Down-to-earth Melania? First Lady plants, harvests in White House Garden

Video. Down-to-earth Melania? First Lady plants, harvests in White House Garden

Melania Trump ditched her high heels and knelt in the dirt on Friday, eight months into her role as US First Lady.

Melania Trump ditched her high heels and knelt in the dirt on Friday, eight months into her role as US First Lady.

Wearing a red plaid shirt, matching gardening gloves and a pair of sneakers, she and a dozen school children braved the early fall heat amid the vegetable plantings of the White House Kitchen Garden, made famous by her predecessor Michelle Obama.

“I’m a big believer in healthy eating, because it reflects on your mind and your body,” the former model said. “I encourage you to continue and eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, so you grow up healthy and take care of yourself.”

The group harvested a variety of vegetables including peas, radishes and Swiss chard. They also planted cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, carrots, kale, spinach and lettuce, the White House said.

It was Melania Trump’s first event in the garden that Michelle Obama made a key part of her “Let’s Move!” campaign to fight childhood obesity and promote healthy eating habits.

Productive & fun day WhiteHouse</a> Kitchen Garden today! Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/BGCGW">BGCGW for all of your help! #HealthyEating#HealthyLivingpic.twitter.com/lecdgqQnyu

— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) September 22, 2017

Thank you BGCGW</a> Boys & Girls Club Washington for helping us plant & harvest <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse">WhiteHouse Kitchen Garden today! #HealthyEating#HealthyLivingpic.twitter.com/1FdVHuvCYM

— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) September 22, 2017