The benefits of eggs for children's growth and development, an important animal protein source

Eggs are a simple, widely available food and relatively inexpensive. Yet behind their simplicity, eggs have nutritional content that supports the growth and development of children. Professor Ali Khomsan, Professor of Food and Nutrition at IPB University, described eggs as often being nicknamed as ‘life capsules’ because of their complete and high-quality nutrients. ‘Eggs, as people used to say, are life capsules. Why life capsules? Their protein content and quality are very good,’ he said at the press conference for the Nestlé 2025 Nutrition Support Programme in South Jakarta, on Wednesday (4 March 2026). Adequate protein intake also supports the development of various body functions. In addition to protein, eggs contain various vitamins that benefit health. One of them is vitamin A, which plays a role in maintaining eye health and supporting the immune system. With these nutrients, eggs are considered a good food source to help meet children’s nutritional needs during growth. According to Ali, children generally do not easily grow tired of consuming eggs because this food can be prepared in many ways. ‘Eggs are liked by many children. There is hardly any child who gets bored eating eggs because the variations in cooking can differ,’ he explained. However, Ali reminded that for some families with limited economic conditions, access to animal-based foods remains a challenge. ‘Eggs are actually cheap, but for some communities with difficult economic conditions, it is still not easy to obtain them,’ he said.