I saw an article in the ADA Newsletter that sparked my interest as a post today. As most of you know, First Lady Obama has launched a campaign called Let’s Move to help fight childhood obesity.
“Among the initiatives in the agenda are bringing healthier lunches and snacks into school cafeterias, eliminating “food deserts” by opening grocery stores in under-served communities and encouraging children to be more active by joining the President’s Physical Fitness Challenge.” (Source)
In my opinion, these are all positive steps in the right direction to get parents to be more proactive about their family’s health. Go Michelle!
Now my question becomes; is Lady Obama a hypocrite?
Apparently, Lady Obama was seen visiting a new “Shake Shack” restaurant that opened up in Washington D.C. not that long ago. Her order; a burger, fries, shake, and DIET coke, came to a grand total of almost 1600 calories. The press had a hay day and so did the public. How can Lady Obama be the face of the “Let’s Move” campaign and STILL consume such an indulgence?
Before I ask for your opinion, I wanted to share mine.
On a daily basis, I would rather work out than watch TV, I eat about 2 big salads a day, I love talking to others about the importance of nutrition, and I have a blog called The HEALTHY Apron. I would say I’m a very healthy person and yet, I still enjoy an ice cream every once in a while, I love pizza on a Friday night, and sometimes I eat a little more than my belly wants….am I still healthy? Can I still call myself a dietitian and run a healthy living blog? In my opinion: YES.
Now, I won’t pretend like I’m an Obama fan, but please: LAY OFF THE FIRST LADY! Every single person has had a moment of indulgence. We ALL have our vices. These people don’t even know if Michelle Obama ate her whole meal! What if she just wanted a few sips of the shake, a couple fries, and half her burger? That sounds like something I would do.
She's fit and healthy!!
And even IF she ate the whole meal, SO WHAT!!??
I’m not saying that it’s healthy; because it’s really, really not. But I am saying that it’s OKAY to indulge every now and then. The occasional splurge will NOT make you obese or unhealthy. It’s what you do consistently over time that matters most. Make the Shake Shack a daily occurrence and we’re talking about a whole different issue.
Michelle Obama has a rockin’ bod, she works out regularly, and probably eats healthy 80% of the time. If she wants to eat a burger and fries every once in a blue moon; so be it.
QUESTION: So what are your thoughts on this topic? Do you think we should lay off Michelle Obama too or do you think she shouldn’t be a health advocate?
What has been your biggest indulgence?
I’ll show you mine tomorrow! Stay tuned!!
I completely agree with you. Life is no fun following a strict diet 100% of the time. Eating healthy 80% of the time, working out and splurging 20% to enjoy your favorites is the best way to success. Depriving yourself of your favorite foods can lead to binges & then beating yourself up.
Kim
[...] bloggers. Tina blogged about her experience with embarrasing food and Erin blogged about First Lady Obama eating a burger, fries, and milkshake despite promoting healthy living. And personally I believe [...]
I agree with you. I think it might be even more important for people in the public eye to show that they are “normal”…if we focus too much on only healthy foods, that’s when eating disorders become an issue (in my opinion). It’s all about balance, and Michelle Obama looks great!
In high school, I would eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s by myself. I know that sounds gross now, but at the time, I think I was burning so many calories because of all of the activities I did at the time, that a pint of ice cream on the occasional Friday night after a football game was “okay” in my mind. And, it kept me away from the party crowd
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[...] An Indulgence of Presidential Importance. [...]
Well said! I agree with you 100%
I actually walked past Shake Shack while the First Lady was eating there! It’s just a few minutes from my house in Dupont Circle, and I was headed to meet a friend for lunch.
Eating healthfully, in my opinion, not only means choosing nutrient-dense foods MOST of the time, but maintaining a healthy relationship with food as well. Michelle Obama is an advocate for balance, and she practices what she preaches. Allowing oneself to occasionally “indulge” merely because something tastes good is MUCH healthier than denying oneself “bad” foods 100% of the time. Health is definitely not black and white.
Thanks so much for raising this issue, Erin! Great post!
You make such a good point here! It is all about balance and I think it’s unfair to judge on only one meal. Very well said
My biggest indulgence has been eating world famous cake (6 of them)…after dinner. But then again, the Hong Kong bakery is world renowned…
http://hongkongintern.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/life-is-uncertain-eat-dessert-first/
I agree with your assessment. Eating healthfully includes indulgences. Obviously indulging too often is not the best, but neither is eating too restrictively. “Perfection” is not achievable.
I hate that people are expected to be perfect just because they are healthy and encourage healthy choices. Everyone wants a shake sometimes, and that’s perfectly okay! She is a good role model for still allowing herself treats despite being generally fit and active.
I agree with you 100%. People just look for anything to jump on anyone in the public…especially the president, his wife, etc. No matter who’s in office. Health is about what you said…eating a nutrient rich diet overall, but still enjoying life!!!!
This kind of stuff really makes me angry!
I mean, first of all – I applaud her for indulging and I wish America could see that there is nothing wrong with that, and that being healthy doesn’t have to be an all or nothing thing. In our diet obsessed world she is showing that moderation is OKAY.
2nd of all – why do we even care what the presidents wife is eating? There are way more important thing the news should be covering.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I also think it’s difficult for anyone in the public eye to appear to do everything ‘right’ all the time.
