Vegetarian Star

Barack Obama has just been given a warning about his cholesterol numbers, but that didn’t stop him from ogling the fried buffet presented to him when he visited a restaurant in Georgia.

“I don’t want any lectures about my cholesterol,” Obama said. “Don’t tell Michelle.”

Such a shame.

The First Lady may never read ABC News and learn about the fried chicken and mayonnaise drenched potato salad served, but the lipid tests never lie.

Let’s hope Mr. President didn’t give into temptation and only put baked beans and sweet potatoes between his lips.

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Michelle Obama gave a speech to the U.S. Conference of Mayors at the Capital Hilton this week which highlighted the need to combat childhood obesity.

The First Lady has taken a leadership role in encouraging healthier habits in children and adults.

Appearing on Sesame Street, she and Elmo urged children to eat more fruits and vegetables.

She showed up to support local and fresh produce at the nearby Farmers Market in D.C.

And according to Jocelyn Frye, the first lady’s domestic policy adviser, good habits start in the home–or at least in the yard of the home.

“We didn’t want to have a garden just to have a garden,” said Frye of the White House garden, according to the Washington Post. “It was a vehicle for talking about children’s health.”

Mrs. Obama’s ideas to reduce the childhood obesity epidemic include ensuring healthier options are in school lunches, encouraging more physical activity, increasing the availability of healthy food in every neighborhood and giving parents and kids better nutrition education.

Would a meat-free Monday be too much to ask for as well?

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Could Michelle Obama’s desire to return to healthy eating and eat local inspire African Americans to do the same?

According to Dr. Shemuel Israel, President of the North Lawndale Greening Committee on Chicago’s West Side, the answer is yes.

Dr. Israel thinks the First Family’s garden is partially responsible for the increased interest and hopes the trend continues.

“We do a lot, but there’s more work to be done to teach people to grow their own food,” he said, according to Chicago Now.

With Mrs. Obama’s influence and African Americans like John Salley and Forest Whitaker encouraging African Americans to improve their diets by eating vegetarian, Dr. Israel might see the fruits of his labor sooner than later.

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DC Fur Free Metro PETA Ad

First lady Michelle Obama may look stunning in PETA’s fur free ads that lined the walls of DC Metro Stations, but did she even want to appear in them?

It has been discovered that the animal rights organization did not get Mrs. Obama’s permission to use her photo in the ad, according to the Washington Post and the White House is calling for the posters to be removed.

“We got a call from the White House counsel’s office,” Ingrid Newkirk, president of PETA said. “We said to them, we’re not selling a coat, only an idea that glamorous beautiful women who you look up to don’t wear fur. . . . We’re honoring her. Lawyers are lawyers, but PETA is honoring her fashion sense.”

“We didn’t expect them to fund it or endorse it. But “she is in the public domain. . . . This is reporting a statement of fact: She doesn’t wear fur. And our opinion: We think that’s fabulous.”

PETA also did not obtain permission to use Carrie Underwood, Oprah Winfrey or Tyra Banks for the ads, although these celebrities have prior connections to the group.

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With Gordon Ramsay making a casting call for his new reality TV series about great cooks with no formal training, Master Chef, Stylecaster thought it’d be a good time to highlight a few of its favorite rising chefs.

“Here are the top 10 chefs to watch out for in 2010,” Tricia Ismail at Stylecaster.com writes.

“Watch out” is indeed the right phrase if you see Naomi Pomeroy heading for your kitchen.

A former vegetarian, Pomeroy is now head chef of Beast in Portland, Oregon where every beast appears on the menu.

From Stylecaster:

“This one-time vegetarian is now head chef at the restaurant Beast in Portland, Oregon where she is known for her steak tartare, foie gras bonbon, and chicken liver moose with candied bacon. Things have definitely changed–for the better.”

Or changed for the worse.

However, there is hope, as White House assistant chef Sam Kass is also on the way to fame.

Kass supported bringing the Farmer’s Market near the Pennsylvania Avenue area in D.C., keeps himself busy tending to produce in the White House organic garden, and will hopefully continue to carry out Michelle Obama’s wish to encourage people to incorporate healthier, locally grown produce into their diets.

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DC Fur Free Metro PETA Ad

PETA has a new anti-fur poster that was unveiled at Washington, D.C. Metro stops today featuring Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Tyra Banks and Carrie Underwood.

Amazingly, this ad comes with all celebrities wearing their clothing.

And way to go for having one veggie in the group!

Public transportation is the environmentally friendly way to travel, but during December the cold weather can scare even the most enthusiastic tree hugger away from the bus stop and into the car.

Let’s hope this ad reminds the bravest to have compassion for the animals as well as the earth.

And that Tyra stops thinking pork makes vegetables taste better.

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The worst part about winter (besides being stuck in the snow, high heating bills and dry skin) is having to miss out on all the seasonal produce you now have to buy frozen.

Sam Kass and the rest of Michelle Obama’s staff is protecting the White House organic garden this winter by using “hoop houses” that will help the cabbage, spinach, carrots and other produce absorb heat and protect from frost.

“Sugar doesn’t freeze, so spinach produces extra sugars in the winter to protect itself from frost,” Kass blogged. “It tastes almost like candy.”

Hmm…Is a veggie lover in the garden like a kid in a candy store?

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Barack Obama and Michelle were set to host the very first state dinner banquet for visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

According to the UK Times Online, Singh is an abstemious vegetarian and the menu looks to be accommodating him quite nicely.

Although we were hoping for a total veg (damn those green curry prawns), Prime Minister Singh and the rest of the guest will have plenty of plant based items to choose from.

Check out this menu Ecorazzi posted after the jump… (more…)

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