JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
First Lady Michelle Obama will visit Northside and Eastside Elementary Schools in Clinton Wednesday afternoon.
Mrs. Obama chose to highlight Mississippi because the state's childhood obesity rates have declined by 13 percent among elementary school students in recent years.
The Lets Move! initiative encourages more exercise and school lunches with more fruits and veggies and less saturated fat and sodium.
The White House announced last week that the First Lady would visit Clinton on her national tour to highlight healthy school lunches across the country. The two-day tour marks the third anniversary of Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! initiative.
TV personality and chef Rachael Ray will join Mrs. Obama and host a cooking competition between school chefs during the visit, which will air on The Rachael Ray Show March 11. According to the White House, Mrs. Obama and Ray chose to highlight Clinton because of the school district's efforts to make healthy schools a priority.
"With leadership from the Superintendent, Board of Education, parents, students and community leaders, Clinton made healthy schools a top priority and implemented district-wide changes to bring physical activity and nutritious choices to students – all with no additional funding," according to the White House press release.
Also, Mississippi is one of several states that has shown decreases in childhood obesity.
This isn't the first time the First Lady has visited metro area schools. In March 2010, Mrs. Obama visited Pecan Park Elementary and Brinkley Middle schools in Jackson to promote the launch of Lets Move!
Copyright 2013 MSNewsNow. All rights reserved.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
