For George H.W. Bush, it was broccoli. For Sam (I am) it was green eggs and ham. For President Barack Obama, it’s beets.

It’s not clear where the president stands on eating beets. Former President Bush was firm that he would not eat broccoli. The current president’s distaste for the crimson root vegetable (once declared “the new spinach”) hasn’t stopped first lady Michelle Obama from planting beets in the White House garden, which has grown to about 1,500 square feet since it was originally planted.

This week, the first lady was joined by elementary school students on the South Lawn for the spring planting of the garden. Also this week, she said she’ll be writing a book about the garden and its success. It produces year round, and she said she wants to share the story.

“We get so many questions about the garden: How did we do it? Why did we do it? How do I do this in my own home or community?” Mrs. Obama said. The book goes hand-in-hand with her initiatives for healthy eating and physical activity directed at the country’s schoolchildren.

The unnamed book is scheduled to be published about a year from now, and any proceeds will be donated to charity.

It will include recipes, though we didn’t get a chance to ask if beets would be among the ingredients.

“Uh-oh” she said at the planting Wednesday. “The president doesn’t like beets. But it’s okay. We’re an equal opportunity garden.”