Jakarta, July 29, 2025 — The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program has been shown to significantly enhance children’s concentration levels, as measured through short-term memory assessments. This improvement is expected to contribute to sustained learning motivation among students.
“Research conducted in Aceh indicates that students receiving Free Nutritious Meals demonstrated increased concentration. This is encouraging, as it supports improved educational outcomes and strengthens children’s motivation to continue learning,” said Ikeu Tanziha, Expert Council Member of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), in Jakarta on Monday (July 28).
A separate study by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) yielded similar results. The MBG program improved learning focus and cognitive performance among students in areas such as Bogor and Papua, especially for those who previously did not eat breakfast. A case study at State Vocational School 6 (SMK Negeri 6) in Medan revealed that MBG significantly boosted attendance motivation and concentration in class.
Ikeu explained that concentration is closely linked to attention and the ability to identify and process stimuli. As a cognitive function of the human brain, concentration plays a crucial role in brain development during a child’s formative years.
She further noted that the ability to concentrate can be influenced by a variety of factors, including: Learning motivation, Nutritional intake, Psychological well-being, and Physiological conditions such as sleep quality, noise, lighting, temperature, and the design of the learning environment.
“When short-term memory is impaired, a child’s ability to store information briefly is disrupted, which diminishes their overall memory processing capacity,” Ikeu explained.
She emphasized that various environmental and physiological elements affect concentration, including nutrition. Key nutrients such as protein, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain development and cognitive function, particularly memory.
“Nutritional intake—especially proteins, iron, and omega-3—is critical for the development and function of the brain and memory,” she said.
According to Ikeu, the MBG Program is designed to address children’s nutritional needs not only for physical growth and development, but also for enhancing cognitive potential and intelligence. However, she acknowledged challenges, particularly regarding unhealthy consumption behavior among children and limited access to nutritious foods in some regions.
“This is why we must strengthen our collective role in supporting the successful implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals Program. We firmly believe this initiative will deliver lasting benefits for future generations and for society as a whole,” Ikeu concluded.
