This recommendation was made during a discussion on MBG at the Press Council building here on Wednesday, drawing from his observations after visiting various schools to assess the program's implementation.
"We came across a child who refused to eat rice. It is not rare to find students in schools who do not want to eat rice when they are served it. They simply won't eat," Nasbi explained.
He noted that some students have phobias that prevent them from consuming rice, often stemming from negative experiences in their childhood.
For instance, in Jakarta and Sukabumi, his team found children who were unwilling to eat rice. Interactions with their teachers and parents revealed that these children had developed a phobia related to rice due to past incidents.
Nasbi emphasized the importance of preparing alternative foods for these children.
"We believe there should be other meal options (available) for those who have a phobia of rice or specific allergies," he stated.
To address this issue, he recommended that BGN offer alternative menus, such as bread or sandwiches.
"We encourage the BGN to provide different food options for students with rice phobias or particular conditions so that all students receive adequate nutrition," he remarked.
In addition, he highlighted that some students may appear disinterested in their meals for other reasons. For instance, he encountered two elementary school students in Semarang, Central Java, who were not eating because they were fasting.
"They brought their own lunch boxes to take home the meal provided," he noted.
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Translator: Andi F, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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