First Lady Michelle Obama gave kudos to the Starkville School District Wednesday for its efforts to improve the health of city students.
During a speech at Brinkley Middle School in Jackson, Obama encouraged students to pursue healthier lives and recognized the Starkville School District”s removal of deep fryers from school cafeterias as a step toward achieving that goal.
“Here in Mississippi, another thing that”s happened is that they”ve taken fryers out of the school and put in more ovens, right?” Obama said to a round of applause. “And just imagine, just because of that, in Starkville, two schools in that area, they”ve cut out about 3 million calories — 3 million calories — just by not having fried potatoes. Those are the kind of little things that make a difference.”
Although fryers actually were removed from three schools in the Starkville School District, not two, district officials were thrilled with Obama”s comments.
“It is quite an honor to be recognized for the effort,” district Director of Child Nutrition Beverly Lowry said. “And I think the fact that she said even the small things make a difference, I mean, when you look at french fries every day, the small things do add up. That”s a lot of calories.”
The fryers were removed from Starkville High School, Armstrong Middle School and Sudduth Elementary School, and replaced with combi ovens, which use steam, hot air, or a combination of both to prepare food. Costing about $35,000 per unit, the Starkville High School combi oven was paid for with a John D. Bower Foundation grant, while the ovens at Armstrong and Sudduth were paid for with district Child Nutrition Department funds, Lowry said.
Superintendent Judy Couey said the Starkville School District has made a concerted effort over the past three or four years to improve the health of its students.
“We want to continue that with all of our schools,” Couey said. “That”s something we want to keep focusing on. The workers in our school cafeterias do an excellent job. The food is really appealing. It looks good, it tastes good and it”s good for you.”
Obama”s announcement came on the same day the Starkville High School boys basketball team beat Biloxi High School 66-51 in the Mississippi High School Activities Association state tournament semifinal and advanced to the championship game against Meridian High School.
“It was a big day,” Couey said. “We were winning in the ”The Big House” and then we got the shout-out.”
Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman Thursday commended the Starkville School District for improving the health of its students and drawing the attention of Michelle Obama.
“First of all, it”s a sign that something really good is happening in our school lunch program,” Wiseman said. “Second, it”s always nice to be mentioned in a flattering way by the First Lady of the United States. It”s exciting. It bodes very well for our community and our school system.”
A full transcript of Obama”s speech can be found on the Starkville School District Web site: www.starkville.k12.ms.us.
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