School meals play a critical role in shaping the health and academic performance of millions of children worldwide. However, despite decades of reform efforts, many school meal programs struggle to provide nutritionally balanced options. This article explores the historical context, current challenges, key concepts, benefits of balanced nutrition, barriers to implementation, and future trends in addressing the nutritional shortcomings of school meals. It also includes a review of recent literature, answers to frequently asked questions, and a conclusion synthesizing the findings.