Shaping healthy eating behavior in children

The first thousand days in life is crucial for health, growth and development of children. Children's nutrition intake relates to healthy eating behavior. This study aims to find out how shaping healthy eating habits in children aged 2-3 years. This study uses descriptive qualitative research through observation, interview and documentation with data sources from two teachers of a 2- to 3-year-old group, one principal, and six children. The data analysis uses Miles and Huberman's model which involves data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusion. The result showed that shaping healthy eating behavior has been formed by teacher's role related eating habits, food choices, and meal times, which are (1) creating a pleasant environment; (2) maintaining an appropriate standards; (3) helping children eating food; (4) taking care children to stay on their meal; (5) choosing and serving food menus; (6) set up routine meals and snacks on daily activity schedules.