This academic school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has implemented healthier options for school lunches due to an increase in obesity rates in students grades K - 12.

However, the healtheir foods like lentils and quinoa are not pleasing the palettes of students.

Adding more tomatoes to make pizza healthier and removing sugary drinks from schools are among some of the methods LAUSD has tried to put American youth in better shape.

“LAUSD is now trying to get the pizza approved as a vegetable because they added in more tomato sauce and are using whole wheat crust and  lower fat cheese to make it healthier,” said cafeteria manager Kathy Mrasz. “(LAUSD) needs to get it approved by a board of nutritionists and then they can finally start serving the new foods.”

More than 200 students at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) receive free or reduced lunch.

But because of the unappealing healthy menu options, many students opt to bring lunch from home or just purchase snacks from the student store.

Executive Chef Mark M. Baida of the LAUSD Food Service Branch conducts food tests, which are used to determine what food will be served to the students of LAUSD.

Groups of students and parents are given the different types of food at their school. 

However, LAUSD might not have taken into consideration the pickiness of the students during food testing.

“I think (LAUSD) gives us this food and we don’t like it, so we go to the student store and buy something unhealthier,” said senior Eman Rachid.

Since DPMHS is on the National Lunch Program, which is the secondary school menu for middle schools and high schools, the school will go back to the more traditional lunches that the students thoroughly enjoy.

“I would add some really good authentic Italian food,” said  freshman Francesca Fox.

When asked about the lunch menus, many students agreed with one another on the portion size and the appeal in appearance of the food. Many students would add different items to the menu.

“I would add some good Chinese food,” said senior Brittney Johnson.

Even though there are healthy snacks in the student store, most students buy chips and sugary drinks which is the exact opposite of what LAUSD is trying to accomplish.

“I do think people supplement the lunch for student store food because we do have a variety to choose from and our food for the most part isn't all junk food,” said senior Jordan James.

Healthier versions of the foods students like are being brought back. The LAUSD nutritionists are incorporating more whole grains and vegetables in the foods students want to eat.

Bringing back pizza is a start,  the tomato sauce on the pizza will be low sodium and include a whole grain crust.

“Corn dogs, pizza, and chicken nuggets are coming back in healthier ways,” Mrasz said.

LAUSD is trying to prevent this generation of children and young adults from developing type II diabetes and other diseases related to being overweight and obese.

According to the  Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 17 percent of all children and adolescents are obese, which is nearly triple the amount from the last generation.