More than 2,300 adults signed the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project pledge and took the online Vitality Compass by the statistical deadline for the project, which was the end of August, project leaders said Wednesday.

These people will be included in the scientific data that comes out of the project, which will show how many years have been gained as a result of the Vitality Project.

Though this number is just about half of the initial goal for the project of 5,000 participants, it doesn’t include all the children who have gotten involved with the program through the schools or through their own families, said Amy McDonough, associate state director of communications for AARP.

McDonough said the project’s leaders also believe there are an additional 500 people who signed the project pledge, but who didn’t have access to the Internet for one reason or another to complete the compass.

Blue Zones Health Initiative Director Joel Spoonheim said project leaders are “not at all disappointed” by the numbers, and there will be many other ways to measure the success of the project.

If you are going to the Labor Day Vitality Project breakfast potluck with “Good Morning America,” here are ideas of things to bring:

Breakfast should be big and hearty. It’s the main meal of the day. In Blue Zones, it’s often a meal with a bit of fat so that it can sustain people throughout the day.

Beverages:

Pomegranate and dark grape juices (low sugar)

Coffee

Tea, especially green

Goat’s milk

Cereal:

Oatmeal with nuts (almonds/walnuts/pecans), prunes, fruit

Muesli with plain yogurt, sweetened with honey

Whole grain breads

Goat cheese

Blue Zone specific ideas:

Miso soup and rice

Corn tortillas, beans

Scrambled tofu with onions, peppers

“We’re really, really pleased about the participation in Albert Lea,” Spoonheim said. “We learned that there are a lot of people in Albert Lea who don’t have daily access to the Internet, but they’re finding other ways to get involved.”

Other ways the project will be measured include how many people participated in the walking moais, how many people took the purpose seminars and volunteered as a result, what policy changes have taken place at the city and school levels, and what changes are taking place at restaurants to provide healthier options.

The project will also be measured by looking at the influence of the longevity food tags in grocery stores, whether employers have seen a reduction in health care costs, how many people have gotten involved with the walking school bus initiative and how the infrastructure changes have affected the city.

The Vitality Project, which was announced in Albert Lea in January, encourages people to make simple changes to their lifestyles and environments to live longer, healthier lives.

Since announced, national experts have met with city and school officials to talk about environmental changes that can be made to positively affect residents, and in May, the individual portion of the project kicked off.

The project has recently gained national recognition from AARP The Magazine, USA Today, “Good Morning America” and “Nightline.”