General Mills Supports Gov. Pawlenty’s Health and Wellness Initiatives

02/26/2007

General Mills enthusiastically embraced the health and wellness initiatives announced by Gov. Tim Pawlenty at a news conference today that will help Minnesota employers encourage their employees to get fit and lead healthier lives.

General Mills is proud to have provided funding to the National Governor’s Association Healthy States Grant program, which is the funding source for the Governor’s Fit Workplaces initiative.

General Mills is a recognized leader in supporting employee health and wellness. Its healthy lifestyle program, called Total You, goes beyond state-of-the-art fitness centers to provide employees with tools and strategies to develop and maintain an overall healthy lifestyle through education, motivation and physical activity. General Mills’ world headquarter location in Minneapolis, for example, has its own medical clinic focused on preventive services, healthy eating programs in its cafeteria, and personal training and fitness classes in its on-site fitness center.

General Mills also announced its support for the Governor’s goal of reducing childhood obesity in Minnesota by 50 percent by 2012.

General Mills has been an active partner with the state on several initiatives to improve youth nutrition and fitness.

The General Mills Foundation with Gov. Pawlenty and the Minnesota Department of Health, sponsors the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) program for all Minnesota schools to implement in Grades 3 and higher. The PALA award recognizes children and youth who engage in regular physical activity as part of their daily lives in school and at home. Students that do at least 60 minutes of physical activity five days a week for six weeks receive PALA recognition from the governor and the state. Schools can sign up at www.health.state.mn.us/pala, which provides the self-guided instruction materials and handouts for any school to start its own PALA program.

General Mills also supports the Minnesota Task Force on Childhood Obesity, and is a partner with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota in the Fittest State in the Nation initiative.

Since 2002, the General Mills Foundation has invested over $8 million in youth nutrition and fitness grants through its Champions for Healthy Kids program. This national community-based nutrition and fitness initiative was created through the partnership of the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.

General Mills also partners with experts such as physiologist and personal trainer Bob Greene, Lluminari, a network of doctors and health experts, and Rodale, publisher of Runner’s World and Prevention magazines, to help consumers better understand the nutrition aspects of different food choices. General Mills Web sites like www.EatBetterAmerica.com and www.BrandNewYou.com help consumers make nutrition choices.

General Mills also supports improved nutrition in schools. The company has worked to support positive changes in school settings, including development of nutritious new items for students, such as whole grain cereal bars and fruit crisps.

General Mills is proud of its efforts to nourish healthy families in Minnesota and is dedicated to continuing its innovation in this area.