Almost 20 percent of children are obese.

The United States Department Of Agriculture is working to make sure children don't get the unhealthy foods from school.

"I love my vegetables!," says student, Thomas Burk.

Those are the words the USDA is hoping to hear from more school children over the next several years.

The Department Of Agriculture has set new standards for school cafeterias to offer fruits and vegetables to students everyday.

"I think its important that we stress to these young children that will be our age one day that this is serious, that this is way to prevent things from happening to your body that you may not understand now but you will in the future," says teacher, Jenny Huskey.

TC Cherry teacher Jenny Husky says the school tries to teach students the importance of eating healthy.

"So I can stay fit!," says Burk, as he explains why he eats veggies.

While TC Cherry might be ahead of the curve on serving fruits and salad everyday, Dietician Lisa Howzen says she sees many obese children in her office.

"It's about time that these school lunches are changed," says Howzen.

Howzen hopes the USDA's new guidelines will prevent childhood health problems, like heart disease.

Schools will be asked to offer more whole grains as well as fat-free or low-fat milks.

But the school can only do so much, the children have the final decision on what they eat.

"It's up to the children to actually take the food and eat it..," says Howzen.

The USDA's new rules will not take affect until July and will be implemented over the next couple years.

The new school lunch standards are expected to cost more than 3 billion dollars over the next 5 years.