After a second grader complained to First Lady Michelle Obama that she "ruined" Taco Tuesday with her healthy lunch rules, Trip Klibert has accepted the White House’s consolation: Bo and Sunny trading cards and a note from Mrs. Obama that said you’ll get used to it.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that Richard "Trip" Klibert, 7, wrote a letter to Mrs. Obama last November:
Dear Mrs. Obama,
Thank you for trying to make my school lunch better, but you have ruined Taco Tuesday. Please bring back the old taco shell. I miss them. Also, the pizza is terrible. If you would like to try the new tacos, I will buy you lunch.
Thank you,
Trip Klibert
Mrs. Obama replied to Klibert’s letter, along with "an autographed Obama family picture and trading cards of the family's dogs." She said that change is hard.
"In Obama's letter, she explained that new child nutrition regulations were implemented as part of her "Let's Move!" initiative started in 2010 to reduce childhood obesity," the Times-Picayune reported. "The new regulations took effect in 2012 with the goal of including more whole grains, vegetables and fruits in school meals while reducing fat and sodium."
"She explained that she wants students nationwide to have access to healthy food in their daily lunch meals," the report said. "She also acknowledged that adjusting to new things can be difficult and thanked Trip for his feedback."
Trip’s mother, Katie, said that Trip was "excited" to get a response from Mrs. Obama, and is now willing to stomach the bad tacos.
"I think he may prefer the old tacos and pizza over the whole grain, but now he knows the reasons behind the change," Mrs. Klibert said. "This was such a great learning experience for him. It's all good at lunch now."