A student's stomach growls and we immediately think about what's coming for lunch. Will it be overcooked, dried out pizzas or gooey crushed bean burritos? When the student thinks about his empty stomach, filling it with simply reheated pre-cooked food is anything but satisfying. So, what can you do to fill an empty stomach? The unthinkable: eating a school meal. Just walking into the school cafeteria is bold enough, but now having to eat? How outrageous that sounds. The student gave the secretary his lunch number and then chose a clean tray. Along with this, a choice of milk was selected and then the mound of slump was placed on their tray. If that's not bold enough, the student then picks up the "burger" and is immediately shocked; the student realizes that he is no longer hungry and begins to empty the tray. What seems to be the problem here? School lunches should be appetizing, but nutritious, right? Don't all schools follow the food guide pyramid? The answer is no, they don't. Nanci Hellmich draws attention to this point: “For many years, school meals have been criticized for being high-fat, overly processed, and not nutrient-dense enough” (2). Does an unhealthy school meal have an effect on childhood obesity? The answer is yes. Michelle Obama is running a campaign called "Let's Move" that "highlights the importance of healthy school meals because many children consume at least half of their daily calories at school" (Dickey 1). Although schools are not expected to solve the problem of childhood obesity, it remains a major 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 from local cattle. Dickey reports that the reason school meals are considered healthy is because "many children consume at least half of their daily calories at school" (1). With obesity rates rising in the United States, a healthy school lunch should be a necessity. Increasing vegetables and fruits in meals, connecting farmers to schools, and providing a healthy meal provided by the USDA and students are all solutions to unhealthy, but unfriendly, school meals. The best solution to healthier and more enjoyable school meals is to hire chefs to help you prepare the meals. Thus, healthy meals are prepared with a delicate and artistic appearance. In a country with high obesity rates, students should still be able to count on a healthy school meal..