By Veronica Chufo

The words "school lunch" conjure up images of corn dogs, soggy french fries and mashed potatoes swimming in pools of brown gravy.

That's not what schools are serving up today, school officials said.

Menus now include pizza on a whole-grain crust, turkey hot dogs, black-bean burgers, marinated bean salads, Asian chicken salads and sweet potato fries.

"There's a lot of exciting changes from what your generation and my generation thinks of school lunch," said Pam Dannon, a registered dietitian with Williamsburg- James City County schools.

School divisions are overhauling school menus and beefing up physical education programs in an effort to curb the growing childhood obesity crisis.

Not your parents' school lunch.

One morning last week, the smell of fresh-baked bread and sauteed onions filled the kitchen at Hornsby Middle School in James City County.