Sleman, July 28th, 2022. Healthy food intake is the key to healthy growth and development, especially during childhood years. It is not only obtained from home, but food intake is also obtained by the children in schools. The BPOM (Indonesian national agency of drug and food control) survey in 2010 stated that more than 70% of food poisoning incidents occurred among elementary school (SD) students. The selection of food and snacks that are safe for consumption by children needs to be a concern to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the school environment.
Along with the commemoration of National Children’s Day on July 23rd, The Research Center for Biotechnology and the Master’s Program in Biotechnology UGM together with DPKM (Directorate of Community Services) UGM held a Community Service Program for elementary school students in Ngaglik District, Sleman. The activity with the theme “Education for the King of Manta” (Safe and Healthy Snacks Movement) invites elementary school students to pay more attention to the selection of snacks that they would be consumed at school.
The activity was carried out at SDN Seloharjo (27/7) and SDN Sukosari (28/7) and was attended by all students in grades 1 to 6. The activity began with material presentations and quizzes about safe and healthy food and snacks, then continued with various interactive games with a similar theme. All the participants were enthusiastic about participating in the whole activity.
“The consumption of healthy food is fundamental to the growth and development of children, especially in supporting the learning process at school. However, there are still many children who cannot distinguish between snacks that are safe for consumption, this is often a concern for all of us. Therefore, I think this program is very important to give to elementary school students so that they can get to know better about safe and healthy food.” said Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, M.Sc., the Chairman of the service program who is also the Head of Research Center for Biotechnology.
The Principal of SDN Seloharjo, Drs. Japan, and the Principal of SDN Sukosari, Haryana, S.Pd.I., also agreed that nowadays it is necessary to educate children about safe and healthy snacks with unique packaging so that children will pay more attention to the snacks that they will be consumed when they are outside their parent or teacher supervision.
Apart from Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, M.Si, the implementation of this program also involves the Head of the Biotechnology Doctoral Study Program, Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas, M.Sc., Head of the Biotechnology Masters Study Program, Dr. Dini Wahyu Kartika Sari, S.Pi., M.Sc., a student of the Master’s Program of Biotechnology, UGM Graduate School, and KKN-PPM (Student Community Service Community Empowerment Learning) UGM students. The program implementation also cooperates with MSME Niki Ulam, which is under the guidance of the Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM, to provide various healthy fish-based snacks at SDN Seloharjo and SDN Sukosari.
Hopefully, this Program does not stop here. In the future, the school can also design the procurement of a “Healthy Canteen” to provide safe and healthy food in the school environment.