The only time I’ve disliked one of her comments in this area was when she mentioned the weight of one of her daughters (in that it had increased and they’d tried to get her more active as a result). I thought that was taking things too far and was rather unfair on her daughter. But talking about childhood obesity and practicing moderation? I’m all for that.
At first I thought you were going to say she shouldnt be eating that! Whew, totally agree.
People just love to judge other people! I think it’s a waste of news and wow big suprise, the First Lady enjoys a burger, fries, and a shake every once in a while. Nobody eats perfectly. People who’d call her out on this are the people who eat the salad covered in cheese and fatty salad dressings.
People need to lay off of her – she should be able to indulge once and awhile. Not one eats perfectly 100% of the time AND so looks super fit and healthy. I am sure she follows a healthy diet most of the time and works out regularly!
I LOVE this post! There is so much focus on celebrities by the media (if you call the first lady a celebrity) to eat a certain way and look a certain way! Let the darn woman enjoy herself a little!
I completely agree with you!
I have my indulgences too! I still think I lead a healthy lifestyle. I think it’s so important to have that balance.
Love this! Thank you so much for writing this, I completely agree!
Love this! I think it’s healthy and normal to have induldgences. I can’t believe her food choices are being so critiqued!
Agreed on every point. Yes she sets an example, but I think this is a good example. She’s showing healthy doesnt have to be all or nothing. Its balance!
This is just another example of how the media jumps on any opportunity to call a politician out on their hypocracy rather than focussing attention on all the good work that these politicians do.
…but maybe that’s fuelled by the public’s desires to watch people fail.
I agree with you that they need to lay off of her for this ONE meal!! You hit the nail on the head about indulging every once in awhile! ALSO, what kind of PR fiasco would she have if she went to this new place and DIDN’T order anything?! She needs to support local restaurants as an example to the other DC residents. If she hadn’t ordered a thing, she probably would have been called some sort of snob, ya know?
About the DIET Coke thing…I think some people just like the taste of it better than regular. Maybe she wasn’t trying to ‘watch her calories’ with that part of the order, but instead she just likes it better.
I 100% agree with you!
I think it’s totally ridiculous! Just because she had that meal that one time, it doesn’t mean she has it everyday for lunch. It’s normal & healthy to indulge in a meal like that every once in a while and just live life.
I get so annoyed at people calling her a hypocrite. She practices moderation and portion control- something she preaches often. People seem to conveniently forget that.
Also, she’s ridiculously active. Who’s to say she didn’t pull a 5-mile run on the hotel treadmill before going out for lunch?
This royally pissed me off.
I bet the state dinners they have contain well over 1700 calories from the fatty dressing in the salad, to the buttery veggies/mashed potatoes, to some decadent dessert.
Who the heck cares. She is NOT a hypocrite.
I absolutely love this post! Such a good point, I hate how the media takes things so out of proportion! I absolutely agree, what’s life without some indulgences? as long as they’re not everyday for every meal! Depriving yourself of the occassional burger would be worse, if it’s something you love.
Completely agree with you here! This is just one of the MANY things the press focuses on that drives me insane. It’s like when they berated Obama for not having a formal Easter address. Isn’t there a thing called separation of church and state people!? The press turns every damn mole hill into a mountain and this is just another one of those times. Let’s focus on all the positives Michelle Obama is doing instead of what she ate for lunch. WHO CARES!? And, I’m not even a huge Obama supporter! haha Honestly, this is one of the times I’m so happy we don’t have cable anymore so I don’t have to hear this bs constantly. I can now choose my “news” on the internet.
If I recall correctly, the burger and fries were from a highly-regarded local restaurant in a city where Ms. Obama was visiting – which is EXACTLY the right time to have a rare indulgence. A truly special experience that you can’t get often. Similarly, I totally enjoyed all the fat and sodium in my Central Grocer Muffaletta in New Orleans last year without a second thought. These kind of indulgences are really that – an indulgence compared to a normal, healthy diet. Now McDondald’s fries? Sorry, not worth it.
As someone who has personally indulged in that same delicious meal at Shake Shack not once, but TWICE during a two-week stay in NYC in June (I skipped the shake the second time), I don’t blame her for eating it. Did I still work out almost every day I was on vacation and walk miles upon miles in the city? Yes. I think being healthy is all about BALANCE. Michelle Obama is an excellent role model – her fit physique and attitude towards eating veggies and healthy foods show people that you can eat a burger and fries occassionally if you exercise regularly.
I agree with you. If she, or anyone, ate like that all of the time, that would be one thing. However having indulgences is, to me, also important for my health. If I feel deprived I’m about 5 times more likely to go binge than if I treat myself to something “not-so-healthy” every once in a while.
I agree with you!! Like it is really BIG news that the first lady ate a burger and drank a diet coke. So many more important things to worry about!!
Good job Erin. I’m with YOU on this one. My personal indulgence is my monthly need for chocolate. Not talking about a little nibble of the good, dark stuff. I’m talking about a once-a-month total chocolate feast. I know I should not blame PMS but it’s my excuse and I’m not letting that go — for now.
I would make the arguement that what she ate was 100% healthy on someone’s road to a healthy lifestyle. If you are always depriving yourself of indulgences then you are NOT healthy!
WELL SAID!!