Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - The Population and Family Development (BKKBN) Ministry is diversifying the menus of Healthy Kitchens to Overcome Stunting (Dashat) in Quality Family (KB) Villages to prevent malnutrition and food fatigue in children.
“We are taking a more sensitive approach than a specific one, so we are educating the community," Deputy for Population Control at the BKKBN Bonivasius Prasetya Ichtiarto said.
Although Dashat is not yet available in all villages and urban ward villages, the ministry has directed all family support teams (TPK) to diversify the menu, and most of the children enjoy the menu, he said.
There are currently 72 thousand KB Villages across Indonesia, and nearly 48 thousand of them have set up Dashat working groups, he noted during a visit to the Kolaka KB Village in Jatirejo village, Semarang city, on Friday evening.
In the future, all KB Villages will have Dashats, with assistance from the Physical Allocation Fund (DAK).
“The support from BKKBN does not cover all areas yet. If successful, it will be expanded to all urban ward villages. We also need to ensure that the food provided to these children is not shared with other family members,” he explained.
The menus for toddlers at risk of stunting prioritize protein-rich foods. Based on observations, the dinner menu for toddlers in the Kolaka KB Village includes steamed rice with fish in yellow sauce. The toddlers appeared to be enjoying the meal.
To support toddler growth, high-protein foods are provided daily, including chicken soup, fish soup, and other high-fat foods.
The community at the Kolaka KB Village is also trained to use spices as a substitute for MSG and extracts from ingredients used in side dishes, such as shrimp heads, chicken, and meat.
Dwi Sayekti Kadarini, head of the Jatirejo Village Population Data Center, said that stunted children at the Kolaka KB Village are being provided locally sourced eggs, produced by Balitbangan Superior Village (KUB) chickens that were bred from chickens native to West Java.
“The Family Empowerment and Welfare (PKK) team in an urban ward village prepares a menu made from KUB chicken, which is given to toddlers at risk of stunting once a month. We also educate the community about cultivating catfish in used gallon jugs,” Kadarini added.
