1. An MRI apparatus comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images; and a computer programmed to: identify an imaging slice of interest, the imaging slice of interest having a first thickness; apply a 2D spectral-spatial fat saturation pulse that is spatially limited to a fat saturation slice centered on the imaging slice of interest but having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness, wherein applying the 2D spectral-spatial fat saturation pulse comprises: applying a plurality of RF subpulses; and applying a slice selection gradient pulse; apply a water excitation pulse that is spatially limited to the imaging slice of interest; acquire imaging data of the imaging slice of interest based on the applied 2D spectral-spatial fat saturation pulse and the applied water excitation pulse; and generate an image from the acquired imaging data of the imaging slice of interest.