Implementation of a Gardening Project as a Medium for Nutritional Education in Efforts to Prevent Stunting in Children

Abstract

Nutritional problems among young children remain a public health challenge in Indonesia, particularly stunting, which can affect physical growth, cognitive development, motor skills, and the quality of future human resources. Stunting is influenced by several factors, including inadequate nutritional intake, infectious diseases, parenting practices, environmental sanitation, and access to healthcare services. One approach to supporting stunting prevention is through nutrition education and the utilization of nutritious food sources available in the surrounding environment. Gardening projects can serve as an educational tool to raise public awareness of the importance of consuming diverse and nutritionally balanced foods. This community service program aims to support stunting prevention by introducing gardening activities, utilizing available land to grow vegetables, and improving understanding of the nutritional needs of young children. Through this program, community members are expected to identify nutritious food sources that are accessible and can be cultivated independently. Gardening projects may also encourage family participation in providing healthy food ingredients and developing healthy eating habits from an early age. Therefore, gardening projects can serve as an educational and participatory approach to supporting family nutrition and promoting sustainable stunting prevention efforts

Keywords: stunting, early childhood nutrition, gardening project, nutrition education, community service.