Kansas City, Missouri
A recent study revealed Kansas City has the purest water of any major city in the country. MORE >>>

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 >>>

Chicago, Illinois
The city's environmentally-friendly mentality is one of the reasons why it is home to the 2007 Cooking Light FitHouse. MORE >>>

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 >>>

Atlanta, Georgia
Approximately 55,000 people gather on the Fourth of July at the Peachtree Road Race, the largest 10k in the world. MORE >>>

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 >>>

St. Louis, Missouri
A love for local produce and healthful activities keeps this urban center well fed and on the move. MORE >>>

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 >>>

Colorado Springs, Colorado
Graced with bountiful trail systems, no wonder 91 percent of the city's population claims to be in good health. MORE >>>

Batlimore, Maryland
Baltimore, it turns out, has lots of people who eat five or more servings of fruits and veggies a day--27 percent. MORE >>>

Tuscon, Arizona
Tuscon offers a taste of the authentic Southwest in a desert setting that's ideal for a warm winter getaway. MORE >>>

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coming Soon: April 2007

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Coming Soon: May 2007

Denver, Colorado
Coming Soon: June 2007

Boston, Massachusetts
Coming Soon: July 2007

San Francisco, California
Coming Soon: August 2007

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coming Soon: September 2007

Washington, DC
Coming Soon: October 2007

Portland, Oregon
Coming Soon: November 2007

Seattle, Washington
Coming Soon: December 2007

Best Cities Criteria
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 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), restaurant ratings from the James Beard Foundation and Zagat's Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's farmers' market listings, parks and recreation data from the Trust for Public Land, and other quantifiable sources. Each was calculated on a per-capita basis, then grouped into categories--eat smart, be fit, live well--and factored on a four-point scale. The result: a list of must-sees, must-dos, and must-eats for each city.

Our Criteria:
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