Kerupuk Protein Ikan Kembung: Alternatif Cemilan Sehat Anti Stunting Berbasis Edukasi Komunitas di Gampong Lam Asan, Aceh Besar

Abstract

Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem affecting children's growth, with Lam Asan Village reporting a prevalence of around 20% among toddlers due to low animal-protein intake and limited innovation in nutritious food processing. This community program aimed to improve nutrition knowledge and enhance skills in processing local protein sources by developing mackerel-based protein crackers as a child-friendly, healthy snack. Activities included nutrition education, production training, hands-on practice, a product creation competition, and evaluation using pre- and post-tests and production-skill questionnaires. Results showed a 50.3% increase in nutrition knowledge (from 58.3 to 87.6) and an improvement in production skills (from 3.1 to 4.6). The crackers were acceptable, child-friendly, and feasible for home-based micro-enterprise development. The program effectively strengthened nutrition literacy, food-innovation skills, and family economic potential. Sustainability efforts will focus on product legality, micro-enterprise strengthening, and expanding multi-sector partnerships.