Michelle to host celebrity cookery show

London, Nov 6: The health conscious Michelle Obama is all set to enter the domain of kitchens as she takes on the cameo role of a host for cookery show Iron Chef America at the White House in Jan 2010.

The show, which features celebrity cooks competing against each other, is the First Lady's latest step to promote her agenda of a healthy diet for Americans.

Michelle Obama will also spell out the secret ingredient from the White House garden that competing chefs will have to use in their recipes.

The episode will see Cristeta Comerford, the executive chef at the White House, and Bobby Flay contesting closely against Mario Batali and Emeril Lagassse.

British cook, Nigella Lawson, actress Jane Seymour and American Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin will sit in the judges' panel for the competition.

While filming the episode, Michelle Obama spoke to chefs about the importance of making vegetables an essential part of children's diet.

She said inviting primary school kids help her with the vegetables at the White House garden had been a great occasion for children to learn.

"It's important for these kids to have a hands-on experience," the Telegraph quoted Mrs Obama, as saying.

However she was quick to add, "It's going a long way to help change the way this country thinks about food."

ANI