A NUTRITION EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE PREPARATION OF IRON-RICH NUGGETS AMONG FEMALE TEENAGERS AT DHARMA KARYA MIDDLE SCHOOL, BERINGIN SUBDISTRICT, DELI SERDANG REGENCY, IN 2026

Abstract

This community service activity, titled “Nutrition Education Campaign Through the Preparation of Iron-Rich Nuggets for Adolescent Girls at Dharma Karya Junior High School in Beringin Subdistrict, Deli Serdang Regency, in 2026,” was carried out as an effort to address the issues of low nutritional knowledge and high risk of anemia among adolescent girls due to low iron intake and an unbalanced diet. The activity was carried out in two main phases: an outreach/education phase covering the definition, benefits, and nutritional content of iron-rich food sources (oyster mushrooms, beets, and catfish); and a training and demonstration phase on making nuggets using a combination of these three ingredients as an iron-rich food product that is easily accepted by adolescents. The activity began with a pre-test and concluded with a post-test to measure the participants’ knowledge gain. The results showed an increase in the students’ knowledge of anemia, iron, and food processing skills when comparing the pre-test and post-test results. Participants were also able to independently practice the steps for making nuggets combining beets, oyster mushrooms, and catfish flour in the work groups that had been formed.