One of my fondest memories from middle school was the annual children’s camp where we encouraged kids to prepare a full meal from scratch. I still remember how even the picky eaters enjoyed their creations — not because the food tasted amazing, but because they cooked it themselves. That sense of ownership made every bite meaningful.

In the past, children naturally learned to plant vegetables, harvest crops, and cook simple meals. Today, children are often so well-protected that parents focus solely on academic excellence. As a result, kids grow up disconnected from food, unaware of where it comes from, and more prone to picky eating.

Is Your Child a Picky Eater?

Many parents complain that their children prefer junk food over fruits and vegetables. But what they don’t realise is this:
Children mirror their parents’ behaviour.
A child who skips breakfast often has a parent who skips breakfast too.

Instead of repeating “Eat your vegetables! They’re good for you!”, try involving your children in the farm-to-table journey. This is the essence of food education.

What Is Food Education?

Food education teaches both children and parents to understand food from its origin to its final preparation. It covers:

• Where food comes from

• How food is processed

• Cooking skills

• Reading food labels

• Nutrition basics

• Food safety

• How food relates to health and disease

Different countries emphasize different aspects.

• Japan focuses on traditional ingredients and balanced meals.

• France emphasizes sensory awareness and food appreciation.

• Taiwan highlights parent-child food experiences.

But everywhere, the goal is the same:
To help children build healthy eating habits from an early age.

Why Is Food Education Important in Malaysia?

Childhood obesity in Malaysia has been rising for years, and chronic diseases are affecting younger and younger people. When you look around, how many of your family and friends actually practice a balanced diet?

If food education starts young, Malaysia could drastically reduce future healthcare costs — simply because the population becomes more health-literate.

Globally, experts agree that food education includes every stage of food:
production → purchasing → cooking → eating → digestion → waste recycling.

Core Components of Food Education

1. Nutritious Meals in Schools

After World War II, Japan started school lunches because many children could not afford lunch boxes. Over time, meals improved with the addition of milk, eggs, bread, and balanced ingredients. Nutritionists reviewed menus regularly — teaching children to appreciate food and eat mindfully.

2. Farm and Processing-Plant Visits

In Taiwan, parent-child food education camps are popular. Families visit farms, plant vegetables, harvest them, wash, chop, and cook together. After this experience, children naturally appreciate vegetables more.

Malaysia has similar programs, but participation is often low because parents are busy or unaware.

Malaysia’s Food Education Landscape

There have been many government initiatives — nutritious school meal programs, school gardens, milk programs, and restrictions on snack sales. Unfortunately, most were underfunded, poorly enforced, or short-lived.

Even private companies have tried supporting food education, but many programs failed because they were used merely as PR tools instead of sustainable, child-focused initiatives.

In 2018, the Ministry of Education banned 13 categories of unhealthy food from canteens. But definitions remain vague. For example:

• Traditional fish balls (high in protein and DHA) are categorized the same as cheap processed fish snacks.

• Sugary foods are banned, yet sugary chocolate drinks remain allowed.

These inconsistencies weaken the overall effectiveness of the policy.

Why Is Food Education Difficult to Implement?

1. Cost

A balanced, nutritious lunchbox can cost at least RM5. But many parents only want to pay RM2. How can canteen operators meet nutrition standards under such constraints?

2. Role Modelling

Children eat nutritious meals at school, but teachers and parents themselves choose fried noodles and sweetened drinks. If adults do not model healthy eating, children won’t follow.

3. Bureaucracy

Food education involves both the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health. The complexity discourages schools from taking action.

Final Thoughts

Food education is more than teaching children to “eat vegetables”. It is a holistic system involving schools, parents, farmers, government bodies, and food operators.

By taking children to farms, food factories, and involving them in cooking, we can reconnect them with their food source. With collaboration and consistency, Malaysia can build a sustainable, impactful food education ecosystem — and shape a healthier future generation.