Shut up and eat your vegetables.

Via MSN News:

I sat down with the First Lady to talk about the school lunch reforms she’s trying to save, and why we’ve come too far in the fight against childhood obesity to turn back now.

[T]hose who are working to roll the reforms back cite reasons that should be familiar to most parents. Namely, that healthy food costs more than processed alternatives and is more difficult to prepare, and that kids don’t like eating their vegetables.

According to the SNA’s website, “Whole-grain items, fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat snacks in particular have resulted in increased costs.”

Mrs. Obama refutes the claim that the cost of healthy food is a burden for schools, because 90 percent of schools are complying with the standards. In fact, she says, many schools implemented the standards before they had to.

“Many schools started implementing the standards before they were mandatory, because the principals understood that nutrition isn’t just about feeding good food to our kids, but it’s also about setting them up for academic success. Many of these schools have seen the difference in academic performance that these kids have when they have vegetables and whole grains, when they start out with a complete breakfast that carries them through the morning, when they’re getting regular physical activity. Schools have seen their test scores rise and attendance rates improve and disciplinary issues go away.”

As for complaints that kids just don’t like eating the healthier foods, Mrs. Obama has little patience.

“It is our job as adults to make sure that our kids eat what they need, not what they want. I struggle with that in my own life, and I tell you, if I let my kids dictate what we have for dinner every day, it would be French fries, chips and candy, but we don’t run our households like that, and we can’t run our schools like that.

The first step is not to roll back the standards, but to help the schools that are struggling do a better job at making the meals more enjoyable for the kids. Good health and flavor go hand in hand.

What we need to do is lend a hand to the schools that are struggling, not roll back the standards and say, Oh, well. The kids don’t like it so let them eat cake. We can’t afford to do that.”