Associated Press - November 18, 2009 1:25 PM ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - First Lady Michelle Obama received a few gardening tips from some children as she toured a northern Virginia elementary school's vegetable garden.

Mrs. Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited Hollin Meadows Elementary in Alexandria on Wednesday to promote the Obama administration's Healthier U.S. Schools initiative.

Students showed the first lady how they harvested lettuce from the school's garden that will be used at a special Thanksgiving luncheon later this week.

Mrs. Obama and Vilsack passed out bananas and tangerines in the school's cafeteria line. She praised the school's efforts to promote nutrition as well as their decision to extend recess periods to promote fitness.

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