Penyuluhan Pengolahan Produk Inovatif Alami Tinggi Nutrisi dari Daun Kelor (Moringa oleifera L.) Untuk Pemeliharaan Kesehatan di Lembur Situ Kabupaten Ciamis

Introduction Moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera L.) are a vegetable with a very high nutritional content, including vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds such as polyphenols that act as antioxidants. These nutritional benefits make moringa leaves very beneficial in supporting health and growth, especially in children who are in the developmental phase. Stunting, which is a condition of failure to grow in children due to chronic malnutrition, is a serious public health problem. Therefore, the use of moringa leaves as part of children's diets is expected to help prevent stunting. Objective The objective of this outreach program is to provide a comprehensive understanding to the community about the benefits of moringa leaves in maintaining children's health, particularly in the prevention of stunting. By increasing community knowledge about the importance of a balanced diet, it is hoped that they can become more aware of the role of nutritious food in child growth and development. Methods Outreach was conducted using a lecture method involving interaction between the outreach worker and participants. The material presented included: Explaining what stunting is, its impact on child growth and development, and its contributing factors such as lack of nutritional intake and maternal health. Describing the nutritional content of moringa leaves, such as vitamins A, C, and minerals like calcium and iron, as well as bioactive compounds that can help boost the immune system and support child growth. Participants were invited to watch a video tutorial on making moringa leaf pudding from YouTube together. In this session, they witnessed the steps of making pudding, from selecting fresh moringa leaves, processing the leaves into powder, to the steps of mixing ingredients and cooking. And inviting participants to discuss and ask questions, so they can better understand the practical application of the information provided. Results The results of the outreach program showed an increase in participants' knowledge about stunting, its contributing factors, and the health benefits of moringa leaves. Most participants admitted that they were previously unaware of the importance of moringa leaves as a source of nutrition. After the outreach, participants seemed more enthusiastic about trying to incorporate moringa leaves into their daily meals. There were also some participants who shared their experiences after starting to include moringa leaves in their family's diet. Conclusion Outreach on the utilization of moringa leaves to prevent stunting successfully increased community awareness and knowledge about the importance of nutrition in child growth. With a better understanding of the benefits and how to process moringa leaves, it is hoped that the community can integrate it into their daily diets. This will not only help prevent stunting, but also improve overall health. Through this effort, it is hoped that future generations can grow optimally and healthily.