Agensi Anak Dalam Pembentukan Kebiasaan Jajan Balita Dengan Status Gizi Kurang di Rawa Bogo, Bekasi

This article examines the snack habits that stand out in the food habits of toddlers with undernutrition in Rawa Bogo, Bekasi, West Java. Toddlers' food habits are not fully formed according to the wishes of their caregivers. Children are not passive subjects, even toddlers have the ability to shape their food habits, especially in relation to snack habits. The negotiation process between caregivers and the toddlers they care for occurs in the daily feeding of toddlers. The research findings show that various attempts are taken by toddlers to get the snacks they want and finally form a snack habit that is at risk of undernutrition. The caregivers are forced to fulfill the child's demands for snacks under various reasons, such as "rather than the child's stomach is empty," "as long as the stomach is filled," and "the important thing is the child is willing to eat." This article shows that caregivers' feelings of "shame," "love," "pity," and "affection" have made it possible for children's agency to work in the formation of snack habits. Some other factors that enable the work of children’s agency in constructing their snack habits are also discussed in this article.