Michelle Obama Gave Up a Lifelong Habit for Daughter Malia That Few People Know About

Michelle Obama revealed a long-standing breakfast habit she gave up for her daughter, Malia Obama, who has a peanut allergy. In a 2023 interview on NPR’s Your Mama’s Kitchen podcast, the former First Lady shared that she used to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every morning as a substitute for traditional breakfast foods, which she never enjoyed. Growing up with her older brother Craig, who was an athlete, Michelle’s family had hearty breakfasts, but she was never a fan.

“I was kind of a picky eater. I didn’t like breakfast-anything. And my brother, who ate breakfast all the time, thought I was crazy,” Michelle shared. “We had big breakfasts… it was everything—cereal followed by scrambled or fried eggs, followed by lots of toast and bacon and link sausage… Breakfast was big… everybody in the whole household, on the whole planet, loved breakfast food except for [me]… I despised breakfast.”

To accommodate her dislike for standard breakfast fare, Michelle found a compromise with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a routine she kept up until college. “It was sort of a compromise that I made with my mother because it’s got peanuts, that’s protein, a little bit of oil. Nothing’s wrong with bread if we’re having toast, why can’t I have it in a sandwich form and jelly? Everybody was having jelly on their toast,” she explained. She eventually developed a taste for eggs in college, as reported by The List.

As her culinary tastes expanded, she began enjoying a variety of breakfast foods. “I’m big into all of it now,” she said. “Give me eggs Benedict. Any eggs, anyway.” However, when Malia was diagnosed with a peanut allergy, the Obamas removed peanut butter from their home entirely. When NPR host Michele Norris asked if she still indulges in her childhood favorite, Michelle replied, “I think I kind of OD’ed on it. I don’t do it as much anymore.”

While Michelle’s love for peanut butter sandwiches faded out, Barack Obama’s passion for cheeseburgers has remained as strong as ever. Known for his frequent burger runs during his time in office, Barack was often seen enjoying classic burgers at various spots, making it one of his signature habits. Time Magazine reported that during his presidency, he dined outside the White House over 120 times, often visiting burger joints. His go-to order? A medium-well burger with cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard, lettuce, and tomato.

Some of Barack’s most memorable burger moments include his visits to Five Guys and Ray’s Hell Burger, where he ordered for himself and his staff. In 2010, he even shared a burger with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as a diplomatic gesture. His burger adventures didn’t stop there—he frequented Good Stuff Eatery and Shake Shack, sometimes with Joe Biden in tow. On a visit to Minnesota, he also tried the Jucy Lucy, a local specialty featuring melted cheese inside the burger.

The contrasting food preferences of Michelle and Barack Obama showcase their personal tastes and how their family adapted over time. While Michelle’s breakfast habits evolved to suit her family’s needs, Barack’s love for burgers remained a constant, reflecting the couple’s down-to-earth and relatable approach to food.