The number of school-age adolescent girls in Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi, still faces serious challenges related to nutritional problems such as anemia and chronic energy deficiency (SEZ). Low nutritional literacy and unbalanced food consumption habits also worsen their nutritional status, especially during puberty when nutritional needs increase significantly. This service activity aims to increase the understanding and awareness of young women on the principles of balanced nutrition through a participatory educational approach. The implementation of the activity was carried out at SMP Negeri 2 Bunta, Simpang Raya District, involving 30 students in grades VII and VIII as well as UKS supervisory teachers. The intervention included providing material on "Fill My Plate", the 4 pillars of balanced nutrition, and the risk of nutritional disorders in adolescents. The material was delivered in the form of interactive counseling using leaflet media, accompanied by knowledge measurement through pre-test, post-test, and one-week post-activity evaluation. The results of the activity showed a significant increase in students' understanding of the principles of balanced nutrition, with the knowledge score of the good category increasing from 40% to 87%. Most of the participants were able to mention the composition of the meal portion, the importance of breakfast, restrictions on fast food consumption, and the need to drink enough water every day. This activity also has an impact on increasing the capacity of teachers in assisting and monitoring the health status of students through the UKS program. Teachers become more active in conducting periodic counseling and recording the nutritional development of female students on a regular basis. School-based balanced nutrition counseling has been proven to be effective in improving adolescent nutritional literacy. This educational model can be replicated in other regions with cross-sectoral support such as education offices, health centers, and village governments, to support the achievement of sustainable development goals in the health sector.

The nutritional awareness of pregnant women in the Simpang Raya Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in Banggai Regency is still relatively low, necessitating educational efforts to increase their understanding of the importance of balanced nutrition during pregnancy. This community service activity aims to improve the knowledge of pregnant women through participatory and educational nutrition counseling held for one week in the Puskesmas hall. The methods used included interactive lectures, group discussions, and healthy menu preparation simulations, supported by leaflets adapted to the local context. A total of 40 pregnant women from various trimesters of pregnancy participated in the activity and were assessed using pre- and post-test instruments. The results of the activity showed a significant increase in participant knowledge, from 43% in the "good" category before the activity to 78% after the counseling. Most participants were able to understand the basic principles of balanced nutrition, identify food sources of important nutrients such as iron and folic acid, and prepare daily menus according to Ministry of Health guidelines. This improvement indicates that visual and interactive information delivery is easier for participants to understand, especially those with lower educational backgrounds. Furthermore, this activity also serves as a means of empowering pregnant women to be more active in maintaining their own and their fetus' health by choosing nutritious foods. Therefore, it is crucial for health workers at community health centers (Puskesmas) and integrated health post (Posyandu) cadres to continue this educational program on an ongoing basis. Structured, communicative, and participatory nutrition education is effective in increasing pregnant women's understanding and can be replicated periodically at other Posyandus (Integrated Health Posts) to support stunting prevention efforts and improve maternal and child health.