<![CDATA[The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is a strategic policy designed to meet students' nutritional needs and support educational processes. This study describes the implementation of the MBG Program in junior high schools in East Lombok Regency, examines its implications for learning effectiveness and the quality of educational services, and identifies supporting and inhibiting factors. The study employed a qualitative case-study design. Informants were selected purposively and consisted of teachers, students, and parents. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation and analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. Triangulated findings indicate that meal distribution was relatively regular through coordination between schools and service providers. The program was perceived to contribute to learning readiness, motivation, attendance, service quality, and a more conducive learning environment. However, the available documentary evidence was insufficient to establish causal or longitudinal changes in concentration and academic achievement. Supporting factors included school commitment, parental support, an organized distribution system, and cross-sector collaboration. Major constraints included distribution during instructional time, limited menu variation, and unsystematic monitoring and evaluation. Strengthening governance, scheduling, and data-based evaluation is therefore necessary for the program to contribute more consistently to the quality of educational services.]]>
