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| Cooking Light Best Cities Awards |
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| We rank the 20 American cities that best fit our philosophy to eat smart, be fit, and live well. |
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Cooking Light Best Cities
As Cooking Light begins its 20th year of publication, we wanted to know what places best provide the resources people need to live healthful lives. To find out, we ranked major metropolitan areas on 15 criteria, including healthfulness and exercise data, restaurant ratings, farmers' market listings, and parks and recreation data. The result: 20 American cities that best fit our philosophy to eat smart, be fit, and live well.
Check with us each month as we feature a list of must-sees, must-dos, and must-eats for each city. |
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| Seattle, Washington |
| An abundance of fresh local foods, walker-friendly streets, and inclusive attitudes helps make Seattle America's best city for healthy living. MORE
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| Portland, Oregon |
| Life is good in our second-ranked city, thanks to its seemingly endless supply of outdoor activities, cutting-edge restaurants, and vibrant environmental consciousness. MORE
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| Washington, D.C. |
| Our capital city sets an accommodating agenda with farm-fresh dining, diverse cultures, and ample opportunity for exploration on foot. MORE
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| Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| In our fourth-ranked best city, lush parks and shimmering lakes provide a natural backdrop to a rich cultural landscape. MORE
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| San Francisco, California |
| Our fifth-ranked city steps up with one of the world's most unforgettable settings--along with great cuisine and
an energetic spirit. MORE
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| Boston, Massachusetts |
| Strolling historic parks and swanning around the water are but two of the pastimes that make summer prime time to enjoy our sixth-ranked city.MORE
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| Denver, Colorado |
| The Mile-High City ranked seventh on our list for an outdoorsy Western lifestyle that makes living well accessible and irresistible. MORE
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| Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Our eighth-ranked city proves a worthy destination for food lovers, adventure seekers, and culture aficionados alike. MORE
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| Tucson, Arizona |
| Tucson offers a taste of the authentic Southwest in a desert setting that's ideal for a warm winter getaway. MORE
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| Baltimore, Maryland |
| Baltimore, it turns out, has lots of people who eat five or more servings of fruits and veggies a day--27 percent. MORE
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| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Skies, once dark with factory smoke, open above crystal-towered downtown Pittsburgh, bound on three sides by the rivers Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio. MORE
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| St. Louis, Missouri |
| A love for local produce and healthful activities keeps this urban center well fed and on the move. MORE
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| New York, New York |
| New Yorkers walk far more than most Americans, and they do it quickly. But they slow down for green markets--25 in Manhattan alone. MORE
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| Atlanta, Georgia |
| Approximately 55,000 people gather on the Fourth of July at the Peachtree Road Race, the largest 10k in the world. MORE
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| Austin, Texas |
| You can't swing a yoga mat in Austin without hitting a cool place to exercise--whether it's inside a gym or outdoors in a natural, spring-fed pool. MORE
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| Chicago, Illinois |
| The city's environmentally-friendly mentality is one of the reasons why it is home to the 2007 Cooking Light FitHouse. MORE
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| Las Vegas, Nevada |
| In our list, the city ranks third in restaurants rated "extraordinary to perfection" and third in nominations for James Beard awards. MORE
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Our Criteria:
We ranked major metropolitan cities on the following 15 criteria, calculated on a per-capita basis, then grouped into categories--eat smart, be fit, live well--and factored on a four-point scale.
Does the city have critically acclaimed food professionals? Source: James Beard-nominated restaurants
How do its restaurants rate? Source: Zagat Survey
Is organic dining a part of the local dining scene? Source: LocalHarvest.org
How many chefs work in the city? Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Do they earn more than a living wage? Source: BLS
How many farmers' markets does the city have? Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmer's Markets Directory; LocalHarvest.org
Do residents make use of fresh produce? Source: CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
Are gourmet ingredients available via national chains? Source: Trader Joe's and Whole Foods locations
Are residents in good health? Source: BRFSS
What are the cities with the lowest rates of diabetes? Source: CDC and BRFSS
What are the cities where residents maintain healthy weights? Source: CDC and BRFSS
How important is exercise to the city's residents? Source: CDC and BRFSS
How much green space does the city provide, and is it well maintained? Source: The Trust for Public Land
Is the city easy to explore on foot? Source: American Podiatric Association |
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