Michelle Obama has a fat list of 70 ways to promote healthy eating, but keeping her husband’s fingers off the hot wings apparently isn’t one of them.
That’s because President Obama, in western New York to talk to folks about the economy and hold a town hall meeting, made a quick pit stop around lunchtime to the legendary Duff’s Famous Wings in Cheektowaga, NY. to chomp down on five regular, and five extra spicy, Buffalo wings.
“This is the wing capital,” the president said to reporters. After originally ordering his wings medium, he was instructed by locals that he needed to get them extra spicy, so he obliged, requesting half of his order to be that flavor.
According to the White House pool report, a jacket-less Obama strode into the restaurant, leaned over the counter and quietly placed his order, refusing to let the restaurant cover his meal. “No, I’ve got to pay,’’ he insisted, pulling out his wallet, which sported a $5 bill on top.
Meanwhile, the first lady, around the same time on Thursday, continued to push her crusade against child obesity by announcing a program, run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that will “pair chefs with interested schools in their communities so together they can create healthy meals that meet the schools’ dietary guidelines and budgets, while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced and healthy choices.”
“Many children consume as many as half of their daily calories at school and as families work to ensure that kids eat right and have active play at home, we also need to ensure our kids have access to healthy meals in their schools,” Michelle Obama said.
On Tuesday, the first lady and a number of cabinet secretaries and department heads released the results of her anti-child obesity task force, that included recommendations like encouraging mothers to conceive at a healthy weight. During a press conference, the group said the first family would use the bully-pulpit to encourage wise eating practices.
In February, Obama’s physician recommended he work on lowering his cholesterol and stop smoking. But this isn’t the first time the president succumbed to the lure of good, greasy food, as it follows a long tradition of much-publicized trips to Five Guys and Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington. Perhaps Obama is concerned about his weight, considering the compliments he’s getting on his bod.
“You’re a hottie with a smokin’ little body,” said one customer, Luann Haley, at the wing joint. After Obama gave her “ a squeeze,’’ as Haley recounted afterwards, the president reminded her that Michelle would be watching the encounter on television.
“That’s alright,’’ Haley replied, while cameras rolled. “Hi Michelle, eat your heart out.”