Studies show improved nutrition in school meals leads to students doing better in class. Students could help determine future meals served at schools across the state, thanks to a Fuel Up Food Expo in Syracuse.

“The chicken tika masala, I like that. That was probably my favorite one," said a student at the event.

“I really liked the frozen chocolate milk," said seventh-grader Annalee Shoemaker.

“Pretty basic, so if we can get more exotic food, more international food together, it’ll be fun to try different things, try new things," a student said.

A stale menu might be getting some improvements soon.

“It’s pretty exciting," he said. "There’s a lot of vendors with really good food, so I just know these would be added to my menu. I can’t wait to see what my friends and other people think about it.”

That’s because of Wednesday’s Fuel Up Food expo in Syracuse. More than 150 students, teachers and school nutrition staff were in attendance with students sampling items from local vendors.

“This expo is dedicated to our students," said Rochester City School District Nutrition Director Dele Akinniyi. "They come and be, so to speak, the leader, testing and giving us feedback on their likes and dislikes.”

This is part of the Fuel Up program where educators and students work together to build healthier communities.

“What we’re trying to do is give the most nutritionally balanced food to the students on a daily basis," said Donna Rice, lunch director for the Baldwinsville Central School District.

But also give them meals they can be excited about.

“It’s really important," Rice said. "Students aren’t just students from the time they start school, they’re consumers. So without excitement around your meals, the program will never become successful.”

Students voted on their favorite items. When they get the results, nutrition directors will take that information and bring it to their own school districts.

“For me, it’s hearing what the outcome was for the items that were sampled, and then trying to pick one or two and implement them into a district directly," she said.

Some of the items included hot chocolate, chicken, chips and cheese bites. All of it healthy and items students were excited to eat.

“Not everybody has the opportunity to see what could be at their schools, they only see what there is," said Shoemaker. "I think it was really cool to see everything.”