Happy, it’s a simple, five-letter word that everyone wants, but might not know how to achieve. What does it mean to live a happy life? A good way to live a happy life, many say, is to live a healthy life. The idea of a happy life built from a healthy one is something Halie Thomas has thought a lot about. So, where do we start? Well, when we think of happiness, it sometimes happiness that inspires us to have great ideas. Halie’s story begins with something that brings a lot of happiness- food.

Hallie’s mother taught her to cook when she was five years old. In 2008, her father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Since then, she and her family became devoted to living a healthy life, in their eating and lifestyle choices. Since then, they have been able to reverse her father’s diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Diseases like type 2 diabetes come from obesity don’t just affect adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13.7 million children and teenagers suffer from obesity. Studies show that obesity rates are higher in communities with social and economic disadvantages.

Hallie decided to confront this problem head-on, by creating HAPPY (Healthy Active Positive Purposeful Youth) when she was just twelve years old. HAPPY is an organization that strives to educate and empower people to make healthy lifestyle choices. HAPPY provides school visits, tours, and summer camps where they aim to empower kids by educating them about nutrition and self-care. Kids learn about concepts such as healthy alternatives to unhealthy foods in ways that are fun and engaging.

Since the start of her company Hallie, now 18, has connected with over 15,000 kids and thousands of adults. Over the years, Hallie has, though her programs, worked to empower young entrepreneurs to pursue their passions. She created her own podcast, called “Girl Empowered”, where she interviews girls and women of all ages about their experiences. She created a Gen Z board on her HAPPY website, which is made of young entrepreneurs and activists who are driven by a passion to make an impact.

Hallie really is an entrepreneur who empowers others to see their potential and inspires them to be happy.