First lady taps new chief for ‘Let’s Move’ anti-obesity initiative

First lady Michelle Obama has tapped the co-founder of FoodCorps, a national nonprofit that teaches children about nutrition, as the new head of her “Let’s Move” program to address childhood obesity. 

Deb Eschmeyer will replace Sam Kass, the longtime Obama family chef and policy adviser, who left the White House at the end of last year. Kass, who recently married MSNBC host Alex Wagner, moved to New York City, where her TV show is based.

{mosads}“For more than a decade, Deb has been leading the way in teaching kids about the importance of healthy eating,” the first lady said in a statement. “From classrooms and gardens to kitchens and farms, Deb has made learning about nutrition fun and accessible for kids across the country. 

“I am thrilled that she will be continuing this important work here at the White House, and I know she will be an invaluable addition to our team,” she added.

Eschmeyer said she was “thrilled” to be working with the first lady in a tweet Thursday.

I’m thrilled to join @FLOTUS’s team. Let’s keep moving to raise a healthier generation! #LetsMove –Deb

— Let’s Move! (@letsmove) January 8, 2015

In addition to her work as executive director of Let’s Move, Eschmeyer will be appointed the senior policy advisor for nutrition policy, a role that goes beyond the first lady’s program targeted at schoolchildren.

FoodCorps, where Eschmeyer currently serves as vice president of external affairs, receives funding through the AmeriCorps program, placing members in local schools to perform food and nutrition-related services. Participants at schools across 16 states and the District of Columbia teach school children about healthy diets, help plant school gardens and help schools source foods from local farms.

Before founding that program, Eschmeyer worked at the National Farm to School Network, a program that encourages schools to serve locally sourced farm foods. Eschmeyer grew up on a dairy farm in rural Ohio.