Jakarta, Jan. 21 -- Indonesia's flagship free nutritious meal programme is improving children's health and encouraging greater participation in school activities, the head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) said, while urging families to support the effort with better diets at home.

"With MBG, children are more enthusiastic about going to school. In several regions, they are more eager to take part in school activities and they are much healthier," agency chief Dadan Hindayana said in a podcast monitored on Tuesday, referring to the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) programme.

Hindayana said the scheme has reached more than 58 million beneficiaries nationwide, including pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, infants and students from pre-scho...