Michelle Obama and White House chef Sam Kass taste food in Dallas. The White House staff is spilling details about Obama family life, from the first family’s fitness regime to their eating habits. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
First lady Michelle Obama waves as leaves the stage after speaking to supporters and volunteers at the Barbara Goleman High School on July 10, 2012 in Miami Lakes, Florida. Obama spoke about what’s she says is at stake in this years presidential election for Floridians. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
First lady Michelle Obama speaks to supporters and volunteers at the Barbara Goleman High School on July 10, 2012 in Miami Lakes, Florida. Obama spoke about what’s she says is at stake in this years presidential election for Floridians. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
First lady Michelle Obama speaks to supporters and volunteers at the Barbara Goleman High School on July 10, 2012 in Miami Lakes, Florida. Obama spoke about what’s she says is at stake in this years presidential election for Floridians. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk to the South Lawn of the White House on June 27, 2012 in Washington, D.D. The annual picnic was held for members of Congress. (Photo by Kristoffer Tripplaar-Pool/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama, with first lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks to an Independence Day picinic on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2012 in Washington, D.C. On this Independence Day President Obama is hosting a 4th of July celebration picnic on the South Lawn for White House staff and US service members. (Photo by Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House staff is spilling details about Obama family life, from the first family’s fitness regime to their eating habits.
White House chef Sam Kass and personal trainer Cornell McClellan answered questions about working for the Obamas as they read to more than 100 children Wednesday at the Department of Education.
Kass said he serves lots of vegetables including broccoli, spinach, green beans, brown rice, fish and chicken. He said the family still has fun with a pizza or burger, but “we have some very balanced meals.”
McClellan said the family does jumping jacks, push-ups, jump rope, boxing, running, soccer and basketball to keep fit.
Kass read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, while McClellan read Jonathan London’s “Froggy Learns to Swim” to the children from half a dozen schools and centers in the Washington, D.C. area and Pennsylvania.
After reading to the children, the two joined Education Secretary Arne Duncan in cheering on the youngsters in relay races, shooting hoops, using hula hoops and other physical activities.
“Keeping kids reading, keeping them engaged intellectually, going to libraries, going to museums, whatever it might be, is so important,” Duncan said. “The physical activities— the moving part of this— is a lot of fun, but we’re just trying to develop in students healthy lifestyles and if they start to build the habits now, they’ll literally last them a lifetime.”
The event was promoting the Education Department’s “Let’s Read! Let’s Move!” series, which encourages children to read and be physically active during the summer months away from school. White House administration, Cabinet members and other public figures are scheduled to participate in reading events throughout July.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
