About ALBD

What is Active Living By Design?

Active Living By Design was founded in 2001 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and was a founding program in its Active Living initiative. Active Living By Design creates community-led change by working with local and national partners to build a culture of active living and healthy eating. ALBD is part of the North Carolina Institute for Public Health at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Our vision is healthy communities where routine physical activity and healthy eating are accessible, easy and affordable to everyone.

What is Active Living?

Active Living is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines. The goal is to accumulate at least 30 minutes of activity each day. Individuals may achieve this by walking or bicycling for transportation, exercise or pleasure; playing in the park; working in the yard; taking the stairs; and using recreation facilities.

What is Healthy Eating?

Healthy Eating is a way of life and is influenced by what we eat, how much we eat and how it is prepared. Healthy food should be moderate in calories and nutrient dense (rich in vitamins and minerals). Healthy eating includes eating appropriate portion sizes and balancing how often foods are eaten. And finally healthy eating involves choosing foods that are prepared using healthy cooking methods.