Healthy Children, Strong America

​At an early age, I fell in love with gymnastics, because who doesn't love cartwheels when you're 5. So naturally, being active and eating healthy became an important part of who I am. Unfortunately, following a sports injury in middle school, I experienced first hand the effects that a lack of exercising and poor eating habits can have. After a long recovery, I was determined to become the healthiest version of myself and inspire others to do the same, which is how my platform Creating Generation Healthy was born. Through education and awareness I have been personally making a difference in the lives of youth in Minnesota. My goal for Creating Generation Healthy is to create a generation of healthy kids, and it starts with a Two Step plan I promote called "ME." "M" is for Move More, and "E" is for Eat Real. The benefits of physical activity along with healthy eating can help prevent the very diseases that obesity causes, and studies show that children who are active have more self-confidence, and even learn better in school.

Move More is encouraging children to get their recommended 60 minutes of active play every day. As a way to help kids get moving more in a fun way, I produced children's exercise videos called Fit Kids Get Active With Annika. Eat Real inspires kids to make healthy food choices, like lean meats, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. To help children learn more about eating real, I started Little Sprouts Garden Gang, a program where I partner with childcare homes throughout the state, providing them with free vegetable seeds and program information to plant gardens with their daycare kids. In 2017, I partnered with 35 childcare homes in 21 different communities, educating children from across the state, hands on.