First lady Michelle Obama has recruited a culinary army in her battle against childhood obesity.

More than 500 white-clad chefs gathered on the South Lawn today to highlight a new Obama program designed to help schools prepare healthier food and teach children more nutritional eating habits.

"You know more about food than almost anyone -- other than the grandmas -- and you've got the visibility and the enthusiasm to match that knowledge," Mrs. Obama told the assembled cooks.

Participants in the Chefs Move to Schools program will adopt a local school and work with officials and students there on better, more nutritious lunches.

"Now I know that none of this is going to be easy," Mrs. Obama warned her guests. "You're going to need to figure out what you're up against. You're going to need to take time to learn your communities, to understand your schools, to figure out how the school kitchen operates, to finding out what equipment is available ... There's going to be a learning curve."

(Posted by David Jackson)