The event was part of a mayoral summit hosted by the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Initiative and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Mrs Obama visited the Walgreens store that earlier this year expanded its food offering to include produce and other basic grocery staples. Prior to the store’s expansion, there wasn’t a convenient location in the community to access these types of healthy food options.
The store is one of a dozen Walgreens locations in Chicago neighbourhoods identified as food deserts that act as food oasis stores. These stores increased their food selection by up to 60% by offering a larger assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and other healthy meal components to help address the need for greater access to affordable, nutritious food, the company said.
As part of her Let’s Move! Initiative, Mrs Obama has focused on the issue of access to healthy, affordable food as a key pillar of her fight to end childhood obesity within a generation.
Mrs Obama said: “We can talk all we want about making healthy choices about the food we serve our kids, but if parents don’t have anywhere to buy those foods, then that’s all it is-it’s just talk. Imagine what we could achieve if mayors across the country started taking on this issue.
“Think about all the jobs we could create, all the neighbourhoods we could begin to transform and what it means when our children finally get the nutrition they need to grow up healthy. I am confident that, one neighbourhood, one community, one city at a time, we can ensure that all our kids have the happy, healthy futures they deserve.”
Source: Walgreens
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