Today First Lady Michelle Obama announced the Partnership for a Healthier America, an effort to support the national goal to solve the childhood obesity. The First Lady will serve as Honorary Chair of the new organization. The National Dairy Council sent this follow-up release regarding how Fuel Up to Play 60 can fit into Mrs. Obama plan.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is joining the First Lady’s call to improve the health of our next generation. An in-school nutrition and fitness program launched in partnership by National Dairy Council and National Football League, Fuel Up to Play 60 shares the ambitious and attainable goals outlined in the First Lady’s childhood obesity platform. The program recognizes that many of today’s youth are overweight yet undernourished and encourages the availability and consumption of nutrient-rich foods – particularly low-fat and fat-free milk and milk products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains – along with 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Fuel Up to Play 60 is funded with an initial private sector financial commitment of $250 million over five years by America’s Dairy Farmers. Already impacting more than 59,000 schools nationwide, the program will further its progress by announcing the following commitment to the next generation:

Together with the involvement of the First Lady’s office, Fuel Up to Play 60 will expand its reach into more than 90,000 schools participating by the end of the next school year (May 2011), or more than 90 percent of schools nationwide. Fuel Up to Play 60 will ensure all schools have access to customizable and non-prescriptive program components such as curriculum materials, in-school promotional materials and a program Web site, to facilitate positive changes in the school nutrition and physical activity environment. Ultimately, through its reach and impact in schools, Fuel Up to Play 60 will help youth take small steps toward developing and maintaining lifelong healthy habits.

Source: National Dairy Council