Rizal said the program, designed to improve children’s nutrition and support Golden Indonesia 2045, must be regularly assessed to keep its outcomes effective.
“In the short term, we’ll see better nutrition and lower anemia rates. Healthy children today will form a generation free from stunting,” Rizal said on Sunday.
Beyond health improvements, MBG is also expected to boost students’ learning motivation and strengthen local food supply chains, benefiting farmers, fishermen and catering businesses.
However, Rizal noted several challenges, particularly students’ frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) such as snacks and sweets.
“The ideal MBG menu may go uneaten, while offering UPF-based foods like nuggets or sausages could distract from the goal of meeting nutritional needs,” he said.
He urged gradual evaluation to track shifts in students’ eating habits and stressed the need for schools to monitor food quality and safety incidents.
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The MBG Implementation Guide, prepared by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, should include detailed evaluation procedures, he said.
Rizal recommended that schools collect data on beneficiaries, menu types, food waste, and students’ nutritional status before and after the program. Schools should also measure students’ height, weight, and body mass index every six months.
He emphasized the vital role of nutritionists in ensuring food safety, noting that their current workloads remain heavy.
“One nutritionist overseeing 3,000 to 4,000 meals is an excessive burden,” he said, adding that new rules now cap kitchen output at 2,000 servings, a move he called a positive step.
Rizal also urged integrating nutrition education into the program to teach students and families about healthy eating habits.
“This is a new program with many challenges, so ongoing feedback is essential,” he said.
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Translator: Citro Atmoko, Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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