"We emphasize food diversification, as we remain committed to nutritional balance. Children, for instance, need calcium-rich meals to support their growth, while pregnant women require more folic acid to allow their fetuses to develop optimally," a nutritional expert at BGN Ikeu Tanziha stated.
During a podcast monitored online from Jakarta on Tuesday, she stressed that meals served under the national program should be customized and balanced, offering sufficient carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals to recipients.
"For instance, people above the age of 50 need less carbohydrate but more fiber," she explained, adding that the MBG program also considers the nutritional needs of children in various age groups.
Tanziha noted that her agency had established nutritional standards for meals distributed to schools, aligned with a regulation issued by the Ministry of Health.
"We have nutritional standards, with meals served for breakfast to children in early childhood education and those in grades 1–3 to meet 20–25 percent of their nutritional adequacy," she elaborated.
The nutritional expert noted that for children in grade 4 up to senior high school, the meals are served at lunchtime and are designed to cover 30–35 percent of their nutritional needs.
However, she underlined that menus may also vary depending on decisions made by nutritionists stationed at each MBG kitchen, taking into account the need to adapt to local food ingredients.
"It is equally important to ensure menu variety to avoid repetitiveness," she stated.
The nutritionist also highlighted that consuming diverse meals with balanced nutrition can help people maintain a healthy, ideal weight.
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Translator: Lintang B, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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