Michelle Goes to the Farmers' Market

It seems that Michelle Obama made an impromptu appearance at the White House neighborhood Farmer's Market yesterday near the Metro stop. (No, that's not some colossal allegory -- it's for real). She was decked out in a lei of marigolds and toted a straw basket to hold her selections.

So, oh! This column by Dana Milbank in today's Washington Post is just too priceless. Milbank's inclusion of a few of The Young First Lady's quotes gives us a peasant's peek into the "just plain folks" simplicity of Obama-world, and the critical value of a wholesome diet in the First Family's daily regiment (with just a spicy little barb via the boffo closing observation):

She spoke of the global reach of her cause: "The first thing world leaders, prime ministers, kings, queens ask me about is the White House garden. And then they ask about Bo."

She spoke of the fuel fed to the world's most powerful man: "I've learned that when my family eats fresh food, healthy food, that it really affects how we feel, how we get through the day . . . whether there's a Cabinet meeting or whether we're just walking the dog."

And she spoke of her own culinary efforts: "There are times when putting together a healthy meal is harder than you might imagine."

Particularly when it involves a soundstage, an interpreter for the deaf, three TV satellite trucks and the closing of part of downtown Washington.

Speaking as someone who made a budget-unfriendly tactical error earlier in the week -- the husband wanted fresh red snapper for dinner, so I went to Whole Foods just to go to the fish counter, and bought snapper without checking the price first -- I can appreciate that putting together a healthy meal is "harder than you might imagine."

I can imagine it so well, as a matter of fact, that without qualifying for "Cash For Crustaceans" (or other water-dwelling denizens), healthy eating at Moogie's Mansion won't involve a trip to Whole Foods (or the Organic Counter at the Joe-Sixpack Supermarket, for that matter) for the rest of the month!

H/T the Husband.