Dodson Elementary Recognized By First Lady For Healthy School Food

PLYMOUTH (WWJ) - It was a big day for Plymouth-Canton School District officials. They visited the White House to be recognized by the First Lady for their work to make school lunches and breakfast programs healthier.

The district's Dodson Elementary school received the bronze award in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Healthier U.S. School Challenge.

Kristen Hennessey is Director of Food Nutrition Services for Plymouth-Canton Schools and says this is the first time the White House has given an award of this kind.

She says it's a tribute to Michelle Obama, because she's made curbing childhood obesity a top priority.

"This particular challenge was out there and when she became first lady, she decided to embrace it ...  (saying) it needs to be a big initiative, said Hennessey.

The district is one of only a thousand in the U.S. to be invited to the event.

Hennessey says that it's important to teach young children healthy food choices which will flow into adulthood and help avoid diseases later on.