Minnesota

Bordering Canada to the north and Lake Superior to the east, Minnesota is known for its chilly temperatures. However, the cold doesn’t keep people away from the bustling “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis and state capital Saint Paul, which are two of the state’s most densely populated areas and thriving cultural centers.

The state faces another chilling problem: More than a quarter of Minnesota’s youth are overweight or obese, putting them at risk for serious health issues.

Thanks to support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is working with communities throughout the state to make it easier for kids to lead healthier lives.

Our Work in Minnesota

In Minnesota, we’re making it easier for kids to develop healthy habits.

More than 1,000 schools serving over 563,000 students across the state have joined Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, creating healthier school environments for children to thrive. Since 2007, 15 Minnesota schools have been recognized with National Healthy Schools Awards for their outstanding efforts.

We’ve also made it easier for nearly 11,000 youth in 95 out-of-school time programs to eat right and move more through our Healthy Out-of-School Time Initiative.

Success Stories

Hear from a school champion from just one of the many schools and districts we work with in Minnesota: Kelliher Public School District, enrolled in the Healthy Schools Program since 2014.

The Healthy School Program helped us achieve our wellness goals by providing us with many resources and ideas for healthier programming. The Smarter Lunchroom materials were very helpful to meet the USDA’s Smart Snacks in School guidelines.

Tim Lutz

Superintendent, Kelliher Public School District

Watch the video to learn more about how the Healthy Schools Program is helping kids lead healthier lives