(PHOTOS) Minnesota Health Commissioner Visits Alice Smith Friday

Health Commissioner Edward Ehlinger visited on Friday to recognize the school’s health and wellness efforts.

Ehlinger biked through the Avenues neighborhood with students who rode their bikes to school. He ate a healthy breakfast in one of the classrooms and learned about the school’s nutrition program, including the Farm To School program that brings local produce onto the lunch menu.

Ehlinger also planted vegetables in the school’s garden and exercised with the students during an "active break" that gets them moving in the classroom.

Alice Smith has a host of programs to encourage healthy living, including a Safe Routes to School grant that promotes walking and biking to school and a fruit and vegetable snack program.

It was honored in 2010 and 2011 with Hennepin County’s Wellness By Design Gold Award, which recognizes schools that promote healthy places to learn and work. It also received the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Bronze Award last year after revamping its meal program and physical activity programs to meet the award’s strict standards.

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