Subway teams up with Michelle Obama for healthy food push

First Lady Michelle Obama will announce Thursday that she has partnered with the Subway sandwich chain to develop a kid’s menu that follows federal standards for school lunches, a White House official said.

The ubiquitous sandwich shops will transition to a kid’s menu that offers apple slices on the side and low-fat or nonfat plain milk or water as the standard drink.

{mosads}The Associated Press, which first reported the campaign, said Subway plans to spend $41 million over the next three years on the effort.

The first lady, who has made promoting healthy eating a cornerstone of her policy agenda, will make the announcement at a Subway shop near the White House.

At an event last fall at the White House, the first lady warned that children were being inundated with advertisements for unhealthy snacks and treats. She asked restaurants, beverage companies and media companies to help promote healthier choices for children.

“I am not asking anyone to take the fun out of childhood,” Obama said. “As we all know, treats are one of the best parts of being a kid. Instead, the goal here is to empower parents, instead of undermining them as they try to make healthier choices for their families.”

But some Republicans have accused the administration of imposing school lunch standards that have many students turning up their noses. In December, Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) introduced legislation to ease the requirements.

“The limitations capped their calories, capped their proteins, their grains — made it very difficult for kids to get full,” Noem told Fox News at the time. “They’re leaving school hungry.”