GUPTA: We're back with HOUSE CALL. People need to live healthier lives, eat smart, be fit, live well. Something we all strive for, but admittedly, it's not always easy. "Cooking Light" magazine ranked the 20 best cities in the United States. The question is does your city fit the bill of health?</s>GUPTA: It's a list you want your city to be on, but the bar is high when it comes to determining the healthiest metro areas in the United States. For the editors of "Cooking Light", the Pacific Northwest is leading the country.</s>PHILLIP RHODES, SR. EDITOR, COOKING LIGHT: Seattle did come very close with Portland. But there were a couple of areas in which it really excelled.</s>GUPTA: So what did the magazine consider when it gave Seattle and Portland the top spots?</s>RHODES: Does it have park land? Does it have places to exercise? Are they well maintained? Is there access to fresh ingredients, fresh foods, farmers markets?</s>GUPTA: This access to healthy food is a critical component for cutting obesity and overweight numbers in any city. Washington, D.C. is on board with that. The abundance of farm fresh foods plus a pedestrian friendly attitude placed the capitol on the list at number three. A relatively healthy population and nicely maintained parks earned Minneapolis a spot in number four. And "Cooking Light" noted the great cuisine of San Francisco, the fifth place finisher. Cities that didn't make the list should follow this advice.</s>RHODES: I would encourage someone to really examine what tools exist. What people really need are tools.</s>GUPTA: But access is only half the battle. The rest of course is up to you.</s>GUPTA: And one of those top cities is now serving, get this, tofu and steamed carrots to some of its most hardened citizens. That story after the break.
How Healthy is Your City?