YAKIMA, Wash.-- Students in the Yakima School District have started seeing big changes in their school lunches. It's a new program, several months in the making that lets kids choose what they want to eat.
School lunches haven't always had the best reputation. From sloppy joes, to the endless supply of fried food. if it tasted good, it probably wasn't good for you.
But this year, the Yakima School District is trying to change all that.
"The change is just to give the children more options and I think the more options that they have, they're going to choose something they like to eat. Plus, the nutrition is going to go in their body where it needs to be so they can learn," said Cassie Davidson with the Yakima School District.
The district is rolling out a new program that gives students more of a choice.
From a couple different hot and cold entrees, to a self serve area with salad, fruits, and other veggies, the kids choose exactly what they want to eat.
And so far, it's been a big hit with the customers.
"Well, it looks pretty good and I think it's better than usual, than before, because we can pick whatever we want. Like today, you can pick what you want. Like salad, carrots, and something they don't give you that stuff," said Reymundo Sisneros, a fifth grader at Robertson Elementary School.
Students at Robertson Elementary got their first taste of the new menu Monday.
And Principal Mark Hummel says everyone's been really excited for the new choices and healthy options. But, he says it's about more than just eating healthy while at school.
"Exposing kids to healthy food options with the hope that they'll choose those same things on their own, in their family, in their home," said Hummel.
Administrators hope to have every school in the district serving the new lunches by the end of the month.
And they say, not only do the kids have healthier choices, but the cost has stayed the same for students.
