This research project, centered on the Nutritious Meals Program (MBG), was conducted by faculty members of the Department of Anthropology, FISIP Universitas Indonesia, in 2025. The study explores the implementation of the MBG program in elementary schools as a pivotal element of Indonesia’s national health and education agenda.

The fieldwork took place across five elementary schools spanning East, West, North, South, and Central Jakarta. By engaging in interviews and direct observations with students, teachers, school administrators, SPPG, and the National Nutrition Agency, the study examines the opportunities, bottlenecks, and strategies emerging on the ground. Moving beyond a mere technical evaluation, this research frames MBG implementation not just as a feeding program, but as a complex developmental process involving social dynamics, infrastructure, governance, and local stakeholder participation.