Michelle Obama's Decision to Stop Cooking as First Lady Explained

Michelle Obama has stirred mixed reactions online after making a surprising confession about her personal habits during her time as the First Lady of the United States.

Speaking on comedian Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang, the former First Lady candidly revealed that she stopped doing household tasks—particularly cooking—after stepping into her high-profile role.

“I cooked before!” Michelle exclaimed when Poehler pointed out that she wasn’t fond of kitchen duties. When asked why she stopped, she simply replied, “Well, I became First Lady. I was busy.”

Obama explained that being First Lady came with immense responsibilities that didn’t leave room for daily chores such as making omelettes in the morning.

Although the White House has a kitchen accessible to the First Family, she recalled that her schedule was so packed that it was impractical to cook—especially when professional chefs were on hand.

“They do it better than me,” she joked. “I don’t want to put them out of a job.”

When asked whether she had resumed cooking since leaving the White House, Michelle laughed off the question. “No, it’s not on my agenda,” she said with a grin, adding sarcastically, “I’m okay not cooking. I’ve done it!”

The conversation between Poehler and Obama touched on various aspects of womanhood, including motherhood, bonding with children, and household responsibilities.

The lighthearted exchange offered a more intimate glimpse into Michelle’s private life and how it evolved during and after her time in the White House.

This isn’t the first time Michelle Obama has opened up about the personal toll of public service. On her own podcast, she previously revealed how motherhood became especially challenging during her husband Barack Obama’s second term in office, when their daughters, Malia and Sasha, entered their teenage years.

She admitted that keeping them out of the tabloids was a constant concern. “Every weekend was a nightmare, because we had to work to make sure that them being regular teenagers didn’t wind up on Page Six,” she said, referring to the well-known American celebrity tabloid.

While the family managed to shield the girls from most of the media attention, Michelle confessed that the teenage years brought typical experiences—such as prom and high school parties—that often drew public interest simply because of who their parents were.

Now that Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23, are independent young adults, Michelle says her focus has shifted to helping them manage life under the enduring spotlight of being the daughters of a former U.S. president.

“We call that the Obama tax for them,” she joked. “You’ll have it for the rest of your life, but you also have a lot of benefits.”