<![CDATA[Stunting remains a nutritional problem that impacts the quality of human resources in Indonesia. Efforts to prevent stunting should not only focus on toddlers but also on school-age children by ensuring adequate nutritional needs are met. One government program is the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG), which aims to improve the nutritional quality of students while supporting community well-being. This study aims to analyze the contribution of the Free Nutritious Meals Program at the Masangan Wetan Village Elementary School to stunting prevention in school-age children, focusing on its impact on family socioeconomic conditions, the potential and challenges of program implementation, and its relationship to local money circulation. This study used a qualitative method with a case study approach. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation involving teachers, parents, and other parties involved in program implementation. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques to identify patterns and relationships among research findings. The results indicate that the MBG Program has a positive impact on family socioeconomic conditions by reducing children's food consumption expenses, increasing family nutrition awareness, and supporting students' concentration and learning activities. This program also has the potential to support stunting prevention and local economic empowerment through the involvement of farmers, MSMEs, and local food service providers. However, program implementation still faces challenges such as budget constraints, logistical distribution, food quality monitoring, and coordination between stakeholders. Furthermore, the MBG program contributes to increasing local money circulation through increased food demand, job creation, and economic multiplier effects. Thus, MBG plays a role in supporting both child health and community economic growth.]]>
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