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Fairview Elementary School students met their five school lunch presidential candidates, paraded through the school's halls for a cause and enjoyed a relaxing pajama day last week.

These festivities were a part of the school's weeklong National School Lunch Week celebrations.

Every school in Tennessee is served by the National School Lunch Program, which provides more than 111 million meals to Tennesseans each year.

Fairview students voted Monday and Tuesday for their favorite "President of School Lunch" candidate. Students received information sheets and color pictures of candidates Biff Burger, Gloria Grilled Cheese, Larry Lasagna, Petunia Pita Pocket and Pete Pizza.

Pete Pizza won Fairview's school lunch election.

Students paraded through the school with banners about nutrition and/or school lunch candidates Wednesday. "We got to hold up pictures and carry a banner that had a food pyramid on it," said second-grader Nathan Williams about the parade. "We got to walk through the halls and yell out fruit names," added second-grader Kylle Suttles. "Yeah, we were screaming 'Eat more fruit' in the halls," said Williams.

A fifth-grader pulled the parade's grand marshal, Carson Walker, through the halls in a toy fire engine. Walker enjoyed riding in the truck, giving other students high-fives and honking the engine's horn, he said.

During the week, art students displayed their work in the cafeteria. The school's staff members selected art winners who received goodie bags that contained pencils, erasers, restaurant gift certificates and stuffed toys.

All these activities did not compare to Friday's pajama day, because students loved showing off their nighttime wear. "My favorite day of the week was pajama day, because I got to wear my pajamas," said second-grader Bryson Goforth. "I don't have to change. I can just get out of bed and come to school," added second-grader Sarah Enos.

Many students also managed to learn a lot about nutrition during the week. "I learned to eat healthy -- not just to eat junk food," said Goforth. "Fruits and vegetables are healthy, and orange fruits have vitamin C," added Enos.

Staff members were also pleased with the week's festivities. "It has been really fun. It has been lots of work, but we've enjoyed it," said Alice Murrin, the school's cafeteria manager.

Lanier Elementary, Walland Elementary and Eagleton Middle Schools also participated in the National School Lunch Week activities.