ABILENE, Kan. (WIBW) -- Congressman Tim Huelskamp showed his appreciation for local high school students who gained national attention for protesting their school lunches.

Huelskamp visited Abilene High School Friday and thanked the students for their efforts.

He told them that their efforts as well as the efforts of students in other Kansas schools helped to get the USDA to ease off of their original restrictions.

Huelskamp also talked about introducing a bill to change the Healthy and Hunger Free Act of 2010.

Abilene High School students have been bringing their own lunches and eating outside of their cafeteria to protest the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act which increases the required number of servings of fruits and vegetables and cuts down on the calorie content of food items offered to students. The bill is designed to improve nutrition and focuses on reducing childhood obesity.

In the first three days of the protest, the school served half of the lunches they normally do.

Several hundred students have taken part in the peaceful protest, which has been covered by news agencies throughout the country, including USA today.

The protest came about when students were learning about Gandhi in World History class and how he led India to independence from British colonial rule through the practice of nonviolent civil disobedience. They wanted to use his example and practices and apply them to an issue that directly impacted them.