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Vegetarian student gets school lunch menu...

Posted at 12:36 PM, May 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-03 17:30:09-04

Thanks to the work of students, a vegetarian option is now on the menu for Omaha Public Schools.

The saying goes, 'be the change you want to see in the world.' For Beals Elementary fifth grader Alice Larson, that started at age four.

"I watch a very disgusting movie about what they did to the animals and that just sort of stopped me from ever eating meat again," she said.

Since then, Larson, a vegetation, has wanted to help others eat healthy and eat their vegetables. So she had this idea, instead of cheese pizza at lunch, what about veggie pizza. 

"Honestly, I didn't think it was going to get done."

Larson, alongside about five other students on Beals' Fuel Up to Play 60 team made a survey of their fellow students, and submitted it to OPS nutrition services.

"She got student input, so it wasn't her just putting on vegetables she liked, it was what all of the students would like," OPS nutrition services director Tammy Yarmon said.  "Especially during certain times of the year like Lent, it would be perfect for kids."

The pizza slices have a whole grain crust, mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, green peppers and spinach. Most of all it's a symbol of a simple life lesson anyone could benefit from.

<"I just worked hard at it, and I kept going, and I think if you do that you can accomplish a lot."

The veggie pizza is now in regular rotation, showing up on all OPS school menus every six weeks. As for Alice, there's another change she's focused on now.

"These are the worse three words, Donald Trump president."