The Free Nutritious Meal Program and Early Childhood Learning Readiness: A Case Study from Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21107/njcr.v2i4.203Keywords:
Early Childhood Education, Free Nutritious Meal Program, Child Nutrition, Learning Motivation, Stunting PreventionAbstract
Background of the study: Nutritional problems in early childhood remain a major challenge in Indonesia, particularly among low-income families who struggle to meet children’s nutritional needs. According to the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey, the national stunting prevalence reached 21.5%, indicating that one in five children experiences growth impairment due to chronic malnutrition. In response to this issue, the Indonesian government launched the Free Nutritious Meal (FNM) Program in January 2025 as a strategic initiative to reduce stunting and improve human resource quality from an early age.
Aims and scope of paper: This study aims to analyze the implementation of the FNM program at RA Muta’alimin Labang, focusing on the types of services provided, the implementation process, challenges encountered, and the program’s initial benefits for children’s nutritional status and learning motivation.
Methods: The study employed a qualitative approach using a case study design. Research participants included the school principal, classroom teachers, and parents, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected over four months through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis. Data analysis followed the Miles and Huberman interactive model, consisting of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. Data validity was ensured through source, technique, and time triangulation.
Results: The findings indicate that the FNM program was implemented consistently from Monday to Friday at 09:00 a.m. and had a positive impact on children’s attendance and learning enthusiasm. Children who received adequate nutritional intake demonstrated improved concentration, higher levels of classroom participation, and increased learning engagement.
Contribution: This study provides empirical evidence that the FNM program enhances children’s physical health and cognitive readiness for learning. Beyond its empirical findings, the study makes a conceptual contribution to the international early childhood education literature by reframing nutrition-based interventions as a foundational component of the learning readiness framework. It demonstrates how nutritional status operates as a mediating mechanism linking physical health, cognitive preparedness, and early learning outcomes, offering a theoretically transferable model that is applicable across diverse early childhood education contexts, particularly in settings where nutritional vulnerability shapes educational trajectories.
References
Abadi, M. N. P., Basrowi, R. W., Gunawan, W. B., Arasy, M. P., Nurjihan, F., Sundjaya, T., Pratiwi, D., Hardinsyah, H., Astuti Taslim, N., & Nurkolis, F. (2025). Unraveling Future Trends in Free School Lunch and Nutrition: Global Insights for Indonesia from Bibliometric Approach and Critical Review. Nutrients, 17(17), 2777. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17172777
Abderbwih, E., Mahanani, M. R., Deckert, A., Antia, K., Agbaria, N., Dambach, P., Kohler, S., Horstick, O., Winkler, V., & Wendt, A. S. (2022). The Impact of School-Based Nutrition Interventions on Parents and Other Family Members: A Systematic Literature Review. Nutrients, 14(12), 2399. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14122399
Arqam, Mhd. L., Firdaus, A. A., Atmojo, A. M., Saputri, G. Z., Furizal, Palahuddin, & Sirnopati, R. (2026). Integrating education-based interventions and machine learning for stunting prevention: A case study in East Lombok, Indonesia. Dialogues in Health, 8, 100264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dialog.2025.100264
Asada, Y., Hughes, A. G., Read, M., Schwartz, M. B., & Chriqui, J. F. (2017). High School Students’ Recommendations to Improve School Food Environments: Insights Froma Critical Stakeholder Group. Journal of School Health, 87(11), 842–849. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12562
Benton, D. (2010). The influence of dietary status on the cognitive performance of children. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 54(4), 457–470. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.200900158
Bosqui, T., Mayya, A., Farah, S., Shaito, Z., Jordans, M. J. D., Pedersen, G., Betancourt, T. S., Carr, A., Donnelly, M., & Brown, F. L. (2024). Parenting and family interventions in lower and middle-income countries for child and adolescent mental health: A systematic review. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 132, 152483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152483
Brown, J., & Farquhar, C. (2014). Endometriosis: An overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(8). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009590.pub2
Cerovac, M., & Keane, T. (2025). Early insights into Piaget’s cognitive development model through the lens of the Technologies curriculum. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 35(1), 61–81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-024-09906-5
Choi, K., Yama, C., Leon, Y., & Kersey, L. (2026). Pilot of Health Care Workers Promoting Tax Filing and Receipt of Tax Credits for Low Income Families. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 22(1), 105603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2025.105603
Chowdhury, A., & Naz, A. (2023). Reducing energy poverty, carbon footprint, human health risk and achieving the sustainable development goals, by use of solar lamps at Indian Sundarbans. Materials Today: Proceedings, S2214785323034119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.06.032
Cohen, J. F. W., Hecht, A. A., McLoughlin, G. M., Turner, L., & Schwartz, M. B. (2021). Universal School Meals and Associations with Student Participation, Attendance, Academic Performance, Diet Quality, Food Security, and Body Mass Index: A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 13(3), 911. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030911
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (Fifth edition). SAGE.
