Let's Move!: USDA Launches SuperTracker

Free web tool designed to "help Americans make healthy food and physical activity choices"...
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled the nutrition SuperTracker, an online tool designed to "complement First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative" and "assist individuals as they make changes in their life to reduce their risk of chronic disease and maintain a healthy weight." It's a continuation of the MyPlate campaign, launched by Mrs. Obama last summer, which encourages citizens to follow the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and make half their plates with half fruit and vegetables at every meal.

The Secretary explains it all in this video:



USDA's wordy press release:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2011 – Just in time to help Americans keep their New Year's resolutions by making healthy food and physical activity choices, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released USDA's new nutrition SuperTracker. The SuperTracker is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art resource available at ChooseMyPlate.gov designed to assist individuals as they make changes in their life to reduce their risk of chronic disease and maintain a healthy weight. Release of this new web tool comes as USDA highlights the second in a series of themed consumer messages supporting the MyPlate icon – Enjoy Your Food, But Eat Less – that USDA is promoting the next three months in conjunction with more than 5,000 organizations participating in the MyPlate Nutrition Communicators Network.

"Overcoming the health and nutrition challenges we face as a nation is critical and the SuperTracker provides consumers with an assortment of tools to do just that," said Vilsack. "This easy-to-use website will help Americans at all stages of life improve their overall health and well-being as they input dietary and physical activity choices into the tool. During the holiday season we are surrounded by good food and this is a perfect time to Enjoy Your Food, But Eat Less."

The SuperTracker is a visually appealing, comprehensive, state-of-the-art resource available at ChooseMyPlate.gov. It is designed to assist individuals as they make changes in their life to reduce their risk of chronic disease and maintain a healthy weight. Consumers can access this free, on-line tool at anytime and can choose a variety of features to support nutrition and physical activity goals. SuperTracker offers consumers the ability to:

*Personalize recommendations for what and how much to eat and amount of physical activity.

*Track foods and physical activity from an expanded database of foods and physical activities.

*Customize features such as goal setting, virtual coaching, weight tracking and journaling.

*Measure progress with comprehensive reports ranging from a simple meal summary to in-depth analysis of food groups and nutrient intake over time.

*Operationalize the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines.

*Support family and friends by adding their individual profiles.

The SuperTracker complements First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative and provides practical information to help individuals, health professionals, nutrition educators, and consumers build healthier diets. As Americans are experiencing epidemic rates of overweight and obesity, the online resources and tools available at ChooseMyPlate.gov can empower people to make healthier food and physical activity choices for themselves, their families, and their children.

Additional new consumer messages in the months to come will include Drink Water Instead of Sugary Drinks; Make at Least Half Your Grains Whole Grains; and Avoid Oversized Portions. USDA and its MyPlate Nutrition Communicators Network partners will find innovative ways to deliver the easy-to-adopt how-tos for these messages to empower consumers to make healthier food choices.

Originally identified in the Child Obesity Task Force report which noted that simple, actionable advice for consumers is needed, MyPlate replaced the MyPyramid image as the government's primary food group symbol as an easy-to-understand visual cue to help consumers adopt healthy eating habits consistent with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

ChooseMyPlate.gov provides practical information to individuals, health professionals, nutrition educators, and the food industry to help consumers build healthier diets with resources and tools for dietary assessment, nutrition education, and other user-friendly nutrition information. As Americans are experiencing epidemic rates of overweight and obesity, the online resources and tools can empower people to make healthier food choices for themselves, their families, and their children.

Other Associated Resources: Dietary Guidelines.gov; ChooseMyPlate.gov; LetsMove.gov

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White House Holiday Photo Of The Day

A MyPlate Christmas...
The White House has plenty of seasonal sugar going on for the holidays: Check out the gorgeous Gingerbread House and the massive cookie operation. But there's also decor that reminds about the importance of fruit and vegetables, a key piece of First Lady Michelle Obama's signature Let's Move! initiative. In this photo, Executive Chef Cris Comerford (center) and an assistant chef show kids from military families how to make the fruity Christmas ornaments hanging on this mini tree.

The directions are simple: Slice oranges into thin rounds, and dip each in Simple Syrup. Place on a baking sheet and dry in a 250 degree oven. Thread a ribbon through the center of each orange, and voila! It's an ornament that references USDA's MyPlate icon, unveiled by Mrs. Obama earlier this year, which encourages Americans to make fruit and vegetables half of each meal.

