Blue Zone Community In January 2013, Cedar Rapids was selected as a Blue Zones Project™ demonstration site.
The Blue Zones Project is a community well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to environment, policy, and social networks.
Its mission is to lead and ignite community-by-community well-being transformation, where people live and work together in Blue Zones Communities™ for a better life.
Cedar Rapids is making changes in six sectors in the community: Residents, Restaurants, Grocery Stores, Worksites, Schools and Community Policy using nine healthy lifestyle habits shared by the people living in the original Blue Zones ® areas. Called the Power 9 ®, they help people live healthier and happier longer. These nine small, easy steps fit into a few categories and can be practiced anywhere. They include Moving Naturally, Right Outlook, Eating Wisely and Belonging. People in Blue Zones areas have enjoyed greater well-being and longevity for generations!
Great things are happening here to help make healthy choices easier so that people can Live Longer, Better™.
In the MedQuarter District, our health care facilities practice what they preach, many have already made changes to help support the well-being of their employees by pursuing designation as a Blue Zones Worksite™. Our street design promotes walking and biking by slowing traffic to make the District safer. We have healing gardens that help enhance connections with nature, spirituality or family and friends. We hope restaurants here will offer healthy options in smaller portions; and, if you are here for an extended stay fresh, healthy food is available nearby at our local grocery stores and farmer’s markets.
To learn more about the Blue Zones Project visit www.bluezonesproject.com
