Texas Department of Agriculture Todd Staples awards $800,000 to schools, community organizations to fight obesity

Grants fund obesity prevention programs to encourage healthy eating, active living

AUSTIN – In an ongoing effort to promote healthy lifestyles while battling childhood obesity, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples today announced $809,979 has been awarded to 158 schools and community organizations to expand or enhance obesity prevention and nutrition programs. The grants are administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture’s 3E’s Grant Programs, created to encourage better nutrition and healthier lifestyles among Texas schoolchildren.

“Taxpayers are picking up the tab for poor eating choices,” Commissioner Staples said. “If we are going to win the battle against obesity and its costly effect on our citizens, we must engage Texans of all ages to take personal responsibility to live a healthy lifestyle. The 3E’s Grant Programs reward schools and community organizations who invest in health and nutrition programs that teach children about the 3E’s of Healthy Living − Education, Exercise and Eating Right. This knowledge gives children the power to make their own healthy lifestyle decisions.”

According to the Texas Department of State Health Service, if current trends continue, 75 percent of Texas adults will be overweight or obese by the year 2040, with taxpayers picking up a tab as high as $39 billion a year for obesity-attributable health care costs. The 3E’s Grant Programs incentivize the creation of new nutrition education programs in schools and childcare institutions, and reward the expansion of existing nutrition education programs in public schools.

Waco Independent School District will use a 3E’s grant to expand its Weekend Backpack Program, which sends food-insecure children home with nutritious, easy to prepare, non-perishable food on weekends and school holidays.

In Corsicana, Advance Child Care Inc. established a 52-week program called You Got 2 Move It that integrates nutrition education and fitness activities for children. The main goal of the program is to provide parents and educators with information and tools to get children to become more active. The program also provides daily feedback to parents about what their children are eating.

“With the attention on childhood obesity in America, it is critical that we educate children during their developmental stage about proper nutrition and daily exercise,” said Max Taylor, president and CEO of Advance Child Care Inc. “Nutritional curriculum that accomplishes these objectives, along with nutritional guidance to the parent, will go a long way toward the fight against childhood obesity.”

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