“More Calories, More Protein, More Progress”: The Nutribun and the Politics of Nostalgia of the Marcos Regime

The Nutribun, a ready-to-eat meal developed by a United States Agency for International Development program, became tied to Ferdinand E. Marcos when his administration claimed credit for its nationwide distribution through feeding programs. His children later used nostalgia for the Nutribun to cast the Marcos years positively, aiding their political rise. This article reframes nostalgia politics by tracing the Nutribun’s changing political and emotional meanings. It shows how the bun functioned as a symbol for reimagining authoritarian rule as a time of prosperity and national pride, and how nostalgic health messages were used to deflect attention from present problems. The study links public health communication, nutrition policy, and political memory to show nostalgia’s role in shaping historical narratives.