Michelle Obama© introduces members of the Major League Soccer champion Los Angeles Galaxy, including (L-R) Sean Franklin, David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Todd Dunivant, during a question-and-answer session with school-age sports fans in the State Dining Room of the White House May 15, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
First Lady Michelle Obama speaks alongside David Beckham (L) during a ‘Let’s Move’ soccer event with players from the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Major League Soccer (MLS) champions, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, May 15, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)
First lady Michelle Obama speaks about her ‘Let’s Move’ campaign to get kids active during the United States Olympic Committee Media Summit 2012 at Hilton Anatole on May 14, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Wade/Getty Images for USOC)
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama waves to the graduates as she walks across the stage with Chancellor Harold Martin at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T) Commencement May 12, 2012, in Greensboro, NC. Michelle Obama was honored with a Doctorate in Humanities after speaking to the graduates (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama speaks to graduates at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T) Commencement, May 12, 2012, in Greensboro, NC. Michelle Obama was honored with a Doctorate in Humanities. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama reacts to cheers from the graduates at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T) Commencement May 12, 2012, in Greensboro, NC. Michelle Obama gave the commencement address and received a Doctorate in Humanities. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)
First Lady Michelle Obama a(2nd L) nd Dr. Jill Biden (2nd R), the wife of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, participate in a Joining Forces service event at the Vice President’s residence at the Naval Observatory May 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. Obama and Biden joined with Congressional spouses to assemble Mother’s Day packages that deployed troops have requested to be sent to their mothers and wives at home. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
U.S. First lady Michelle Obama speaks at a Joining Forces service event at the Vice President’s residence at the Naval Observatory May 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. Obama and Dr. Jill Biden joined with Congressional spouses to assemble Mother’s Day packages that deployed troops have requested to be sent to their mothers and wives at home. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
First lady Michelle Obama (L) and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, and the Vice President’s dog Champ arrive for a Joining Forces service event at the Vice President’s residence at the Naval Observatory May 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. Obama and Biden joined with Congressional spouses to assemble Mother’s Day packages that deployed troops have requested to be sent to their mothers and wives at home. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
First lady Michelle Obama® participates in a Joining Forces service event at the Vice President’s residence at the Naval Observatory May 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. Obama and Dr. Jill Biden joined with Congressional spouses to assemble Mother’s Day packages that deployed troops have requested to be sent to their mothers and wives at home. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative has inspired a province in Italy to dedicated a 1,400-year-old olive tree to the first lady. The ancient breed known as “The Queen” from the province of Lecce is seen as a fitting symbol for Michelle, because her promotion of fitness mirrors the health benefits of what many call the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is a main component of this style of eating, which encompasses the food cultures of countries such as Italy.
“The first lady has launched the ‘Let’s Move’ campaign for a healthier lifestyle and diet … in perfect harmony with the requirements of a Mediterranean diet,” the province said, as reported by the AFP news service.
To honor this commemoration, the Lecce province will gift the White House with approximately 26 gallons of extra-virgin olive each year made from fruits of “The Queen” starting in the fall. Combined with the yield from the first lady’s organic White House garden (and a batch of balsamic vinegar) that will make quite a bit of fortifying salad.
Michelle’s activities to promote healthy eating and end childhood obesity will be further reflected in a coming episode of the Food Network show Restaurant: Impossible. In the coming June 13 episode, the first lady tasks show host Robert Irvine with the challenge of revamping the facilities of a program that provides healthy meals to underprivileged children.
Follow Alexis Garrett Stodghill on Twitter at @lexisb
