Abstract

School-aged children are vulnerable to nutritional problems due to inadequate knowledge of balanced nutrition principles. Interactive nutrition education is essential to establish healthy eating habits from an early age. This community service program aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of balanced nutrition education through the My Plate (Isi Piringku) demonstration in improving the nutritional knowledge of students at MIT Daarun Na'im, Wayame Village, Ambon City. The activity was conducted on June 9, 2026, involving 41 elementary school students. The intervention consisted of interactive lectures, Isi Piringku demonstrations, hands-on practice, group discussions, and the distribution of educational leaflets. Participants' knowledge was assessed before and after the intervention using a structured questionnaire. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the mean knowledge score from 58.29 ± 11.42 before the intervention to 84.63 ± 8.74 after the intervention, representing an average increase of 26.34. In addition to improved knowledge, students actively participated throughout the educational session. Balanced nutrition education using the Isi Piringku demonstration was effective in improving elementary school students' knowledge of balanced nutrition. This approach is practical for school implementation and has the potential to serve as a sustainable school-based health promotion model through collaboration among schools, health professionals, and parents.