Debebe, W., Alem, A., Abebe, M. S., Bihonegn, M. D., Abdu, H., Bayileyegn, N. S., Beyene, A., Zerfu, T. A., Girma, B., & Tareke, A. A. (2026). Higher altitude stunts children’s physical growth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Next Research, 3, 101059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nexres.2025.101059
Deconinck, K. (2019). New evidence on concentration in seed markets. Global Food Security, 23, 135–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2019.05.001
El Bilali, H., Strassner, C., & Ben Hassen, T. (2021). Sustainable Agri-Food Systems: Environment, Economy, Society, and Policy. Sustainability, 13(11), 6260. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116260
Fujii, Y., Harada, K. H., Miyakawa, D., Nagahama, Y., Weber, R., & Kajiwara, N. (2025). Levels of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids in recycled plastic pellets: A small input into the plastics cycle. Chemosphere, 383, 144467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144467
Garina, L. A., Dewi, M. K., Trusda, S. A. D., Purbaningsih, W., Muflihah, H., Tursina, A., Respati, T., & Rahimah, S. B. (2024). Maternal, Child, and Household Risk Factors for Children with Stunting. The Open Public Health Journal, 17(1), e18749445321448. https://doi.org/10.2174/0118749445321448240823112908
Grantham-McGregor, S., Cheung, Y. B., Cueto, S., Glewwe, P., Richter, L., & Strupp, B. (2007). Developmental potential in the first 5 years for children in developing countries. The Lancet, 369(9555), 60–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60032-4
Gross, R. S., Messito, M. J., Klass, P., Canfield, C. F., Yin, H. S., Morris, P. A., Shaw, D. S., Dreyer, B. P., & Mendelsohn, A. L. (2021). Integrating Health Care Strategies to Prevent Poverty-Related Disparities in Development and Growth: Addressing Core Outcomes of Early Childhood. Academic Pediatrics, 21(8), S161–S168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2021.04.005
Gundersen, C., Kreider, B., & Pepper, J. (2012). The impact of the National School Lunch Program on child health: A nonparametric bounds analysis. Journal of Econometrics, 166(1), 79–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconom.2011.06.007
Gupta, S. S., Teede, H., & Aroni, R. (2018). Spicing up your advice for South Asian and Anglo-Australians with type 2 diabetes and CVD: Do cultural constructions of diet matter? Appetite, 120, 679–697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2017.10.007
Hanbazaza, M. A., Triador, L., Ball, G. D. C., Farmer, A., Maximova, K., Alexander First Nation, & Willows, N. D. (2015a). The Impact of School Gardening on Cree Children’s Knowledge and Attitudes toward Vegetables and Fruit. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 76(3), 133–139. https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2015-007
Hanbazaza, M. A., Triador, L., Ball, G. D. C., Farmer, A., Maximova, K., Alexander First Nation, & Willows, N. D. (2015b). The Impact of School Gardening on Cree Children’s Knowledge and Attitudes toward Vegetables and Fruit. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 76(3), 133–139. https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2015-007
Ickes, S., Mahoney, E., Roberts, A., & Dolan, C. (2016). Parental Involvement in a School-Based Child Physical Activity and Nutrition Program in Southeastern United States: A Qualitative Analysis of Parenting Capacities. Health Promotion Practice, 17(2), 285–296. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839915616363
Iwano, S., Tanaka, K., Takaoka, A., Machida, D., & Tomata, Y. (2025). School Lunch and Body Size in Japanese Junior High School Students: The Japanese National Health and Nutrition Survey. Nutrients, 17(5), 895. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050895
Kizito, S., Ssewamala, F. M., Nabayinda, J., Namuwonge, F., Neilands, T. B., Nabunya, P., Bahar, O. S., Ssentumbwe, V., & Nattabi, J. (2025). The long-term impact of family economic empowerment on viral suppression and mental health outcomes among adolescents living with HIV in low-income settings: A cluster-randomized controlled trial in Southern Uganda. Social Science & Medicine, 364, 117546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117546
