Michelle Obama “thrilled” about Let’s Move! salad bar milestone

WASHINGTON — Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools announced that the partnership has granted its 4,000th school salad bar, serving more than 2 million children a day. This milestone represents an investment of over $10 million by the LMSB2S partners, foundations and corporate and non-profit donors.

A sub-initiative in support of first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! program, Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools provides salad bar equipment and training to schools and districts across the United States who are enrolled in the National School Lunch Program. The organization was founded in 2010 by Whole Foods Market, the United Fresh Start Foundation, the Chef Ann Foundation and the National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance. The Whole Kids Foundation, LMSB2S’ largest sustaining partner, helped make this milestone happen with a $750,000 donation last month.

“Today’s announcement is an exciting milestone,” the first lady said in a statement. “I’m thrilled that the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative has helped bring 4,000 school salad bars to more than 2 million children nationwide. As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Let’s Move!, we are well on our way to a future when all students have access to a variety of vegetables and fruit from their school salad bars each day. This is what change looks like.”

Overall, findings demonstrate that availability of salad bars is an effective strategy to increase students’ fruit and vegetable intake and furthermore help schools comply with new and improved federal school lunch nutrition standards.