The Ohio General Assembly is considering a push to give free meals to all children in Ohio. 

Legislatures heard testimony on Monday on the idea to fund breakfast, lunch and dinner for all students. Surveys show two thirds of Ohio voters favor the idea.

Right now, children in low income families can get free or reduced lunch through the national school lunch program. That program has been federally funded since the 1940’s to make sure every student gets a balanced lunch.

“In a school setting it is really the most important [meal] because in the middle of the day they need a pick-me-up, they need some energy,” Jarrod Boyle, a Registered Dietician at One Bite at a Time said. "The protein source, a carbohydrate, a healthy fat and we like to push a little bit of the fiber too, that’s really our secret weapon for health.”

Studies have shown that when kids go without eating it can negatively affect their school work. 

“Those classes after lunch, they may not be able to apply themselves as well,” Boyle said. “They may have a really good class that they look forward to but they just don't have the energy levels to keep up.”

Those in favor of the switch say making everything state funded would get rid of shame for children that can't afford meals and turn children away from unhealthy foods.

“We don't really want to go towards some kind of caffeinated drink, we want some real nourishment, some vitamins, some minerals,” Boyle said. 

The program would be expected to cost $300 million of taxpayer money.