The holiday theme is "Shine, Give, Share" to honor military families. Click here to download the 2011 White House Holiday Tour Book for information on the decorations in each room. (Above: Comerford, right, and her assistants with the fruity craft table)

White House recipes are on the sidebar of this blog.

*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

Sam Kass & Cabinet Secretaries Unveil "MiPlato"

¿Qué Hay en su Plato?: A new Spanish-language version of MyPlate, the "most delicious" effort from Lets Move!, says Kass...Video...
October is Hispanic Heritage Month, and there was a foodie celebration on the White House campus this afternoon. Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass joined Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin to unveil MiPlato, the Spanish-language version of USDA's MyPlate food icon. They were joined at the 3:15 PM event by chef Marcela Valladolid and Chef Pepín, huge celebs on Hispanic food TV. (Above: Kass speaks as Salazar looks on)

MiPlato is a targeted edition of the colorful MyPlate icon, launched by First Lady Obama in June. It offers visual guidance for creating meals based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which encourages citizens to consume fruit or vegetables at every meal, including breakfast.

"Mi Plato is a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods that we're eating," Mrs. Obama said in a statement.

The First Lady noted that hardworking, busy parents don't have time be nutritionists, and that's where MiPlato comes in.

"We do have time to take a look at our kids' plates, and as long as they're eating proper portions, as long as half of their meal is fruits and vegetables alongside their lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, then we're good," Mrs. Obama said. "It's as simple as that."

Kass hailed Mrs. Obama's leadership as he praised the usefulness of MiPlato.

"MiPlato--the Myplate initiative--is a tremendous tool and resource for parents and chefs alike all over the country to have a framework in which to innovate and create," Kass said. "I am very excited about this. We are working with communties to help make this the most delicious effort to date coming out of Lets Move!."



Kass has appeared on network TV to demonstrate recipes that show how various cultures can incorporate MyPlate into their own their own culinary traditions.

"I am excited that our First Lady initiated this program, something that we Hispanics need especially," said Chef Pepín.

In their own remarks, Salazar and Vilsack also praised Mrs. Obama's leadership, and both pointed out the high rates of obesity and diet-related disease in Hispanic communities. (Above: Vilsack speaks surrounded from l by Benjamin, Salazar, Kass, Valladolid and Pepín)

More information is at ChooseMyPlate.gov and LetsMove.gov. Check the sidebar of this blog for White House MyPlate recipes.

The Obama Administration’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month has the theme “Renewing the American Dream," and this week focuses on the community’s well-being. The MiPlato tips are "part of a multi-year effort to raise awareness and educate consumers of every age on the importance of healthier eating and physical activity."

USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion recently announced that more than 4,000 organizations, known as Community Partners, have now joined the Nutrition Communicators Network doubling the July number. Community Partners are organizations actively committed to promoting healthy eating in accordance with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as symbolized by the MyPlate and MiPlato food icons.

October is also the first-ever National Farm to School Month.

*Photos by USDA. Updated.

Vilsack Launches MyPlate Video Contest

$9,000 in prizes offered for Let's Move! videos about healthy eating...
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined local leaders and nutrition advocates in Sacramento, California on Monday to encourage Americans to "Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables," the first themed message supporting the MyPlate food icon, part of First Lady Obama's Let's Move! campaign. Vilsack launched the "MyPlate Fruits and Veggies Video Challenge," a contest with $9,000 in prizes that opened for entries today and runs through Nov. 15.

Mrs. Obama unveiled MyPlate in June. Video entries can be songs, skits, or how-to videos, "as long as they include useful information on how to add more fruits and vegetables to the diet on a budget," according to USDA. Each video should feature one tip, must include the message "Make half your plate fruits and vegetables," and should direct viewers to visit the ChooseMyPlate.gov website. Check out the White House MyPlate recipes on this blog's sidebar for ideas.

The three video categories are: (1) Tips for Kids, (2) Tips When Eating at Home, and (3) Tips When Eating Away from Home. There's also a Popular Choice Award.

Full information on the contest is at fruitsandveggies.challenge.gov/. MyPlate information is at chooseMyPlate.gov; and visit Letsmove.gov for the First Lady's campaign.

