Food Environment Modern dan Tantangannya terhadap Pembentukan Kebiasaan Makan Sehat Anak Usia Dini

Abstract

Early childhood is a critical period for the formation of lifelong eating habits; however, the modern food environment—saturated with ready-to-eat processed products and convenient packaging—presents increasingly complex challenges to establishing healthy eating habits. This study aims to identify and analyze the challenges posed by the modern food environment to the development of healthy eating habits among young children at RA Nurul Falah. Employing a narrative qualitative approach, the study gathered data through participant observation of children's dietary patterns and packed lunches at school, interviews with teachers and parents, and documentation of the foods children consumed daily. Data were analyzed thematically—involving reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing—based on the 4A framework (availability, accessibility, affordability, and appeal). The findings reveal that the availability of ready-to-eat processed foods at home and in school lunches, their ease of preparation compared to fresh foods, and their sensory and packaging appeal to children are the primary challenges shaping children's preference for processed foods from an early age; conversely, fresh foods such as tempeh, tofu, and eggs play a less dominant role, despite being available. This study contributes by systematically applying the food environment framework to the context of early childhood education in Indonesia—an approach that differs from previous studies, which have generally focused solely on parents' attitudes and nutritional knowledge.