Olive Garden & Red Lobster Cut Calories For Michelle Obama

Olive Garden, home of unlimited breadsticks, and Red Lobster, purveyors of fine cheddar biscuits, are shaping up at Michelle Obama's request.

As part of the First Lady's campaign to end childhood obesity, the restaurants have agreed to cut sodium and fat on their menus by 20 percent over the next decade, and to make healthy sides the default on the children's menu. Think less fries and more apples, a la the recently revamped McDonald's Happy Meals.

"With this new commitment, Darden [the parent company of the restaurants] is doing what no restaurant company has done before,” said Obama at a press conference today. "I believe the changes that Darden will make could impact the health and well-being of an entire generation of young people." There has been no word yet on whether Olive Garden will stop serving toddlers alcohol as part of the initiative.

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By Jamie Feldmar in Food on September 15, 2011 3:42 PM

Comments [rss]

Lindsey Judd

Are you kidding me?! The people that over eat on the bread-sticks and biscuits are the same people who go home and eat a gallon of ice cream and 10 packages of cookies! This is ridiculous! The percentage of people with kids, who go out to eat at places such as these, is much less compared to those without kids. If a family wants to eat together they will most likely stay home or opt for a place much cheaper. The odds of them going to these places on a regular basis is highly unlikely. If they can afford it, they worked for their money and let them live their lives how they want to!

xXxMExXx

Thank you mommy dearest.

soothsayer

so you mean if you ask "pretty please" people will do nearly impossible things for you instead of being forced to (bloomberg)?

soothsayer

you know who's on top in the obama bedroom.

ktinnyc

I know it's probably hard for you to believe but some people like to do it in more than just the missionary position. *Gasp and grabs pearls!*