The annual Pekan Sarapan Nasional (National Breakfast Week), or PESAN, was recently observed on February 14 - 20.

PESAN was first set in 2013 as a symposium for 225 nutritionists, food experts, and health practitioners to gather and encourage Indonesians to have a healthy and well-balanced breakfast. 

The week is started on the next day after the birthday of the country's Father of Nutrition, Dr. Poorwo Soedarmo, in his honor.

Why is breakfast important?
Breakfast holds an essential role for every individual to start their day. Besides replenishing the glucose supply to increase energy levels and attentiveness, it also provides many other necessary nutrients needed for good health. 

Many types of research have linked consistent and healthy breakfast to a low level of LDL cholesterol and a lower level of diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity risks. 

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised the poverty rate in Indonesia, which causes a decrease in their purchasing ability and more challenges on the hunger front — not that the numbers were much better in the past.

"Based on the 2013 Basic Health Research data, 44.6 percent of Indonesian children consume breakfast with a nutritional intake of less than 15 percent of their total energy needs. 26.1 percent of children only drink tea, water, or milk for breakfast," said clinical nutrition specialist Dr. Diana F. Suganda, M.Kes, SpGK.

"Meanwhile, school-age children need 1,550 calories per day, ranging from carbohydrates, proteins, to fats, which contain omega 3 and 6 as well as vitamins, minerals, and fiber to support their health and growth." 

Companies' participation in the 2022 PESAN

This year, Blue Band participated in PESAN to share the education of breakfast importance on elementary students.

Blue Band shares the insight through a 21-day program called Sarapan Berisi on its education platform. The program aims to educate 1.5 million Indonesians, particularly kids and parents. This program will be held throughout the year, targetting 350.000 participants to enroll. 

Some restaurants such as McDonald's celebrate the occasion in a more casual way. For example, McDonald's shares thousands of free foods for breakfast through its stores to celebrate national breakfast week every year.

Likewise, the Kraft Heinz Company continues to collaborate with FoodCycle Indonesia in a breakfast charity program, called "Selamat Pagi Indonesia". They spread 21.000 packages of breakfast to 500 kids in multiple social homes around the Jabodetabek area.

"The challenges of hunger and malnutrition in Indonesia are not something to be taken lightly. Therefore, a strong collaboration that involves all parties is needed. We are committed to proceeding taking active steps to be part of the solution while simultaneously inspiring the presence of larger humanitarian movements," said Mira Buanawati, the Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs Kraft Heinz Indonesia & PNG.