School kids ‘thank’ first lady for lunches
School kids are giving thanks to first lady Michelle Obama just in time for the holiday – with a sarcastic Twitter hashtag about unappealing school lunches.
Along with photos of unsavory-looking school meals, the hashtag #ThanksMichelleObama was among the top trends on Twitter within the United States for a time on Friday.
The first lady has become the symbol of healthier school meals as she has pushed standards implemented in 2012 that require more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in the lunch line in an effort to combat childhood obesity. There are also limits on sodium, sugar and fat.
While many schools have put the standards in place successfully, others have said some of the new foods end up in the trash can.
“Had a very #healthylunch today,” Hunter Whitney, of Wisconsin, tweeted. “The apple definitely made up for the ‘mystery mush’ #ThanksMichelleObama.”
His photo of a soupy Spanish rice gone wrong and an apple on a school lunch tray was retweeted more than 170 times.
To combat the critics, a handful of kids posted photos of more appetizing lunches. Some people joked that the students are far from the first generation to complain about their school lunches.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington advocacy group that has lobbied for the healthier lunches, got in on the game as well, tweeting pictures of colorful salad bars and happy kids under the hashtag.
AMAs giving Swift whole new honor
Taylor Swift is getting a special – and new – award from the American Music Awards.
Dick Clark Productions announced Friday that Swift would receive the Dick Clark Award for Excellence at Sunday’s show.
Swift is receiving the honor for her record-setting sales. Titled “1989,” her fifth album, released last month, became the singer’s third album to sell more than 1 million units in its debut week.
The AMAs will air live on ABC. Iggy Azalea is the lead nominee with six.
‘Jeopardy!’ crowns new champion
A technology consultant from Florence, South Carolina, has bragging rights as the king of kings on “Jeopardy!”
Ben Ingram won $250,000 in the two-day final on the game show’s Tournament of Champions, televised on Friday. He beat Arthur Chu, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, and Julia Collins, of Kenilworth, Illinois.
Ingram said that it wasn’t until he looked at the scoreboard and saw $250,000 under his name did it sink in that he had won. Chu finished second and won $100,000, while Collins won $50,000.
The birthday bunch
Actor Robert Vaughn is 82. Rock musician-actor Steve Van Zandt is 64. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis is 56. Actress Mariel Hemingway is 53. Actor Mark Ruffalo is 47. Actress Scarlett Johansson is 30.