Food Consumption Patterns of Students in Free Nutritious Meals Program: A Study in Gorontalo City

Abstract

The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) in Gorontalo City is a government initiative to provide healthy and nutritious meals for students from elementary to high school. This study aims to analyze student food consumption patterns within the MBG program. The method used was a quantitative descriptive design with a cross-sectional approach, involving a sample of 150 students from three schools participating in the MBG program. The results showed that vegetables were the most frequently leftover food, reaching 86 students (57.3%). The majority of students (85 students) rated mealtimes as neutral, indicating that the current schedule is suboptimal. The highest frequency of food was in the "sometimes" categsory, with 62 students (41.3%). The comfort of the dining area was also in the "average" category, with 62 students (41.3%). Therefore, improving the dining environment is expected to improve the student experience. In terms of hunger, 80 students (53.3%) felt sometimes hungry when food was served, while 75 students (50.0%) experienced no disturbances while eating. The MBG program has had a positive impact, but challenges remain related to consumption patterns. Innovations in vegetable presentation and better adjustments to meal times are crucial to increasing food consumption and reducing food waste