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Michelle Obama details why her daughters Malia and Sasha's health was affected when they first lived in the White House

The former First Lady looked back on how she improved her daughters' eating habits

malia sasha obama health
Beatriz Colon
Beatriz Colon - New York
Online News WriterNew York
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Since becoming First Lady in 2009, Michelle Obama was determined to use her platform for good, and made healthy eating and fresh food for children her campaign.

MORE: Barack Obama gets emotional as he shares story about raising Black daughters

The best-selling author has long advocated for better education when it comes to children and the food they eat, in an attempt to prioritize fresh produce over processed foods.

Now she has revealed that really what inspired her was her daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama, who were seven and ten-years-old when they became First Daughters.

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Speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show about her new show on Netflix, Waffles and Mochi, Michelle looked back on how difficult she found managing an active career and properly nourishing her daughters.

"I was in that position," she said of feeling like you just want to feed your children whatever is easiest, continuing: "I was working, I had a full-time job, I was campaigning for my husband, I was on the road…"

She confessed: "I was getting to the point where I couldn't figure out how to feed my kids healthy foods, because I was trying to do what most parents would do, give them something fast and quick."

michelle obama health advocacy daughters© Photo: Getty Images

The Obamas have long been involved in raising awareness about healthy eating

However, she also revealed: "I saw my kids' health being affected by the fact that we did too much fast food, we did too many sugary drinks, and as I've always said, it's about balance."

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She explained that: "It's not that we can't have fun but when fun is what you do… so I struggled with that as a parent, and I figured, 'Here I am college-educated, law degree,' and I don't know what to feed my kids, what's healthy."

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Michelle is promoting more healthy eating through her new show

So she set out to find answers to her questions, and improve her daughters' eating habits along with millions of other children. 

She said: "I set out to embrace this issue and educate us as a nation, but to also help parents learn what works for their kids."

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