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But Michelle Obama abides, as fabulous and beloved by the electorate as ever. She has built up a tidy store of political capital. She plans to spend it “by spearheading an initiative to reduce childhood obesity that, she hopes, will create a legacy by which she can be remembered,” reports<\/a> Sheryl Gay Stolberg in The New York Times. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reducing childhood obesity is a goal that few could argue with. But really it’s an appealing way to frame a massive problem with powerful vested interests behind it: a food system that churns out low-quality, environmentally ruinous food and robust profits for a few companies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If the First Lady plans to confront the issue in a serious way, she’ll soon be knocking heads with those very companies. She has already gotten a taste of the coming pushback, just by planting an organic garden. <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It will take every iota of Ms. Obama’s considerable grace, smarts, and popular appeal to “move the ball” (as she puts it) on the diet-related maladies that confront the nation’s children. The sustainable food movement has never had a more appealing or high-profile champion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n Tales from a D.C. school kitchen: How foods that don’t occur in nature end up on your kid’s plate<\/a><\/p>\n To address obesity, the First Lady will need to cast a wide net<\/a><\/p>\n Tales from a D.C. school kitchen: What does ‘fresh-cooked’ really mean?<\/a><\/p>\n
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