First Lady Michelle Obama announced today, the “MiPlato” initiative at National Supermarket in Tampa, Florida, another dimension of the “Let’s Move” campaign, aimed at encouraging Americans to eat healthy foods.
Supported by Goya Foods and targeted toward Hispanic communities, Obama said “MiPlato” or “My Plate” is a framework that any family can use.
“Any culture can interpret the plate in a way that is true to their traditions,” Obama told the gather of Hispanic leaders, government officials and kids. “You will fill up half of the plate with fruits and vegetables, you will start there, and you will fill the rest with lean proteins, whole grains, low-fat dairy products.” It is just that simple, she added.
Obama said, Hispanic parents face much the same challenges as everyone else – kids spending too much time in front of the TV instead of playing outside- but they also face unique challenges, as well.
“While one in three kids in America is overweight or obese, we know that in the Hispanic community, it’s nearly two in five — two in five,” she said.
Economics could help explain this disparity, but there is also the issue of lack of access to fresh, healthy foods by Hispanic families. Hispanic neighborhoods have one-third as many supermarkets as non-Hispanic neighborhoods, Obama said.
Goya is supporting “MiPlato” by putting the icon on the labels of various food products such as beans, black beans, chickpeas and pinto beans. The food company is also producing pamphlets that provide simple and nutritious recipes, along with “MiPlato” posters with tips for parents to follow.
Obama said she hoped storeowners across America would display the “MiPlato” posters where parents and kids could actually see them and put into practice the information provided, to support happy, healthy futures for kids.
