Food preferences in Indonesian schoolchildren and the parents’ perspectives on the upcoming nutritious free meal program

This study explores Indonesian schoolchildren’s dietary choices and evaluates parents’ awareness of the Indonesian well-balanced diet promoted by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. It also aims at parents’ perspectives on the Makan Bergizi Gratis (Nutritious Free Meal) program, which will soon be launched by the newly elected President Prabowo Subianto. Art based research and a Google Forms survey was used to gather information from schoolchildren and parents in Indonesia. The findings show common food choices, nutritional awareness gaps, and how parents feel about the new school meal program.