Is this girl's food fight with the Obamas fair?
By Madeline Holler
Strollerderby
A Florida girl is now the poster child for an effort to get more nutritious lunches in the nation's schools. The face of Jasmine Messiah, 8, will appear in posters all over D.C. as a part of the Healthy School Lunches campaign's effort to lobby Congress.
In the poster, a dialogue bubble asks why the Miami-Dade County, Florida, girl doesn't get healthy lunches like the First Daughters do. In fact, Jasmine is a vegetarian, but there are not vegetarian options in her school cafeteria.
The Obama girls get vegetarian options - and more. Why, Jasmine wants to know. Why?
I agree with Jasmine's sentiment but can easily answer the question, Jasmine: money and influence. Fresh vegetables cost more than surplus fries and corn syrup loaded ketchup. Also, the kids in your school aren't likely the offspring of the well-to-do who have time and influence and, again, money, to influence these matters. Is Sidwell Friends facing budget cuts this year? Are they having to do more with less? Does the school count on public money to meet it's budget? Mmmm, maybe. But not like your school, Jasmine.
So it's great you're asking!
Then again, I wonder if it's fair to drag Sasha and Malia into the discussion. She even wrote Sasha and Malia a letter, pleading her case. Ultimately, I side with Jasmine on this. Some political experts say this could anger the President. However, if the Obama girls can be used to sell expensive, trendy winter coats, then, sure, they can be the focus of social inequality, health inequality and food inequality in the country.
Read more about the poster and reactions to it.
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Photo: NBCConnecticut.com
