The Free Nutritious Meal Program Becomes a Strategic Pillar for Meeting National Nutrition Needs

By: Naura Husnia )*
The Free Nutritious Meal Program is now one of the government’s strategic policies to strengthen the quality of Indonesia’s human resources. This program goes beyond simply providing food to the public, but is part of a larger effort to build a healthy, intelligent, and productive generation. The government believes that ensuring equitable nutrition is a fundamental step towards realizing a competitive nation in the future.
The Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, stated that improving human quality is key to national progress. He believes that low nutritional adequacy has impacted the community’s thinking skills and national competitiveness. Malnutrition, he explained, not only affects children’s physical growth but also their brain development and logical thinking skills.
Zulkifli highlighted that long-term nutritional imbalances can diminish a nation’s intellectual capacity. This is why the government is strengthening interventions through the Free Nutritious Meal Program. The program is expected to not only improve children’s nutritional intake but also build the foundation of the nation’s overall intelligence.
He also mentioned research showing that Indonesia’s average national IQ is still below that of neighboring countries. This situation, he said, illustrates the persistence of fundamental problems with nutrition and public consumption patterns. Many citizens are unable to accurately estimate their families’ nutritional needs, including simple calculations such as children’s daily nutritional needs.
From this perspective, the government believes that meeting nutritional needs is a long-term investment. With a balanced nutritional intake, children can grow smarter, healthier, and more competitive. The government hopes this program will be the starting point for reviving the quality of Indonesia’s human resources so they can compete with other nations worldwide.
Zulkifli Hasan emphasized that this program also has a positive economic impact. The need for food to support the Free Nutritious Meal Program has driven increased demand for local products. As a result, the prices of several commodities in several regions have begun to rise moderately, indicating that economic activity is also being stimulated.
Farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, and micro-entrepreneurs in the food sector are among those benefiting from the program. They now have a more secure market due to the increased demand for raw materials for nutritious food. This indicates that the MBG program not only improves public nutrition but also strengthens the people’s economy from the bottom up.
This impact aligns with the government’s vision to build a sovereign and sustainable national food system. By involving local economic actors, the food supply chain becomes stronger and more efficient. The government hopes that synergy between farmers, businesses, and catering service providers will create a new economic ecosystem that benefits many parties.
From a health perspective, nutritionist Mochammad Rizal believes the Free Nutritious Meals program has significant potential to improve the nutritional status of children in Indonesia. He explained that iron, protein, and vitamin deficiencies have long been the primary causes of various health problems in children. Through this program, the opportunity to reduce cases of anemia, chronic energy deficiency, and stunting is greater.
According to Rizal, the program’s positive effects will be visible in both the short and long term. In the short term, children will show increased energy and concentration in learning. In the long term, young people who grow up with good nutrition will be more productive, have sharp thinking skills, and be better prepared to contribute to the nation’s progress.
He also believes that providing nutritious meals at school can improve student attendance. Children who were previously often absent due to physical weakness are now more enthusiastic about attending classes. With a healthy body and optimally functioning brain, the quality of learning is expected to improve significantly.
In addition to the health and educational benefits, Rizal highlighted the program’s economic impact on small businesses in the food sector. The involvement of local catering companies and village cooperatives creates new job opportunities and increases community income. Thus, the program’s benefits extend beyond the recipients to strengthen the regional economy.
Netty Prasetiyani, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), also assessed this program as a concrete step by the government to address stunting and chronic malnutrition. She stated that early nutritional intervention is crucial to ensure children grow up healthy and intelligent. She stated that program implementation must follow the Isi Piringku guidelines to maintain nutritional balance.
Netty emphasized that the program’s success is not solely measured by the quantity of food distributed, butBut from a tangible improvement in the community’s nutritional status. Therefore, he urged the government to strengthen oversight, particularly regarding food quality and distribution in the field.
With the support of digital technology, the government is implementing a data-driven monitoring system to ensure the program’s transparency and effectiveness. This system allows for rapid evaluation of implementation, including identifying areas that still need to improve service quality.
The Free Nutritious Meal Program is also part of efforts to achieve the national stunting reduction target. By ensuring that every child receives the nutritional intake they need, the government hopes the prevalence of stunting will decrease significantly in the next few years.
With consistent implementation and strict monitoring, this program is expected to become a policy legacy that brings real change to millions of Indonesian children. The government has positioned the Free Nutritious Meal Program as a strategic pillar in human development and a foundation for achieving Indonesia Emas 2045.
)* Government Policy Observer