Academic and Behavior School (ABS) East recently received a $3,000 Healthy Choices Grant from the Oliver Foundation to enhance the school garden program. With childhood obesity on the rise in Houston, the garden program at ABS East will use nutrition and physical activity education to teach the importance of healthy lifestyles to 75 students with disabilities.

The garden will serve as a central point for individual and collective learning about the source of food and natural elements that form the basis of healthy eating. Students will share garden responsibilities, plant fruits and vegetables, and make daily visits to the garden to water, weed, touch and taste the food they’re growing.

In addition to gaining positive food attitudes, students will also increase fine and gross motor skills and learn science concepts such as photosynthesis through the garden program.

Through previous grants from the Whole Kids Foundation in partnership with Unilever and Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, ABS East students participated in a garden groundbreaking event in May 2017.

The Oliver Foundation Healthy Choices Grant aims to improve healthy eating and physical activity in children, families and communities in Texas. To learn more about the Oliver Foundation, visit www.oliverfoundation.com.