‘Let’s move’ away from mystery meat

Let’s Move!, the campaign Michelle Obama started in 2010 to prevent childhood obesity, is currently in effect in Minnesota. The Minneapolis Pubic School system said “hasta la vista” to the famous chicken patty and is now offering new healthy lunch choices — all of which include a serving of fruit and vegetables — the first substantial change to school nutrition in 15 years.

The great part of this initiative is that it has the ability to succeed despite the fact that my rebellious fourth-grade brother is planning a strike to get his chocolate milk back.

More than any generations before, today’s youth understand the importance of being healthy. In this year’s NFL PLAY 60 Super Kid contest, 10,000 kids pledged to devote 60 minutes a day to exercise. And these good habits lead to more good habits.

There are about 25 million children who are overweight or obese in the U.S. today — a number that has tripled over the past 30 years. Obesity, especially in children, can lead to Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Unlike the majority of policies we hear around election time, Let’s Move! is something everyone can agree on. We can focus on important issues instead of losing ourselves amidst the constant coverage and debates of presidential hopefuls. “We’ve got a lot of work to do in the White House,” Obama emphasized on her visit to the Jay Leno show last week. “We pretty much stay focused on what we have to do.”

Some believe the first lady’s recent public appearances have an underlying motive: getting votes. But she’s not campaigning for her husband; she’s only educating the public of the program’s undeniable significance.

Increasing public awareness of an issue as relevant to our society shouldn’t be mistaken for a political issue. Our focus, as a nation, should be working together and improving. If Americans can continue to unite with a sense of urgency on issues involving youth, the trend could become habitual for generations to come.