This qualitative research was conducted with the aim of gaining insight into the opinions and experiences of primary school principals in areas of special state care regarding the right to school meals for children of primary school age. Five principals of primary schools from Šibenik-Knin County participated in the research, and the data were collected in semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the principals of primary schools give school meals the meaning of the universal right to school meals, then the function of a factor of protection for children, due to the contribution that school meals have to children's health, educational outcomes and socialization. The principals explained the current models of providing and financing school meals, where they pointed out that the dominant form of financing school meals is the European Union fund. They emphasized the uncertainty of project financing and the need to introduce a universal program of free school meals for all students, regardless of the students' socioeconomic status. They pointed out that it is especially important to implement this because of the increased need for school meals due to greater poverty and social exclusion in the mentioned areas. This social policy measure will affect the prevention of child poverty and social exclusion, reduce stigmatization and discrimination of students, and increase educational opportunities.