School meal programs are organized initiatives that provide food to children and adolescents through educational institutions to improve access to nutritious meals and support dietary adequacy and health. They may provide breakfast, lunch, snacks, or take-home food rations, and can operate through universal provision or eligibility-based assistance for particular student groups ^[1]. Program design varies in funding arrangements, meal preparation and distribution, nutritional standards, and the extent to which meals are combined with nutrition education or other school health services. School meal programs are a form of school feeding intervention and may serve both nutritional and social protection functions by reducing barriers to food access during the school day ^[2]. Their nutritional contribution depends on the quality and quantity of food provided, students’ participation and consumption, and the adequacy of meals relative to their dietary needs. Although often used interchangeably with school feeding programs, school meal programs specifically emphasize the provision of meals or food to schoolchildren, whereas broader school health and nutrition programs may also include health screening, hygiene, and other non-food interventions ^[3].