Cooking Light Best Cities Awards

We rank the 20 American cities that best fit our philosophy to eat smart, be fit, and live well.

To celebrate our 20th year of publication, Cooking Light  wanted to know what places best provide the resources people need to live healthful lives. Using statistics from such organizations as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Zagat Survey, we ranked major metropolitan areas on 15 criteria. "Each city reflects the full spectrum of living well in its own unique way—innovative restaurants and markets with nutritious local foods, abundant spaces for walking and other exercise, and a population that takes advantage of both," says Senior Editor Phillip Rhodes, who headed up the project. "It's great to know that so many people all over the country have the tools they need to eat smart, be fit, and live well," Rhodes says.

1. Seattle, Washington
   An abundance of fresh local foods, walker-friendly streets, and inclusive attitudes helps make Seattle America's best city for healthy living.
2. 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.
3. Washington, D.C.
   Our capital city sets an accommodating agenda with farm-fresh dining, diverse cultures, and ample opportunity for exploration on foot.
4. Minneapolis, Minnesota
   In our fourth-ranked best city, lush parks and shimmering lakes provide a natural backdrop to a rich cultural landscape.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Denver, Colorado
   The Mile-High City ranked seventh on our list for an outdoorsy Western lifestyle that makes living well accessible and irresistible.
8. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
   Our eighth-ranked city proves a worthy destination for food lovers, adventure seekers, and culture aficionados alike.
9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
   In America's fifth-largest city, the historic past provides a backdrop for a present that's healthful and happening.
10. Tucson, Arizona
    Tucson offers a taste of the authentic Southwest in a desert setting that's ideal for a warm winter getaway.
11. Baltimore, Maryland
    Baltimore, it turns out, has lots of people who eat five or more servings of fruits and veggies a day–27 percent.
12. Colorado Springs, Colorado
    Graced with bountiful trail systems, no wonder 91 percent of the city's population claims to be in good health.
13. 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.
14. St. Louis, Missouri
    A love for local produce and healthful activities keeps this urban center well fed and on the move.
15. 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.
16. Atlanta, Georgia
    Approximately 55,000 people gather on the Fourth of July at the Peachtree Road Race, the largest 10K in the world.
17. 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.
18. Chicago, Illinois
    The city's environmentally-friendly mentality is one of the reasons why it is home to the 2007 Cooking Light FitHouse.
19. Las Vegas, Nevada
    In our list, the city ranks third in restaurants rated "extraordinary to perfection" and third in nominations for James Beard awards.
20. Kansas City, Missouri
    A recent study revealed Kansas City has the purest water of any major city in the country.