Free Nutritious Meals for All: Same Taste, No Barriers

The atmosphere at SDN Gentan, Seyegan, Sleman, felt particularly warm that morning as the distribution of Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) began. The children queued in an orderly manner in front of their classrooms, then returned to their respective desks carrying the same meal.

Amid chatter and light laughter, all the pupils enjoyed the same menu, creating a simple yet meaningful moment of togetherness.

It was from this scene that Rosi Doniyati, a parent of one of the pupils at SDN Gentan, grasped the most important meaning of the MBG programme. For her, the opportunity for all children to obtain nutritious food on an equal basis is something worth preserving.

Rosi said all children continue to have the same feelings even though they come from different social or economic family backgrounds. Therefore, providing MBG to all pupils is considered important so that no one feels left behind.

“Whether they are rich or poor, able or not, they all still receive it,” she said.

Rosi also assessed that the food provided has helped meet children’s nutritional needs. According to her, the menu received already includes elements of a balanced nutritious diet.

For Rosi, positive change can begin with simple things that are directly felt by the community. MBG is one form of effort to ensure children have equal access to develop, in line with the spirit of independence felt by all citizens without exception.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Is Hartati, a parent of a Year 5 pupil at SDN Gentan. Hartati said the most important meaning of the MBG programme is the opportunity for all children to obtain nutritious food on an equal basis.

In addition to presenting a sense of fairness for the children, Hartati feels MBG also helps parents who do not always have time to prepare packed lunches every day.

“Especially for children, if one is not given and another is given, there will be jealousy. In my opinion, it should be equal for everyone. It really helps mothers at home. Those who would otherwise be busy preparing packed lunches or anything else are now helped by this MBG,” said Hartati.

Meanwhile, at SDN Gentan, MBG Coordinator Wihandoko Suko Lelono has witnessed changes gradually growing since the MBG programme began to be implemented on 18 August 2025.

Now, 163 pupils enjoy the benefits of the programme every school day. For him, MBG is not only about the food pupils receive, but also about shaping positive habits within the school environment.

In the classroom, MBG becomes a learning space. Before receiving food, pupils are accustomed to queuing in an orderly manner. When there is a menu item they dislike, they often share it with friends who like it more.

“A class is also a family, after all. So, which one do you like? Oh, I like this one. So it builds togetherness,” he said.

According to Wihandoko, these simple habits teach children to respect one another and share, while also supporting the learning process because all pupils receive the same menu and portion with nutrition standards that have been calculated.

“Because all children receive the same thing. And proper nutrition, certainly yes, because it has been measured by nutritionists,” he said.

According to him, when children’s basic needs are met, they can follow lessons more comfortably and with greater focus.

Erasing Disparities

The meaning of independence is now no longer measured solely by a nation’s liberation from colonialism. Independence is also reflected in the presence of equal opportunities for every citizen to live healthily, pursue education, and develop their potential without being hindered by access to basic needs.

With this spirit, the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme is present as one of the government’s steps to guarantee the fulfilment of the basic rights of Indonesian children. The programme is designed so that every child obtains access to nutritious food regardless of economic background, religion, place of residence, or social status.

Through a single portion of nutritious food, the government seeks to bring the principle of equality into everyday life. Children attending school in large cities or remote areas have the same opportunity to obtain the nutritional intake needed to support growth, health, and the learning process.

The MBG programme is also expected to reduce the disparity in nutritional quality that still occurs in various regions of Indonesia. With nutritional needs met from an early age, Indonesian children will have more equal opportunities to develop their potential and achieve success.

The concept of ‘MBG for All’ emphasises that access to nutritious food is the right of every Indonesian child. Through this programme, the government not only seeks to meet nutritional needs but also to reduce disparities between communities while promoting the realisation of social justice.

The MBG programme also carries the concept of ‘without barriers’, which emphasises that every Indonesian child has the right to equal access to nutritious food. Through this approach, the programme seeks to ensure that children’s basic rights can be enjoyed equally across all corners of Indonesia.

Public policy analyst Trubus Rahardiansah said Indonesia’s vast territory and diverse population mean that access to and fulfilment of community nutrition is not uniform. Therefore, Trubus agrees that the MBG programme creates uniformity in efforts to meet community nutritional needs.

“Indonesia, because of its vast territory and diversity, the diversity of its population or ethnic groups, the way of viewing nutrition becomes different.

“Now there is nutrition that is national in nature, which is why it is called (the MBG programme is organised by) the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). That national nutrition becomes the standard, there is a standard,” Trubus told CNNIndonesia.com on Friday (31/7).

More than just the provision of food, a plate of nutritious food in the MBG programme also becomes a symbol of togetherness. This is because the programme reflects the spirit that all Indonesian children have the same right to grow up healthy and reach a better future.

This symbol of togetherness is also reflected in every food container received by the children. All children receive a menu with the same and uniform contents, without distinguishing economic conditions, regional origins, backgrounds, or social status.

Trubus agrees with the symbol of togetherness embodied in the MBG programme, which is a national priority programme of President Prabowo Subianto. In fact, Trubus said, the concept of gotong royong is enshrined in Indonesia’s state foundation, Pancasila.

“Yes, it can (the MBG programme become a symbol of togetherness), because the concept is actually gotong royong, it is actually the identity of gotong royong if we talk about Pancasila. It essentially has the flavour of Pancasila,” he said.

With this spirit, MBG is not only positioned as a programme for providing nutritious food. It is also part of efforts to realise a more substantial ideal of independence, namely bringing equality of opportunity for all Indonesian children to grow and achieve a better future.