Michelle Obama defends Super Bowl menu: Healthy eating about "moderation"

WASHINGTON–First Lady Michelle Obama, discussing healthy eating the day before the first anniversary of her “Let’s Move” anti-obesity campaign, defended the White House Super Bowl menu which included bratwurst, kielbasa, cheeseburgers and deep dish pizza.

The point is balance, not deprivation, Mrs. Obama said at Tuesday lunch with reporters who cover her East Wing. “I like to talk about my obsession with French fries because I don’t want people to think that “Let’s Move” is about complete, utter deprivation. It is about moderation and real life changes and ideas that really work for families, today’s families too.”

During the year of her “Let’s Move” healthy eating and exercise drive, Mrs. Obama has never said people should quit junk food–just don’t eat it all the time.

“I think I’ve always been very consistent on that front because that’s how I live my life. “I mean, It’s about balance. It’s always about balance. I felt As a mother if somebody came and said ‘you can never have a hot dog’ or serve your child a slice of pizza, we’d never get a handle on this issue cause I think that’s sometimes how people feel, that’s it’s all or nothing.

It is not necessary or “realistic” to eat healthy food every day and Super Bowl Sunday is a day made for an exception, Mrs. Obama said.

“I don’t even know what you’d have other than some hot dogs and some burgers for a Super Bowl party. That’s what Super Bowl is, so the message has always been about balance.”

As for that balance, “As I tell my kids, if you eat at every meal than when you’re out with your friends on a weekend and you have pizza and ice cream for the entire weekend, you’ll still be ok. The problem is when that fun stuff becomes the habit and I think that’s what’s happened in our culture. Fast food has become the everyday meal and what pediatricians will tell you, that’s causing some huge health issues.”