BGN chief: Children’s protein consumption rises under Free Nutritious Meals programme

Jakarta (ANTARA) – National Nutrition Agency (BGN) chief Sudaryono said children’s protein consumption had risen alongside the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme.

Sudaryono explained that the programme was intended not only to meet students’ nutritious food needs, but also to increase protein consumption and foster healthy eating habits from an early age.

“Children’s protein consumption has also increased with MBG, from, if I am not mistaken, 30 or 40 per cent to nearly 80 per cent,” Sudaryono said after inspecting the distribution of MBG meals at Cot Meuraja State Elementary School in Aceh Besar on Tuesday.

In addition to improving protein consumption, MBG has also reduced the number of students who arrive at school hungry. He said the proportion of students in that situation now stands at 14 per cent.

“We cannot assess students’ circumstances based on those in the capital or other big cities. This is an aggregate figure for the whole of Indonesia,” Sudaryono said.

He added that MBG was about more than providing food. The national priority programme was also intended to educate people about the importance of a balanced diet.

“It is not about giving food to teachers; rather, teachers are given meals as part of nutrition education: why there should be fibre, vegetables and fruit, why children need to eat vegetables, and why children who do not like vegetables should learn to like them, among other things,” Sudaryono said.

He expressed hope that nutrition education in schools would help children understand the importance of eating a varied, balanced diet. These habits could also be carried into the home.