BGN: Fewer Students Go Hungry at School Since Free Nutritious Meals Programme Began

Jakarta (ANTARA) – National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Sudaryono said fewer students were going to school hungry since the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme began.

Sudaryono, popularly known as Mas Dar, said research data showed that the proportion of students arriving at school hungry had fallen from 56% to 16% following the programme’s implementation.

“Thankfully, with the MBG programme, the figure has fallen from 56% of students going to school hungry to 16%, a reduction of 50%. We hope it can continue to fall to zero, so that no children go to school hungry,” he said at the inauguration of a Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) serving disadvantaged, frontier and outermost (3T) areas in Aceh Besar on Wednesday.

As well as meeting food needs, MBG is associated with increased consumption of animal protein among students. According to data presented by Sudaryono, consumption of animal protein rose from 26% before the programme to 84% after it began.

The increase underscores the importance of making nutritious food available to school-age children. Animal protein, including eggs, fish, chicken and meat, is part of the diet needed to support children’s growth and development.

Consumption patterns for fruit and vegetables have also changed. Sudaryono said the rate of fruit and vegetable consumption, previously 65%, had risen to 90% since MBG was implemented.

However, meeting nutritional needs depends on more than the availability of food at school. Establishing healthy eating habits also requires ongoing education so that students understand the role of different food groups and become accustomed to eating a balanced diet.

Mas Dar therefore emphasised the importance of teachers and parents helping children understand their nutritional needs. This education is expected to encourage children to eat a variety of foods, including vegetables and fruit, both at school and at home.

BGN considers improved access to nutritious food and stronger nutrition education to be complementary. In this way, MBG’s benefits will come not only from providing meals, but also from fostering better eating habits among future generations.