Participation in school meals is a preventive measure against childhood hunger. Participation in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) continues to lag behind that of the National School Lunch Program. The purpose of this literature review was to investigate the barriers and advantages to student participation in the SBP. Using the adaptable framework of the Social Ecological Model (SEM), barriers and advantages influencing participation in the SBP were categorized into: intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional and public policy. Addressing the stigma of participation by offering universal free breakfast, promoting breakfast consumption as a way of maintaining weight status and marketing to older students should be considered by school nutrition professionals. Educating parents and families on the low cost and variety of foods offered at school versus home is key to increasing student participation in the SBP.