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Obama IDs the key to healthcare reform!

"When it comes to food, one of the things that we are doing is working with school districts. And the child nutrition legislation is going to be coming up. We provide an awful lot of school lunches out there and -- and reimburse local school districts for school-lunch programs. Let's figure out how can we get some fresh fruits and vegetables in the mix. Because sometimes you go into schools and -- you know what the menu is, you know? It's French fries, Tater Tots, hot dogs, pizza and -- now, that's what kids -- let's face it, that's what kids want to eat, anyway. (Laughter.)

So it's not just the schools' fault. A, that's what kids may want to eat. B, it turns out that that food's a lot cheaper, because of the distributions that we've set up. And so what we've got to do is to change how we think about, for example, getting local farmers connected to school districts, because that would benefit the farmers, delivering fresh produce, but right now they just don't have the distribution mechanisms set up. So, you know, Michelle set up that garden in the White House? One of the things that we're trying to do now is to figure out, can we get a little farmers' market -- outside of the White House -- I'm not going to have all of you all just tromping around inside -- (laughter) -- but right outside the White House -- (laughter) -- so that -- so that we can -- and -- and -- and that is a win-win situation.

One of the things that we're trying to do now is to figure out, can we get a little farmers' market -- outside of the White House -- I'm not going to have all of you all just tromping around inside -- (laughter) -- but right outside the White House -- (laughter) -- so that -- so that we can -- and -- and -- and that is a win-win situation. "  Barack Obama http://tinyurl.com/l225ab

It gives suddenly D.C. more access to good, fresh food, but it also is this enormous potential revenue-maker for local farmers in the area. And -- and that -- those kinds of connections can be made all throughout the country, and -- and has to be part of how we think about health.

Imagine a community where local farmers work with your child's school to provide nutritious, fresh, natural foods on a daily basis. Imagine your child spending days in the school garden learning biology, geometry and nutrition. Probably actually less overall cost than shipping the highly processed, sugar-laden meals they eat today. I hope he is serious about this type of legislation. Then he can make healthcare as much of a debacle as he wants to in my mind, this would change the paradigm for generations.

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Dr. Jeffrey Gladd

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Dr. Jeffrey Gladd graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine in 2001. He then went on to train in family medicine...

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Dr. Jeffrey Gladd
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