(ABC 6 News) – The Minnesota Nutritional Association is looking for schools to give students more time to eat.

The groups claims students aren’t getting enough time to comfortably finish their meals and are asking lawmakers to pass a bill that would require schools give students, at minimum, 15 minutes to eat.

Current lunch times differ between districts.

They say it not only impacts students nutrition, which affects their ability to learn, but also creates food waste.

— RELATED: Proposed Iowa bill to make school lunches free —

“If they’re not getting to sit down and eat those meals, they’re not eating their vegetables, they’re not eating their fruit, and there is food that gets thrown away,” said Michele Tracy, the MNA president. “Then cause, if they have to hurry up, they can’t eat it all, so then more goes in the garbage.”

The group also points out that giving kids enough time to eat improves their mental health, which can improve academic performance.