Obama Chef Sam Kass Announces Resignation From The White House Kitchens After Six Years

As well as being the personal in-house chef for President Obama and his family, Sam Kass was also the senior adviser for nutrition and he spoke at length with the president and his wife about improving the eating habits of Americans.

But after six wonderful years of culinary and nutritional expertise, Kass announced that he is hanging up his apron and leaving the White House. The 34-year-old said the following in an interview, as reported by the AP.

“I love this family and believe in everything the president and first lady are doing and this has been the greatest job of my life and I assume will be the greatest job of my life. But I’m going to be with my wife. Once you’re married, you kind of need to be together.”

Sam Kass’ illustrious relationship with the Obamas started when they hired him to cook healthier meals for the family in Chicago before the 2008 elections.

At the time, Michelle Obama was a vice president at the University of Chicago Medical Center and was also caring for young daughters, while Barack Obama was a U.S. senator spending most of his time in Washington.

President Obama said about Kass that he “has grown from a close friend to a critical member of my team” and has left “an indelible mark on the White House.”

At the same time, Michelle attributed an “extraordinary legacy of progress” to Kass, which she said includes healthier food options in groceries, more nutritious school lunches and initiatives to improve how food is marketed to kids.

Margo Wootan, a nutrition lobbyist for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, who has pushed for healthier school meals in America, said to reporters, “This administration is very committed to nutrition and obesity prevention. That commitment runs very deep.”

Kass said he has some big plans for the future, which he is looking forward to, including getting some much needed sleep and cooking for his wife.