School meal programs were established to promote children’s health and well-being by providing them with nutritious meals. The importance of school meal programs has been recognized worldwide, with many countries implementing national school meal programs to provide children with healthy meals throughout the school day. The availability of nutritious meals in schools has been identified as a critical factor in promoting children’s health and well-being and, therefore, has been the focus of extensive research. A comprehensive review of the existing literature was conducted to explore the impact of school meal programs on children’s nutrition and health. The review included qualitative and quantitative studies, case studies, and meta-analyses. The studies were selected on the basis of their relevance to the research question and the quality of their method. Studies have shown that children participating in school meal programs have better dietary intake and are more likely to consume fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Additionally, children who participate are more alert and focused and can better concentrate in class. Research on health behavior change related to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) continues to emerge. The available research suggests that school meal programs positively impact children’s nutrition, health, and academic performance. However, questions on the actual intake of school meals, the sustainability of food behaviors, parental buy-in, and evaluation metrics beyond meal count need to be explored.