Labyak, C. A., Kaplan, L. G., Johnson, T. M., & Moholland, M. (2021). Practical School Nutrition Program May Reduce Food Neophobia. Nutrients, 13(10), 3541. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103541
Larcom, S., Sarr, M., & Willems, T. (2016). Dictators Walking the Mogadishu Line: How Men Become Monsters and Monsters Become Men. The World Bank Economic Review, lhw039. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhw039
Lu, F., Wong, C. K. H., Ng, A. P. P., Li, L., Fong, D. Y. T., Ip, P., Tse, E. T. Y., & Lam, C. L. K. (2024). Effectiveness of a 5-year health empowerment programme on promoting cardiovascular health for adults from low-income families in Hong Kong. Patient Education and Counseling, 124, 108240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2024.108240
McCarrison, S., Kao, K.-T., & Wong, S. C. (2024). Growth in childhood chronic conditions. In Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences (p. B9780443138256000686). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-13825-6.00068-6
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (Third edition). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2020). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (Fourth edition). SAGE.
Ordway, M. R., Sadler, L. S., Jeon, S., Pierre, J. C., Canapari, C., & Redeker, N. S. (2023). Early emergence of racial and ethnic differences in sleep health among toddlers living in low-income families. Sleep Health, 9(4), 389–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2023.02.006
Quigley, F., Lynch, L., Price, R., Hollywood, L., Gallagher, A. M., Mooney, E., McCloat, A., & Moorhead, S. A. (2025). ‘I want food to be tasty and healthy’: School-children’s experiences with nutrition education and messaging. Health Promotion International, 40(5), daaf151. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf151
Rayhani, S., Mochtar, N. M., Djalilah, G. N., & Asmarani, R. I. (2024). Well-Being of Infants Through Touch: The Effects of Massage on Sleep Quality and Weight Gain in the First 0-12 Months. Golden Age: Jurnal Ilmiah Tumbuh Kembang Anak Usia Dini, 9(2), 357–374. https://doi.org/10.14421/jga.2024.92-15
Sidaner, E., Balaban, D., & Burlandy, L. (2013). The Brazilian school feeding programme: An example of an integrated programme in support of food and nutrition security. Public Health Nutrition, 16(6), 989–994. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980012005101
Supranoto, Sasmito, L., Indriastuti, S., Prayitno, H., & Sawir, M. (2025). From parallel to partnership governance: Strengthening institutional synergy for stunting reduction in decentralized Indonesia. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, 102051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102051
Taras, H. (2005). Nutrition and Student Performance at School. Journal of School Health, 75(6), 199–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2005.00025.x
Testa, A., Mijares, L., & Tsai, J. (2025). Family incarceration and barriers to mental health care among low-income US veterans. Annals of Epidemiology, 110, 89–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2025.08.006
Tosolini, K. E., Damen, S., Janssen, M. J., & Minnaert, A. E. M. G. (2025). A Piagetian lens on cognitive development of children and youths with congenital deafblindness: A scoping review. Frontiers in Education, 10, 1479668. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1479668
Wei, J., Zhang, Y., Lohman, M. C., & Merchant, A. T. (2024). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and depressive symptoms among adults with low family income in the U.S.: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018. Journal of Affective Disorders, 362, 828–834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.093
Wu, Y., & Zhang, X. (2025). State-led regional development strategy and multidimensional health poverty of the residents: Evidence from the China’s great western development program. Economics & Human Biology, 57, 101494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2025.101494
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ferlinda Eka Agholin Rahayu, Vinandiya Muhtarisul Lisaniyah, Syifa Almuk Minun, Khaled Ahmed Aqeel Alzoubi, Konstantinos T. Kotsis, Fani Endang Setia Ningsih
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The authors publishing in this journal agree to the following terms:
1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
