Kendal, September 16, 2025 — In an effort to raise public awareness about the importance of balanced nutrition for children’s growth and development, the SDGs Student Group of the Department of Government Studies, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Diponegoro (Undip), held a seminar and workshop titled “Preventing Stunting through Fish-Based Dietary Fulfillment.” The event, organized in collaboration with the Central Java Provincial Office of BKKBN, took place on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at the Bandengan Village Office, Kendal Subdistrict, Kendal Regency. It involved local residents, posyandu (community health post) cadres, and representatives from regional health institutions.

This activity focused on empowering the community through improving nutritional literacy and promoting the use of local fish as a nutrient-rich food source to prevent childhood stunting. The theme was chosen because fish, abundantly available in the coastal area of Bandengan, are a vital source of animal protein that supports children’s optimal growth.

The event consisted of two sessions. The first session featured a seminar discussing the main causes of stunting and preventive measures through the adoption of balanced nutrition from an early age. Siti Fatonah, S.Gz., M.Gz., RD, a representative from the Indonesian Nutritionists Association (PERSAGI) Kendal, emphasized that stunting is not merely a matter of a child’s height and weight, but also significantly affects brain development and future productivity.

The second session was a hands-on workshop on preparing fish-based complementary foods (MPASI), led by Sugini from PERSAGI Kendal. During this session, participants practiced making dimsum and steamed dumplings using locally sourced fish products as the main ingredients.

Through this program, the community is expected to gain a better understanding of the importance of nutritious diets based on local food resources. As a practical takeaway, participants were provided with vegetables, tofu, and fish to encourage the immediate application of the knowledge shared during the seminar and workshop.

Writer:
SAGITA Program Publication Team