navigatortrends ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
and retiree volunteers walk kids to
school instead of driving them. The
payoff? Healthier eating, more exercise, stronger friendships, more fun.
Who said living longer and healthier
was hard work?
FROM FUN TO FI T
Brian Wansink,
Ph.D., author of
MindlessEating,
evaluates the
Furland family’s
kitchen. Tim, Tom
(in cap), and mom
Sue say planting a
garden promotes
togetherness.
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ommendations, would you implement
them if they didn’t cost a lot?”
“Absolutely,” said Larson. “ We are
a pretty can-do company.”
The launch event itself, at Albert
Lea High School, had all the excite-
ment of a state fair. Close to 1,300
people crowded into the school’s audi-
torium and gymnasium as cheerlead-
ers and a drum corps kept spirits high.
Booths invited folks to sign up for
walking clubs, while local librarians
encouraged residents to sign the
Vitality Pledge and take the Blue
Zones “longevity compass” (a test
that determines how many years of
healthy living you can expect based on
your current lifestyle). All participants
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: MODEL TOWN By eating better, moving more, and oing community projects together, the folks in Albert Lea want to set an example for towns across the U.S.A.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ( 1) From left: Violet Douglas, Norah Nainani, and Taisha Bulgin at Norah’s new vegan Great Grains Market. ( 2) Retired teacher Vergie Asper is eating less meat.
1
2
will take the compass again October
15, when the project concludes.
If we can add two years of life to
5,000 participants, we will have added
10,000 years of life to Albert Lea. If we
fall short and add only 5,000 years—
well, we can live with that.
What motivates people to participate? Vergie Asper, 63, wants to “get
reacquainted with friends and neighbors” after teaching outside the
city for 21 years. Alice “Pot Roast”
Petersen, 71, gets all the socializing
she needs as part of a bowling league
that calls itself the Hot Dishes. But a
ruptured aortic aneurysm last February scared her into being more proactive about her health.
And guess what? Albert Lea’s
young people are digging the project
as much as their parents: Tom and
Tim Furland ( 15 and 13, respectively)
are ready to spend less time with Big
Macs and Xboxes and more with
strawberries and in-line skating. The
benefits more than justify any sacrifices. Says dad Bob, 4 6, who coaches
his sons’ soccer teams: “The kids and
I were saying how nice it’d be if one
day I could coach their kids, too.”
—Nancy Perry Graham
KEVIN J. MIYAZAKI/REDUX
14 AARP
