Kids might have a hard time ordering cookies or chips at Subway sandwich stores, thanks to a new partnership between First Lady Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move‘ campaign and the restaurant chain. Employees, known as ‘sandwich artists,’ will now be trained to “encourage kids to choose apples,” according to a White House release.
The sub sandwich chain made a three-year commitment to the First Lady’s health push, as announced at an event on Thursday. Subway will ramp up its marketing efforts to encourage children to increase their fruits and vegetables intake, while offering more healthy options on its menus. The marketing campaign will cost $41 million.
“I’m excited about these initiatives not just as a First Lady, but also as a mom,” said Obama said at the Washington, D.C., store where she made her announcement. “Subway’s kids’ menu makes life easier for parents, because they know that no matter what their kids order, it’s going to be a healthy choice.”
Aside from the updated training for employees, each store will now feature a sign on its door that reads “Playtime Powered by Veggies,” Suzanne Greco, vice president of R&D and Operations for Subway, said at the event. Greco also noted that the restaurants would be releasing a video collaboration with Disney’s The Muppets.
The First Lady was also joined at the event by U.S. athletes and Subway spokespeople Michael Phelps, Nastia Lukin and Justin Tuck, as well as the Partnership for a Healthier America.
The change at Subway comes in response to the First Lady’s ‘White House Convening on Food Marketing to Children‘ last fall.
