Waiver approved for Michelle Obama-backed school food standards

WASHINGTON — An intensifying p.r. campaign by Michelle Obama didn’t stop the House Appropriations Committee from passing a provision that allows schools to opt out of White House-backed lunch standards.

The panel voted 29-22 to permit school districts operating cafeterias at a loss to bypass standards that require, among other things, menus with fruits, veggies and whole grains instead of regular pasta.

The first lady, who normally keeps out of politics, penned an Op-Ed in Thursday’s New York Times to blast the waivers.

She also argued against a change that would let people getting assistance through a food program that subsidizes fruit and vegetable purchases to spend it on starchy
potatoes.

“Now, there is nothing wrong with potatoes. The problem is that many women and children already consume enough potatoes and not enough of the nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables they need,” Mrs. Obama wrote.

She called out lawmakers who “want to make it optional, not mandatory, for schools to serve fruits and vegetables to our kids. They also want to allow more sodium and fewer whole grains than recommended into school lunches.”

During a 2011 trip to South Africa, she was more forgiving toward spuds when asked about her favorite foods.

“If I picked one favorite, favorite food, it’s french fries,” Obama said. “Okay? It’s french fries,” she continued. “I can’t stop eating them.”

The Senate version of the spending bill would limit purchases to whole potatoes without additives — meaning fries would still be banned.

During the committee meeting, lawmakers lobbed competing food stories to make their points.

“Every kid doesn’t necessarily love healthy food. But I could give you some recipes — there are ways to make these foods more appealing to children and adults,” suggested Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Westchester).

Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), who pushed through the waivers, which he noted were temporary, said he and other lawmakers spent so much time on the issue they’re now known as “the lunch ladies.”

“I am someone who used to eat peanut M&Ms and drink a Coke for breakfast for the better part of a decade,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.). “Then I got breast cancer at 41 years old.”

“We don’t have to serve them cardboard. It doesn’t have to taste bad,” she said of healthy food alternatives.