Barack Obama crashed a kids-only White House State Dinner held over the lunch hour on Monday.
‘Usually, I get invited to the state dinners. So this time I just had to crash,’ the Commander-in-Chief announced as he entered a crowd of squealing, pint-sized guests at the swanky affair in the East Room.
The event, organized by the First Lady, was for the 54 winners of the healthy lunchtime challenge that was launched as part of her Let’s Move! campaign against childhood obesity.
Hi there: US President Barack Obama greets children and their parents at the first ever Kids' State Dinner at the White House on Monday
At ease: US President Barack Obama had some fun mingling with the guests at the first ever Kids' White House State Dinner on Monday, which was hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama
The guests, aged 8 to 12, had all entered winning recipes to encourage youngsters to opt for meals that could be ‘healthy and tasty at the same time.’
The winners were selected by the White House chefs and a team of judges from among 1,200 entries.
‘Is this not cool?’ Michelle Obama said, welcoming the winners to the executive mansion.
‘This is just so very cool. And understand, it’s not just cool for all of you. I mean, this house has been abuzz with this event. I think this is one of the best events that we’ve ever had here, our very first-ever Kids State Dinner, so, so awesome,’ she added.
Good job: US First Lady Michelle Obama praised the children who submitted recipes for the healthy lunchtime challenge, at the White House event given in their honor on Monday
Open arms: First Lady Michelle Obama extends a warm welcome to the winners of a healthy recipe challenge at a White House lunch on Monday
Though the ambiance was regal as ever - diners ate off red Reagan state china, with stunning table centerpieces made from colorful fruits and veggies - it had a more laid-back feel than the buttoned-up setting typical at State Dinners.
Guests noshed on Yummy Cabbage Sloppy Joes and Quinoa, Black Bean and Corn Salad, which were winning recipes from junior chefs 12-year-old Rori Coyne of Kansas and 11-year-old Haile Thomas of Arizona.
The First Couple: US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle take the stage at the Kids' White House State Dinner on Monday, hosted as part of the First Lady's Let's Move! campaign
Honored Guest: The First Lady is joined by junior chefs, who submitted recipes to the lunch challenge to prove that healthy food can be tasty too
The beaming President expressed pride in his wife’s work, admitting that he isn’t much of a chef himself.
‘In addition to being proud of her, I could not be prouder of you, the young people, because it's hard enough to follow a recipe and make something good to eat. I'm not a great cook. I'm an okay cook. I can make a good omelet and … toast,' he told the crowd.
‘I make a very good chili, it's true. But, look, let's face it, I don't cook that often these days,’ he said.
Free hugs: First Lady Michelle Obama embraces Marshall Reid, 12, from North Carolina, one of the winners of a recipe challenge that is part of her Let's Move! initiative to combat childhood obesity
Healthy AND tasty: Guests on Monday enjoyed a menu of Quinoa, Black Bean and Corn Salad, Yummy Cabbage Sloppy Joes and Baked Zucchini Fries, Strawberryana Smoothie and Summer Fruit Garland
‘Then for you guys to actually come up with recipes that are healthy and tasty, and to do it in a way that helps to contribute to spreading the word about healthy eating among your peers, that’s a really big deal.’
First Lady Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama, clad in a summery, blue-and-green satin printed dress and a simple string of pearls, deemed the event a success.
Also at the luncheon, Mrs Obama announced new school lunch guidelines that should help curb junk food options at schools with first ever calorie limits on food choices.
The new rules from the Department of Agriculture, will set calorie, sodium and other limits for school meals and will take effect this fall.
Schools must offer dark green, orange or red vegetables and legumes at least once a week, and students are required to select at least one vegetable or fruit per meal.
Flavored milk must be nonfat, and there's a ban on artificial, artery-clogging trans fats.
The Kids' State Dinner had far less pomp and circumstance than the last such occasion, which was held in March for British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha.
The high profile gust-list included the best and brightest from the British Empire including Virgin CEO Sir Richard Branson, Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, Downton Abbey stars Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern, American Vogue editor Anna Wintour and actress Carey Mulligan.
State Dinners at the Obama White House have become a running joke, after the embarrassing incident at the President's first-ever State Dinner in November 2009, honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Beltway society wanabees Michaele and Tareq Salahi were able to gain access to the exclusive event even though they weren’t invited to the White House fete.
The Salahis posted photos to Facebook of them schmoozing with Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and VIPs – who were legitimately invited –and the pair, dubbed the White House gatecrashers, even ended up appearing on a season of Bravo’s ‘Real Housewives of DC.’
Special Relationship: U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama pose with British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha at the White House State Dinner in March
Desiree Rogers, the White House social secretary at the time who was a close friend of the Obamas, took heat for the gaffe and critics wondered how a pair of reality stars could breach, what should have been, tight security for the U.S. Commander-in-Chief.
Rogers ended up resigning in the wake of the scandal and is now CEO of Johnson Publishing, the Chicago firm that publishes Ebony and Jet magazines.
Good Evening Mr President: Michaele Salahi (in red sari) and her husband Tareq are welcomed by President Barack Obama to the White House State Dinner in November 2009 - even though the pair had not been invited
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