdain, Padma Lakshmi, Nigella Lawson, Curtis Stone and other good-looking folks who The Times says are capable of seducing viewers "with the way they flirt with food." (Above: Kass takes a break from flirting with some White House turnips during a Kitchen Garden harvest)

Though Kass does not have his own TV show, he made the list because he's had plenty of screentime for the Let's Move! campaign, The Times said.

"In her bid to stop childhood obesity, [Michelle] Obama has sought the help of this charming chef who could just as easily have modeled for H & M!" The Times gushes.

Since arriving at the White House in 2009 with the Obamas, Kass has appeared on Top Chef; Chopped; Today show, Good Morning America, Iron Chef America; the Rachael Ray Show; and The Nate Berkus Show, as well as loads of network news/feature segments. The US press has long been aware of Kass' good looks: In 2009, he was named to People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People list.

*Photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

Sec. Vilsack & ObFo Do "What's On #MyPlate Day?" Lunch

Today is the US Department of Agriculture's national "What's on MyPlate Day?," designed "to heighten public awareness of the importance of choosing nutritious foods for a healthy meal" and encourage the use of the MyPlate icon to design meals built around the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. USDA is asking citizens to post photos of their Myplate meals to Twitter all day, using the hashtag #MyPlate. The agency tweeted a photo of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's lunch, above, writing on @USDA "Healthy #MyPlate pic courtesy of Secretary Vilsack himself! Chicken, veggies, whole grains and milk."

Above, a photo of ObFo's #MyPlate lunch: Broccoli, kale, spinach, sweet peppers, lots of garlic with tofu and brown rice buried under the veggies, and more mini sweet peppers on the side. There's water behind President Obama's smiling face. First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled the MyPlate icon last year as part of the Let's Move! campaign.

Today's social media MyPlate event is part of the celebration of National Nutrition Month. For those interested in eating White House-style, the chefs have created two special MyPlate recipes: CLICK HERE for the recipes for Seared Tilapia and Fried Rice with Broccoli and Carrots. CLICK HERE for White House Turkey Lasagna with Spinach. The recipes include video demonstrations from Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass. Check the blog sidebar for more White House recipes; many can anchor a MyPlate meal.

Visit ChooseMyPlate.gov for more information on the icon, and LetsMove.gov for more information on the First Lady's campaign.