AUSTIN (KXAN) — Starting Thursday, Texas students could soon be greeted by a free hot breakfast at school. Texas has been added to the list of eligible states for a $7.5 million grant program with Breakfast in the Classroom.

Breakfast will be offered to all students for free at participating schools, regardless of income status. Instead of the cafeteria, the breakfast will be served in the classroom.

Nationwide their goal is to increase access to nutritious brain food for 30,000 students in the morning. Despite the number of school districts utilizing the School Breakfast Program, they are still short of their goals to reduce childhood hunger.

A little over half of the children who qualify for either a free or reduced-price breakfast are filling their stomachs in the morning. The program will make sure each student is fed no matter their family’s income level. They must have their plates cleaned by the first school bell.

Starting your morning off with a healthy meal will help improve academic performance and behavior, according to the program.