White House Lunchbox Recipe: Chef In A Pocket

Video cooking lesson from Executive Chef Cris Comerford: A kid-friendly MyPlate meal for school lunch...
White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford has created a series of healthy recipes for homemade school lunches that are in keeping with USDA's MyPlate project, unveiled by First Lady Obama in June. MyPlate encourages citizens to fill half their plates at each meal with fruit and vegetables, following the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Comerford's kid-friendly lunchbox meal is anchored by Chef In A Pocket.  (Above: Comerford holds the sandwich, mid-prep)

"Basically it's a Chef's Salad that we're gonna like put inside a Pita bread," Comerford says in an instructional video for the lunchbox meal, created by TheStir.com. She uses ham for the sandwich she makes onscreen, but says that any kind of lean meat can be used.

The Top Toque is mother to Danielle, a middle schooler, so in addition to cooking for the Obamas and every First Family since 1995, as well as world leaders, royalty, and celebrities, Comerford has plenty of personal experience with school lunches. (Above: Comerford with Mrs. Obama in the White House kitchen)

To give kids a big dose of fruit and vegetables, Comerford adds Veggie Chips with Hummus Dip and Melon Kebabs with Yogurt Dip to the meal. Packaging kids' lunches in a fun way is key to making fruit and vegetables a must-eat, Comerford says. The Melon Kebabs are tiny chunks of melon on mini skewers; kids "love anything on a stick," she says.

"It's cool for them to see," Comerford says. "When they open their lunch box, isn't it nice to like get a surprise in there?"



The open-for-interpretation, low-on-details recipes issued by the White House are below; the video is a must-watch. Be sure to pack the meal in air-tight containers, and include an ice pack in the lunchbox. Check out another of Comerford's White House Lunchbox Recipes: Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera with Grilled Chicken.  More info on MyPlate is at www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Chef In A Pocket

Ingredients
Whole Wheat Pita Bread
Any kind of lean meat and cheese
Hummus
Lettuce

Method
Pack everything into the Pita, and top with Hummus.

Veggie Chips (or Sticks) with Hummus Dip

Ingredients
Cucumbers, celery, blanched string beans or tomatoes
Hummus

Method
Slice vegetables for dipping

Instructions for making the Hummus are in the video.

Melon Kebabs With Yogurt Dip

Use two types of melon for variety: Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew Melon, or Crenshaw

Cut melon in small chunks, and place on mini skewers.

Yogurt Dip
1/2 Cup Plain Yogurt
1 TblspHoney
1 Tsp Vanilla

Blend all ingredients together.

*Video from TheStir.com

White House Lunchbox Recipe: Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera With Grilled Chicken

Video cooking lesson from Executive Chef Cris Comerford: A kid-friendly MyPlate meal for school lunch...
Just in time for the start of the 2011-2011 academic year, White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford has created a healthy recipe for a homemade school lunch that's in keeping with USDA's MyPlate project, unveiled by First Lady Obama in June. MyPlate encourages citizens to fill half their plate at each meal with fruit and vegetables in keeping with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, so the easy, kid-friendly lunchbox meal, Pasta Primavera with Grilled Chicken, is made with three kinds of vegetables and uses whole wheat pasta. In a video for the blog TheStir.com, the Top Toque demos how to make the dish, which she suggests serving with a side of Apple Dippers. (Above: The meal, packed for a lunchbox in pyrex)

The pasta "recipe" as issued by the White House has no directions for seasoning or cooking, but Comerford explains how to put the dish together in the video. She suggests using a small amount (no portion size is given) of grilled chicken left over from a family meal, but there is no recipe for this, either. Comerford has a terrific White House recipe that can be put to good use here: Check out White House Kitchen Garden Herb-Roasted Chicken with Braised Greens. (Above: Comerford with the First Lady in the White House kitchen)



How to keep lunchbox apples from turning brown...
Comerford also "demos" the Apple Dippers in the video, which she says can be packed in a lunchbox peeled and served with a tablespoon of honey for dipping. Comerford shares an old tip beloved by chefs for keeping the apples from turning brown: Dip the peeled slices in water that has a half teaspoon of powdered vitamin C mixed in, pat dry, then package them in an airtight container. The apple slices will magically remain white. More White House MyPlate recipes are on the sidebar of the blog. The recipe as released by the White House:

Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera
with Grilled Chicken

Ingredients
Whole wheat penne pasta, cut in half
Blanched broccoli, carrots, and tomatoes cut into bite-size pieces
Chicken cut into bite-size chunks

Method
Combine all ingredients as shown in video.


Related: By Presidential Proclamation, September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

*More information about MyPlate is at ChooseMyPlate.gov.