Stunting Prevention Education through Gardening Projects and Local Food Processing at Tunas Ceria Early Childhood Education Center, Lampung

Abstract

Stunting is a nutritional problem that requires preventive efforts through food and nutrition education and family involvement. This community service activity aimed to describe the implementation of stunting prevention education through gardening projects and local food processing at Tunas Ceria Early Childhood Education Center in Jatibaru Village, Tanjung Bintang District, South Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia. The activity was conducted on October, 2026, involving 15 teachers, 73 parents or guardians, one village midwife, and two early childhood education community representatives. The activities included planting water spinach, spinach, eggplant, and chili; feeding and caring for chickens; a parenting workshop on food and nutrition education; and preparing nuggets made from cassava, chicken meat, carrots, eggs, wheat flour, and breadcrumbs. Data were collected through activity documentation and direct interviews with parents or guardians before and after the activities, then analyzed descriptively. Initial interviews indicated that five parents reported that their children disliked vegetables. Some parents also reported that their children tended to choose side dishes and leave vegetables uneaten when receiving free nutritious meals. Following the activities, several parents expressed positive responses to the nuggets, describing them as tasty and noting that the cassava flavor was not dominant. Children also responded positively when tasting the nuggets and participating in the cooking activity. The program provided learning experiences about plant-based and animal-based food sources and alternative ways of processing local ingredients. It also offered an opportunity to strengthen food and nutrition education through collaboration between the early childhood education center and families in supporting stunting prevention efforts