You may not be able to eat like the leader of the free world at your next meal, but if you want to eat healthier and fuel your own rise, the former White House chef Sam Kass suggests doing it one meal at a time.
In his new cookbook, "Eat A Little Better: Great Flavor, Good Health, Better World," Kass shares the recipes he prepared for President Obama and his family. It includes the president's ["lucky pasta,"] (https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Little-Better-Flavor-Health/dp/0451494946) which Kass made for Obama before his second debate with GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012. After the president delivered a strong performance in that debate, Kass wrote that he decided to make that same pasta for the president before Obama's last presidential debate and on election night.
"Eat A Little Better" was written as a guide to eating healthier and doing good for the environment plate by plate. Kass recommends small steps to eating a little better each day, eventually achieving a big change.
"People end up trying to get these utopic ideals of a what a perfect diet looks like, and then they fail, they get discouraged, and they give up," said Kass. "This book really celebrates progress, and it's like here are some real tools to make steps in the right direction day in and day out, and then over time it really adds up."
Kass's book isn't just a compilation of his favorite recipes. It's filled with glimpses inside the Obamas' life at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. He wrote about his "audition" for Michelle and their children and ripping up part of the White House's South Lawn to plant a vegetable garden.
Kass first connected with the Obamas months after then-Senator Obama launched his campaign for president in 2007. Michelle Obama wanted someone to keep the family running on healthy food while she joined candidate Obama on the campaign trail. Kass cooked up creations for the first family for eight years.
While his cooking landed him a spot in the White House kitchen, Kass also served as the senior policy advisor for nutrition policy, playing a key role in passing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010. That measure made school lunches healthier for more than 31 million children across America.
Kass said that while he was teaching President Obama about food, the president was teaching him about politics. The best piece of policy advice he ever received from the president?
"You always start off with 'what's the right thing to do?' and then you go from there."
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/former-white-house-chef-sam-kass-shares-the-obama-familys-favorite-dishes).
Beginning Christmas Day, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Kings, and Sparks, the Staples Center, will go by the name Crypto.com Arena after a massive $700 million deal with AEG. Steven Kalifowitz, the chief marketing officer at Crypto.com, and Todd Goldstein, the chief revenue officer at AEG, joined Cheddar to talk about the historic changeover in naming rights and what other changes that fans entering the arena might expect.
Jillian Hughes, communications director at Mental Health America, joined "Cheddar Wellness" to talk about her organization's annual report on mental wellbeing. She noted that more than 50 million Americans reported suffering from mental health problems with more than half of them going untreated. Hughes also talked about how the ongoing pandemic continues to impact people's mental health.
The iconic Los Angeles Staples Center will sport a new moniker, Crypto.com Arena, beginning Christmas Day. AEG made the naming-rights deal with Crypto for a historic $700 million.
Robbie Abed, Author of 'Fire Me I Beg You', discusses how the shift to remote work has changed the job landscape and how people can leverage their skills to better suit their lifestyle.
Jill is joined by “Friend of the Pod” Mosheh Oinounou to talk booster shots, and whether “fully vaccinated” will eventually mean three shots, not two. Plus, the latest on the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. And the research is in: we know now the perfect way to hug. Also, Jill and Mosheh debate whether Airpods are passé.
Over the years many people have gotten into the act of living a sustainable life all in the hopes of helping to protect and save the plant. However, some argue that living in this kind of fashion is expensive and only accessible to the wealthy. Editor at Large at CNET Farnoosh Torabi, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Former assistant U.S. attorney David A. Katz joins Cheddar News to discuss the murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse and what factors have led to jury deliberations.
The popular online gaming platform for kids, Roblox, is reportedly expanding its offerings into the educational space. Ayal Shmilovich, managing partner at Gerber Kawasaki Wealth Investment Management, joined Cheddar to provide some insight into the report from the Wall Street Journal and how Roblox plans to incorporate the metaverse concept into schools. "I definitely think it helps them expand their market to a much broader audience," Shmilovich added. He also noted that Minecraft has 35 million users on its educational platform and was even more optimistic about Roblox's prospects.
Bitcoin hit a new high last week, rising above $68,000. But the coin has tumbled since, and it's not the only coin under pressure. Crypto is down today across the board. Bobby Zagotta, CEO of Bitstamp USA, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the possible reasons why Bitcoin has slumped, how President Joe Biden's new crypto tax clause will impact investors, and more.
