When First Lady Michelle Obama first announced her plans for the White House Victory Garden, I was ecstatic.  I thought, finally someone who’s brave enough to take on America’s unhealthy lifestyles head-on. I say brave because it’s hard trying to get people to change their habits, and leading the charge for a healthier America is no small feat.

Fortunately for my family, I’ve always been passionate about healthy eating because my mother made good food a priority when I was growing up.  Although looking back, I realize that we ate way too much meat (everyone did back then). Mom also made sure that we ate lots of fresh vegetables and she went to the farmers market at least twice a week.

But today, too many of us don’t bother to uphold that standard because we are too busy and rely on a convenient, fast-food way of life. In today’s world, baking  from-scratch bread is the exception rather than the rule,  along with the notion that frozen vegetables are a heck of a lot faster to prepare than fresh ones. GOD forbid that we should try and grow our own.

But this health-care crisis and the obesity epidemic didn’t just happen overnight, and the fears of long-term ramifications because of it are very real.

Putting  the  health benefits of natural eating at the top of her agenda signals that Michelle really does get it when it comes to the health crisis that America finds herself in.

And I especially appreciate the fact that much of her career was spent as a hospital CEO, so she has experienced a bird’s-eye-view of health. The nation’s fat epidemic burdens society in every aspect, and we really do have to get kids to prefer healthy eating from the ground. It’s not as impossible as it may seem if we engage our children in the conversation and get them involved with growing and preparing food.

Most children love carrots, which are easy to grow and are delicious either raw or cooked in a variety of ways. 

Personally, I love carrots any way they are served. They’re  fantastic, either dipped in salsa, Hummus or dressing or as a delectable side dish – braised and then tossed with honey butter, cinnamon and molasses.

Related posts:

1. Let’s all join Michelle Obama’s obesity fight
2. Heart-healthy beans
3. Big girls do cry
4. Feeding our families well
5. The magic of pasta