"Students don't make wise choices. They are influenced by what their peers are taking. They are influenced by what they see on television," said Alice Lammly.
Lammly teaches Family and Consumer Sciences. With child obesity reaching record highs, the trend must stop. Where do we begin?
"Parents are the first role model that child has contact with in terms of food. So it starts right when they are born, the first foods they are introduced to," Lammly said.
But some believe the school must share the responsibility.
"It's really important for your health and to stay healthy. You shouldn't be eating a lot of junk food all the time and it's important for schools to provide you with healthy foods," said middle school student Darian Harbeck.
School lunches and over weight children -- who's responsibility is it? The schools or the parents? The bottom line is when the kids are here at school, they are free to eat whatever they want. Marcie Fraser has more.
Even though it does cost more, this trend setting school is making changes.
"We reduced the fats in preparation as far as turkey, beef. We are getting the highest quality produce we can and we are not going for the 79 cent turkey hot dog or deli turkey," said George Dardani, RCS District meal director.
This middle school not only holds the salt, it holds the fat, offering reduced fat milk and baked snacks, not fried. Kids can choose from plenty of fresh fruits and veggies.
Changing your child’s school lunch menu can start with a meeting.
"Meeting the board of education and discuss the change you want to make. Explaining and get together with the teachers because the teacher are the main line to us," Dardani said.
And if you want to know exactly what your kids are eating, contact your food service director. Often, they have a print out of what your kids are buying. Or make a trip to the school and actually go through the line and pick out some healthy choices, but remember, not all kids want their mom or dad to visit their school.
"Oh no! I wouldn't want them to go any where near my school because I can pretty much get the healthy food that I am suppose to eat to be fit and healthy and they can trust me that I am not eating junk food all the time," said student Irelyne Christley.
Here's a tip to keep your child’s diet on track -- limit the money you give them for snacks or brown bag their lunch.
"Look at the lunch menu with them, make the selection with them and this is what you will have for lunch today and when they come homes ask them, ‘so how was that today?’ especially for the younger children," said Lammly.