A student's stomach growls and they immediately think about what's coming for lunch. Will it be overcooked, dry pizza pockets or cracked, sticky bean burritos? When the student thinks of his empty stomach, filling it with simply reheated pre-cooked foods is far from satisfying. So, what can you do to fill your empty stomach? The unthinkable: Eating a lunch at school. Simply walking into the school cafeteria is bold enough, but now having to eat the food? How scandalous that seems. The student gave the secretary his lunch number and then grabbed a clean tray. Along with this, a choice of milk was selected and then the pile of slump was placed on the tray. If that isn't bold enough, the student subsequently picks up the burger and is immediately shocked; the student realizes he is no longer hungry and proceeds to unload the tray. What seems to be the problem here? School lunches should be appetizing, yet nutritious, right? Don't all schools follow the food pyramid? The answer is no, they don't. Nanci Hellmich highlights this: “For many years, school meals have been criticized for their high-fat, overly processed foods and meals that are not sufficiently nutrient-dense” (2). Does an unhealthy school lunch have an effect on childhood obesity? The answer is yes. Michelle Obama ran a campaign called “Let's Move” that “emphasizes the importance of healthy school meals because many children consume at least half of their daily calories at school” (Dickey 1). While schools are not expected to solve the problem of childhood obesity, it is still an important factor (Paulson 2). Not only do students need a nutritious meal to stay healthy, but also to help them stay... middle of paper... or pizza pockets can now be replaced with freshly grilled burgers sourced from local cattle. Dickey reports that the reason school lunches are believed to be healthy is because "many children consume at least half of their daily calories at school" (1). With obesity rates on the rise in America, a healthy school lunch should be a necessity. Increasing vegetables and fruit in meals, having farmers connect with schools, and creating a healthy meal game published by the USDA and students are all solutions to solving unhealthy but unlikely school lunches. The best solution to making school lunches healthier and more enjoyable is to ask chefs for help with meals. Thus healthy meals are prepared with a delicate and artistic look. In a nation with high obesity rates, students should always be able to count on a healthy school lunch.