JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Japan is one of the earliest countries providing lunch at a school named Kyushoku.
Nutrition experts from the Department of Nutrition and Life Science Kanagawa Institute of Technology, as well as practitioners who attend Kyushoku In Japan, Naomi Aiba, said that lunch in Japan began for the first time in 1889.
“At that time, what was provided in school lunch in Japan was rice, fish, and a little pickled vegetables,” Naomi said in a yakult seminar titled “Shokuiku: nutrition and education“, Thursday (2/13/2025).
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In its journey, Japan experienced several changes in lunch menu at school, including when changing variations of dishes towards Western countries, namely Bread in 1975.
“Over time, variations of food ingredients are also increasing and then the staple food, side dishes, various Japanese foods are now the main focus,” said Naomi.
More complete, consider the difference between school lunch in Japan and Indonesia below.
1. Educational theory of Nutritious Eating
The government and schools in Japan prepare detailed nutritious eating knowledge, from the importance of nutritional intake to the prevention of food waste.
Knowledge about food nutrition is also packed by attracting school children.
Schools through the teacher, prepare illustrations of images and sounds about food nutrition to attract the attention of students.
“Education about food nutrition is given by about two to three minutes before meal time,” Naomi said.
Also read: Capcay Recipes, Free Nutritious Eating Side dishes at Depok State Elementary School
While in Indonesia, free nutritional feeding (MBG) has not been accompanied by strong theoretical education.
2. Law (Law) Eat nutritious
It has been started since 1889, Japan also prepared the Food Education Basic Law in 2005, becoming a benchmark for teaching materials and revisions to the school lunch menu in Japan.
The law lists seven goals why school lunch is important.
“So, nutritional intake is not only important to improve the health of school children, but also to help obtain healthy eating habits, develop gratitude, and understand the culture of eating,” Naomi explained.
Also read: 5 Reasons Sardines Fish Suitable for Free Nutritious Eating Programs
While in Indonesia, there is no official law that regulates the certainty of the MBG program in the future.
