Who doesn't remember the slogan "4 sehat 5 sempurna" that has been carried out through the millennial generation's early days? Initially, this slogan was coined in 1952 by Mr. Nutrition Indonesia, Prof. dr. Poorwo Soedarmo. However, in the 2000s, this slogan began to fade. The reason is that the slogan has since been developed and perfected into Guidelines for a Balanced Diet.
What is "4 Sehat 5 Sempurna"?
Known as the father of Indonesian nutrition, Poorwo Soedarmo is a figure who pioneered and developed knowledge about food and nutrition in Indonesia. The movement with the slogan "4 Sehat 5 Sempurna" that he came up with is an adaptation of the USDA recommendation, which is primary four or basic five. This slogan teaches the Indonesian people to consume essential foods, side dishes, vegetables, fruits, and milk as supplements. This slogan became famous and is remembered till now because it was widely introduced through education. In the past, it was not uncommon for students to memorize this slogan from primary school onwards. This educational path is why this slogan has stuck in Indonesian society for a long time.
Why was "4 Sehat 5 Sempurna" discontinued?
It is no coincidence that this slogan has been erased. The "Balanced Nutrition Guidelines" or PGS is the latest concept of the slogan "4 Sehat 5 Sempurna" that can meet nutritional needs in quantity, quality, and variety. The goal is that the health of the body is maintained, growth is perfect (in children), nutrients are stored, and the activities and functions of daily life run optimally. Please read this article until the end to discover why this tagline was erased!
1. Milk is not perfect
The slogan "4 Sehat 5 Sempurna" encourages the Indonesian people to consume rice, side dishes, vegetables, and fruits and views milk as a perfect food ingredient. Even though the nutritional value in milk can be met if the food consumption is sufficient and varied, for example, someone who consumes protein sources such as eggs and meat is okay with not drinking milk. In addition, milk is a food group that is challenging to reach for the lower middle class. Therefore, it is incorrect for milk to be a complementary food.
2. Food portion isn't mentioned
This concept needs to explain how many food portions should be consumed daily. It is in contrast to the PGS concept, which explains about given for each food group about the amount or portion that should be eaten daily. Based on PGS, we are advised to consume 2-3 servings of vegetable protein, 2-3 servings of animal protein, 3-8 servings of essential food, 3-5 servings of vegetables, 3-5 servings of fruit, and drink at least eight glasses of mineral water. When you talk about "4 Healthy 5 Perfect", you can say that your diet is healthy even though the food portions do not meet your needs.
3. The importance of drinking mineral water
Drinking enough water is vital to help the body replenish lost fluids and keep the body hydrated. But unfortunately, the concept of "4 Sehat 5 Sempurna" does not describe the importance of drinking enough safe and clean water. This gap was then elaborated in the PGS concept, which explains how important it is to meet the need to drink at least 2 liters of mineral water, or about eight glasses a day.
4. Incomplete message emphasis
This concept only emphasizes nutrition rather than the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, PGS has perfected this concept by highlighting four other principles: getting used to eating varied foods, maintaining a clean lifestyle, the importance of an active lifestyle and exercise, and monitoring body weight.
These are the four mistakes of the "4 Sehat 5 Sempurna" concept that made this slogan abolished. What do you think after knowing these reasons? Are there still people who use this slogan? If so, please share this article to correct the error. Share as much as possible so that more people know about this! Also, check out our other articles by joining Fitie.