HEALTHY FOODS,HEALTHY LIVES Institute

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ABOUT THE HFHL INSTITUTESolving complex problems related to food and health and improving health outcomes is the overarching vision of the University of Minnesota’s Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives (HFHL) Institute.

Founded in 2007, the mission of the HFHL Institute is to increase and sustain the University’s impact in the interdisciplinary arena of food, agriculture and health by building the University’s capacity in research, learning and community engagement. The integration of agriculture and health sciences with a focus on food undergirds the Institute’s four priority areas: food safety, prevention of obesity and chronic disease, food policy and food security.

At its core, the HFHL Institute is interdisciplinary. The interdisciplinary nature of the Institute’s work could not be accomplished within a single department or college. Our 25-member Advisory Board is made up of faculty members from the Institute’s founding units including the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), the School of Public Health (SPH), College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the Medical School, and U of M Extension as well as from additional units including the Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing, Design and Liberal Arts.

CONTACT USHFHL.UMN.EDU

Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives (HFHL) Institute

University of Minnesota

1334 Eckles Avenue

Saint Paul, MN 55108

612.625.8693 (HFHL) | HFHL@UMN.EDU

612.626.6425 (MN Food Charter Network)

Produced by the Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives (HFHL) Institute

© 2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

This publication is available in alternative formats upon request via hfhl@umn.edu.

IMPROVING HEALTH THROUGH FOOD

CREATING NEW KNOWLEDGE > GRANT PROGRAMS: The Institute administers five

grant programs to fund inter- and transdisciplinary research teams towards the development and implementation of cutting edge, extramurally funded research and training programs.

Past studies awarded by the Institute • Faculty Research Grant Program

• Community University Grant Program • Graduate and Professional Student

Research Grant Program

> 25-MEMBER ADVISORY BOARD: Through quarterly Board meetings and annual strategic planning meetings, this interdisciplinary advisory board provides direction to all Institute activities.

PROMOTING EDUCATION > ANNUAL SYMPOSIA: Each year, HFHL co-hosts and

co-sponsors a research symposium to discuss critical and current issues related to food, agriculture, and health. The symposium is a two day event, focusing on new and innovative national research on day 1 with a focus on practical application on day 2.

> NATIVE AMERICAN NUTRITION SYMPOSIA: The Institute is partnering with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC), as part of their Seeds of Native Health campaign to convene a series of annual nutrition conferences focused on Native nutrition.

> COOKING COURSES FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF: Year-round, multi-disciplinary, and experiential healthy cooking courses offered for students and U of M Twin Cities employees. • For Students: FScN 2001 (3-credit lecture-lab,

fulfills CFANS experiential learning requirement) and FScN 2002 (1-credit lab only)

• For Twin Cities Employees: Cooking for Wellness - The Basics

> ANNUAL FOOD DAY: Every October, HFHL hosts this student-led event to celebrate and promote healthy, affordable and sustainable food.

BUILDING SOCIAL CAPITAL AND ENGAGEMENT > ANNUAL NETWORKING EVENT: In an effort

to contribute to the U’s commitment to translational and transdisciplinary scholarship, this annual cross-pollinating event facilitates communication, transdisciplinary collaboration and authentic partnership among University researchers as well as external partners towards innovative research and solving community-identified food and health problems.

> PARTNERING WITH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL GROUPS ON PROJECTS, EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES: Involvement and participation in local, regional and national food systems activities and planning groups to further the Institute’s understanding and role in local and regional impact programming both within and outside the U.

> MINNESOTA FOOD CHARTER: HFHL has played an integral role in guiding the development of the state’s Food Charter--a shared roadmap for how all Minnesotans can have reliable access to healthy, affordable, safe food. HFHL is the home of the Minnesota Food Charter Network which serves to coordinate the ongoing work related to the Charter and to build statewide capacity to implement the 99 Food Charter strategies.

HEALTHY FOODS, HEALTHY LIVES INSTITUTE

The HFHL Institute addresses complex food problems and strives to improve human health by utilizing and building the strengths and impact of the University of Minnesota—one of the country’s original land-grant research institutions—in the interdisciplinary arena of food, agriculture and health. The Institute does this by CREATING NEW KNOWLEDGE, PROMOTING EDUCATION and by BUILDING SOCIAL CAPITAL AND ENGAGEMENT.

OUR PROGRAMS

Social Capital

Sense of Belonging Networking Bonding/Bridging

Feeling of Trust and Safety

Diversity

Values, Norms, Outlook in Life

Citizen Power / Proactivity

Participation

Reciprocity

WHAT WE DO