First Lady Michelle Obama - showcasing a newly expanded Presidential Council on Fitness - is telling the nation's youth and their parents that staying active and healthy eating must go hand-in-hand.
Yes, good nutritional habits as well as the PE class push-ups and sprints known to more than a generation of Americans is part of the new mission under the rebranded President’s Council on Physical Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.
The expansion comes as Mrs. Obama's "Let’s Move!" campaign attempts to tackle ending childhood obesity within a generation. Across the country, she is encouraging active lifestyles and healthy eating habits that emphasize balance and moderation - something we can really get behind.
The council's push for physical activity - started back in the 1950s by President Eisenhower - carries on as demonstrated in the presidential challenge of 30 minutes per day for adults and 60 minutes for children at least five days a week.
We in the beverage industry are committed to being part of the solution in reversing childhood obesity. In support of the First Lady's "Let’s Move!" campaign, our industry has committed to a Clear on Calories labeling initiative.
And earlier this year, America's leading beverage companies delivered on a commitment to remove full-calorie soft drinks from schools, replacing them with lower-calorie, smaller-portion options like juices, teas and waters. The result: Our national School Beverage Guidelines have slashed beverage calories in schools by 88 percent.
To learn more about beverage industry initiatives, check in with us on Facebook and Twitter.