Impact of Free Nutritious Feeding Policy on Student Fitness and Learning Engagement in Elementary Schools of Banten Province

This study investigates the impact of the Free Nutritious Meals policy on student fitness in the context of learning engagement among elementary school students in Banten Province, Indonesia. Employing a survey with a correlational design, data were collected from 75 teachers selected through purposive sampling across 15 elementary schools in Serang City, Cilegon City, and Serang Regency. A Likert-scale questionnaire was used to measure relevant variables, and data were analyzed using the Spearman correlation test. The findings indicate a statistically significant moderate correlation between the MBG policy and various dimensions of student fitness: physical, mental, and emotional balance (r = 0.614, p < 0.01); mental strength/concentration (r = 0.525, p < 0.01); cognitive endurance (r = 0.456, p < 0.01); emotional balance (r = 0.536, p < 0.01); and information processing speed (r = 0.529, p < 0.01). These results suggest that the MBG policy contributes positively to multiple aspects of student fitness that are essential for effective participation in learning activities