WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama says the cheeseburgers, deep-dish pizza, sausages and buffalo wings the White House served up for the Super Bowl have a place in everyone’s diet, despite her urgings for the public to eat healthier.
“Life is about good food, at least in America,” the first lady told NBC’s “Today” show on Wednesday, the first anniversary of her “Let’s Move!” campaign against childhood obesity. “I’ve always talked about balance in this campaign.”
She conceded that the high-calorie, high-fat menu raised a few eyebrows.
But Mrs. Obama said many of the dietary changes she’s talking about don’t require wholesale changes, such as adding more fruits and vegetables to dinner plates and lunch boxes, helping children exercise more and replacing sugary drinks with water.
“This isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition and it’s important for families not to get caught up in that, not to think that I can never indulge,” she said.
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The first lady fielded a few queries about her husband, including whether President Barack Obama dyes his graying hair or is vain about his appearance. She replied “no” on both counts.
“If he had known he would be president, he would have started dyeing his hair, like, 10 years ago,” she said.
She described him as very fashion-unaware and said she wishes he’d wear a different color suit sometimes or buy a new shirt.
“We cheer when he puts on a bright-colored shirt,” Mrs. Obama said, speaking of daughters Malia and Sasha. “He cares very little about his appearance.”
She also said her daughters aren’t on Facebook — and that’s the way she likes it. Besides, at ages 12 and 9, they are too young to legally join the popular social networking website. Her girls have certain restrictions because of Secret Service security issues, she said.
“I’m not a big fan of young kids having Facebook,” she said. “It’s not something they need. It’s not necessary right now.”
During a later appearance on “Live! With Regis and Kelly,” Mrs. Obama said she would attend the April 29 royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in London if invited. But she also said marriage is a personal, private matter and the coupe should invite who they want.