HISD Students Deserve Better School Lunches. The students of the Houston Independent School District depend on their daily school lunches to support their academic performance and their ability to concentrate and their overall health. The current lunch options provided at schools require students to choose between two unappealing choices which include food that has been excessively processed and contains insufficient nutritional value. Students will either choose to avoid eating when food appears unattractive or unappetizing or they will discard their meals which leads to negative health effects and financial losses for the district. The main purpose of better school lunches exists to develop student health while enhancing their academic performance. Research consistently shows that nutritious, balanced meals improve concentration, behavior, and test performance. Students who need to reach high-performance levels must receive meals that provide necessary support. HISD needs to take these actions: The school meal system needs improvements through enhanced taste delivery and better meal quality. The school needs to provide students with more chances to consume whole foods which include fruits and vegetables and whole grains and high-quality proteins. The school needs to decrease its dependence on items which have undergone extensive processing and provide minimal nutritional value. The school should include student input during the menu development process. Other school districts throughout the United States have demonstrated that schools can provide students with nutritious meals which taste good while keeping their food expenses under control. HISD can do the same. Eating poorly or skipping meals should not be the only options available to students. Through its school lunch improvements HISD will make a direct contribution to student health and equity and academic achievement. Sign this petition to urge HISD to provide school lunches that are both yummier and more nutritious because Houston students deserve better.