Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has proposed to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education that nutrition lessons be included in the national curriculum.

"The main goal of this step is to create healthy, intelligent, and competitive generations of Indonesians," said Ikeu Tanziha, a nutrition expert at the BGN, on Saturday.

She emphasized that structured and integrated nutrition education at the school level is crucial to developing a comprehensive understanding of nutrition from an early age.

"Nutrition is not only about food, but about the future. Children who understand nutrition will grow up healthy, think critically, and contribute to the nation," she added.

According to Tanziha, schools are ideal platforms for systematically disseminating knowledge about nutrition. Early nutrition education can help students understand the link between food, health, and well-being, and encourage healthier life choices.

She explained that the proposed curriculum would include key topics such as the basics of nutrition, food groups and appropriate portion sizes, the role of nutrients in the body, and the consequences of poor dietary habits.

Nutrition education, she added, can also help prevent health issues such as obesity and diabetes by promoting a balanced diet.

"Students can also gain practical skills, such as cooking and gardening, that can be applied in daily life," she said.

Tanziha expressed hope that integrating nutrition into the curriculum would foster stronger synergy between schools, families, and communities in promoting healthy eating habits.

As the institution tasked with overseeing nutrition policy, the BGN has already launched several educational initiatives, including content shared through platforms like YouTube.

The agency is also currently implementing the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which targets children under five, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and schoolchildren up to the high school level to improve overall nutritional status.

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