Big Bird hits the White House kitchen to help Michelle Obama spread her healthy eating message to children

Michelle Obama has enlisted the help of Big Bird to promote healthy eating and exercise in children.
In two public service announcements that were filmed in the White House, the First Lady and her feathered friend talk about how to choose nutritious snacks and do fun activities that lead to a healthy lifestyle.
The videos are part of the third anniversary of Let's Move, Mrs Obama's anti-obesity initiative.

Healthy habits: In two new public service announcements, Michelle Obama and Big Bird team up to promote healthy eating and exercise as part of Let's Move, the first lady's anti-obesity initiative

One video sees Mrs Obama - looking radiant in her coral top and new haircut - talking with Big Bird about healthy snacks as they stand in the White House kitchen .

Marveling at the racks of stainless steel pots, Big Bird says: 'Gee, I bet you can get just anything you want in this kitchen.'

 

The First Lady tells him that she prefers to reach for 'healthy colorful snacks like juicy fruits and crunchy vegetables.'

'Look Mrs Obama, I'm moving right now by jogging!'

 

Mrs Obama explains to her yellow companion how easy and portable healthy snacks can be, since fruits like bananas and oranges have a hard peel that is like a nifty 'carrying case'.
In the second video, she explains how important it is to 'get your body moving every single day.'
Big Bird hops around in a White House ballroom, exclaiming: 'Look Mrs Obama, I'm moving right now by jogging!'
The First Lady smiles and congratulates him: 'Good for you, Big Bird!'

Nutritious snacks: In one video in the White House kitchen, Big Bird says to the First Lady, 'Gee, I bet you can get just anything you want in this kitchen,' to which she responds that she likes to choose fruits and vegetables

Big Bird has taken to Twitter to thank Mrs Obama for hosting him at her home.
'So fun exercising at White House, @FLOTUS!' he wrote. 'Hope your husband didn’t mind all the loud stomping. I’m not exactly light on my feet.'
It's not the first time that Big Bird has been in the political spotlight.
During last year's presidential election, Republican hopeful Mitt Romney said that although he liked Big Bird, he pledged to cut funding to PBS to help reduce the country's deficit.
The Obama campaign was quick to point out the absurdity of Romney's remark.
'Thank goodness somebody is finally getting tough on Big Bird. It's about time,' the president joked at a campaign stop the day later.

Let's move: In the second video, the First Lady explains how important it is to 'get your body moving every single day,' while Big Bird hops, jogs and dances in the background

'We didn't know that Big Bird was driving the federal deficit, but that's what we heard last night. How about that?' he remarked sarcastically.
Mrs Obama launched Let's Move in 2010 promote children's health and provide support for families to live healthier lives.
Next week, she is heading out on a two-day tour of Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois to discuss progress and new efforts to improve children's health.
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, is set to broadcast the public service announcements to 320 PBS stations.