Albert Lea being a nationally recognized Blue Zone is an incredible thing we all should honor. But in all reality, we can do so much more. We need to focus on what I like to call the three E’s of healthiness. This includes exercise, eating and education.

Exercise: We need to offer additional places for people to exercise that don’t cost money or have membership fees. Gyms allowing people to use their equipment for free should be given rewards for their services. We need to also promote the places already available like the bike path or the new sidewalk around the lake.

Eating: Downtown is full of mainly fast food and unhealthy places to dine. We should promote healthy businesses that are open in the area and/or give incentives for additional ones to open. Schools should also be required to at least allow more options for the children to eat healthy. This is especially for elementary students who don’t really have any say in what they eat at school.

Education: Children need to be educated at a younger age and more regularly about the effects of unhealthy eating and lack of exercise. They should also be taught fun games they can play at home to exercise as well as more time at school spent in gym.

Being a Blue Zone means much more than just trying to make some people healthier and make our community look good. It’s about being an all around better and healthier community that can increase longevity.

Tylor Matson

Albert Lea High School

English class

Glenville