January 26, 2012 12:04pm ? Comments
byJoel Gehrke Commentary Staff Writer
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First Lady Michelle Obama / AP

First Lady Michelle Obama and the Agriculture Department (USDA) unveiled today a Spanish-language healthy foods initiative, as Goya Foods is promoting MiPlato -- based on the USDA's MyPlate nutritional guide -- in Hispanic communities around the country.

"Everything that Goya is doing – from the MiPlato posters and pamphlets to cookbooks and recipes – center around the idea that we parents can make simple changes to help their children lead healthier lives," the First Lady said in a USDA announcement today.

Goya has also "developed comprehensive lesson plans for 4th and 6th grade students using beans as education characters," according to the USDA. Both MyPlate and MiPlato are part of the Mrs. Obama's "Let's Move" initiative to fight child obesity.

USDA announced that "the following Latino organizations have joined this effort" with Goya:

ACTIVE Life

American Cancer Society

California Food Policy Advocates

Catholic Charities Philadelphia

Cuban American National Council (CNC)

Feeding America

San Antonio Food Bank (Feeding America)

Treasure Coast Food Bank (Feeding America)

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance (Feeding America)

Island Harvest (Feeding America)

FIND Food Bank (Feeding America)

Florida Dietetic Association

Ferias (para Aprender/Fitness)

Girls Scouts of the USA

Help4Kidz Foundation

Hispanic Access Foundation

Hispanic Federation

La Clinica del Pueblo

LULAC and their 850 councils

National Caucus of State Elected Legislators

National Council of La Raza (NCLR) - 300 affiliates

National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC)

New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger

New York City Coalition Against Hunger

Pacific Southwest Conference for the Evangelical Church

Cancer Preventorium

Seventh Day Adventist Church

South Florida Center for Reducing Cancer Disparities

St. Cajetan Catholic Church/Hispanic Access

St. Camillus Catholic Church

Texas Hunger Initiative

Texas Impact

Urban Strategies

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