MBG Program Prioritizes the 3B Group to Strengthen Nutrition from the First 1,000 Days of Life
Jakarta – The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program initiated by the government continues to strengthen its implementation by prioritizing vulnerable groups known as the 3B group—toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. This policy is considered strategic in improving community nutrition while also preventing stunting from the earliest stages of life.
Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sony Sonjaya, emphasized that the 3B group must become the primary target when MBG service kitchens begin operating in a particular region.
“When a new kitchen is built by partners, the first beneficiaries that must be identified are these vulnerable groups—toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. They must be prioritized,” Sony stated.
According to him, focusing on the 3B group is crucial because it is directly related to the first 1,000 days of life (HPK), a critical period that determines the health quality and development of children in the future. The MBG program therefore does not merely provide meals but also represents a long-term investment to prepare a superior generation toward Indonesia’s Golden Vision 2045.
Furthermore, Sony explained that the MBG concept in Indonesia has advantages compared with free meal programs in many other countries. While most countries only target school students, Indonesia has developed a “school meal plus” concept that still prioritizes vulnerable groups within the community.
Efforts to ensure the success of the MBG program for the 3B group are also strengthened through cross-sector collaboration. The Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemendukbangga) has partnered with the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) to expand the program’s reach to target families across various regions.
“One of the strategic programs of the President entrusted to Kemendukbangga/BKKBN is the distribution and education of MBG for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers outside early childhood education. Most of our Family Assistance Teams come from PKK administrators in villages, making this collaboration essential for jointly providing nutrition education,” said the Minister of Population and Family Development and Head of the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), Wihaji.
According to him, this cooperation is important because PKK and posyandu cadres have direct engagement with the community, especially families with pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers. Through this support, the distribution of nutritious meals alongside nutrition education for families is expected to run more effectively.
The MBG program for the 3B group is also designed with menus that meet balanced nutritional standards. The packages provided consist of ready-to-eat meals as well as healthy meal packages tailored to the needs of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers.
In addition to improving nutritional intake, the MBG program for the 3B group is part of a national strategy to reduce stunting rates. The government believes that nutritional intervention starting from pregnancy until early childhood plays a decisive role in shaping the quality of human resources in the future.
By targeting the most vulnerable groups, the MBG program is expected to build public awareness of the importance of balanced nutrition while strengthening the health foundation of future generations. Support from various stakeholders—from the government and health cadres to the wider community—will be key to the success of this initiative.
Through prioritizing the 3B group, the government reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that every Indonesian child begins life with proper health and nutrition.
