A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is provided. A magnetic resonance excitation is provided. A plurality of k-space echoes is acquired bi-directionally wherein at least one echo is an even echo acquired in a first direction and at least one echo is an odd echo acquired in a second direction opposite from the first direction. K-space echo realignment is corrected between the even and odd echoes. Field inhomogeneity induced artifacts are corrected. Chemical shift induced artifacts between at least two species are corrected.