Padma Lakshmi Fights for Healthier School Lunches

Here's a staggering fact -- childhood obesityhas tripled in the last three decades. In the coming years, these children will be at risk for a range of health problems, including diabetes and heart disease.

Lending her expertise and clout to the cause, Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi is petitioning Congressto support The Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act (H.R. 5504), which would allow schools to serve more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat plant-based meal options.

Addressing current Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Padma wrote in a letter, "Being a new mother and cookbook author, I am very passionate about creating nutritious and delicious meals for fans, friends, and family. I'm writing to ask for your help in creating the same opportunities for America's children... This will help students form healthy habits and will also help prevent childhood obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and even heart disease later in life."

Padma's not alone in raising awareness about the effect sugar-filled snacks and fast food is having on this generation. The First Lady has made it a personal goal to educate Americans about childhood obesity and founded the Let's Move! campaign.

"In the end, as First Lady, this isn't just a policy issue for me. This is a passion," said Michelle Obama. "This is my mission. I am determined to work with folks across this country to change the way a generation of kids thinks about food and nutrition."