Free meals program aims to change people's mindsets on nutrition: BGN

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) emphasized that the primary goal of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program is to shift public mindsets about nutrition, rather than simply distributing food to beneficiaries.

“We must instill the belief that every Indonesian child has the right to nutritious food. However, since the implementation involves partners, we cannot immediately prioritize only specific groups,” BGN Deputy Head Sony Sonjaya said when contacted here on Friday.

He made the statement in response to President Prabowo Subianto’s directive for the MBG program to focus on malnourished children.

Sonjaya stressed that the BGN has reminded all partners and Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) that before reaching students, the nutritional intervention should first target vulnerable groups, specifically pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers.

He further noted that a shift in public perception regarding nutrition is already becoming visible.

According to him, from Aceh to Papua, and from rural villages to metropolitan areas, people are beginning to understand that children must be provided with a balanced, nutritious diet.

“It must contain carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, and vitamins. What was once a priority for only a small segment of the population has now become a concern for nearly all Indonesians, who are paying much closer attention to what their children eat,” he remarked.

After a year of implementation, he noted that the public has become actively engaged in the program, adding that its progress is accelerating.

“More and more children are reaping the benefits, and most importantly, it is driving the growth of the local economy,” he asserted.

Targeting 82.9 million beneficiaries nationwide, the MBG program was launched in early 2025 to improve the nutritional status of children under five, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and schoolchildren up to the high school level.

The government is moving to expand the program to cover older adults and persons with disabilities this year.

Free meals program aims to change people’s mindsets on nutrition: BGN