<![CDATA[Latar Belakang: Gizi seimbang penting untuk tumbuh kembang balita. Ketidakseimbangan gizi dapat menyebabkan stunting, wasting, dan menurunkan kualitas hidup anak. WHO mencatat 148,1 juta anak di dunia mengalami stunting, dan 45 juta wasting. Di Indonesia, prevalensi stunting sebesar 15,8% dan gizi kurang 12,9%. Di Desa Sidomulyo, 18% balita mengalami stunting dan 6% wasting. Rendahnya literasi ibu balita membuat edukasi gizi konvensional kurang efektif. Video animasi dipilih sebagai media edukasi karena bersifat visual, menarik, dan mudah dipahami.Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh edukasi gizi seimbang menggunakan video animasi terhadap pengetahuan ibu balita.Metode: Jenis penelitian kuantitatif, rancangan quasy eksperimen desain two group pretest and posttest. Populasi seluruh ibu Balita sebanyak 328 balita dengan sampel 82 dibagi menjadi 2 kelompok yaitu 41 pada kelompok video dan 41 pada kelompok lembar balik menggunakan teknik simple random sampling. Pengumpulan data menggunakan lembar observasi. Analisis data secara univariat dan bivariat.Hasil: Hasil penelitian diketahui rata-rata pengetahuan ibu balita kelompok video animasi sebelum edukasi 74,32 dan sesudah adalah 88,56 sedangkan rata-rata pengetahuan ibu balita kelompok lembar balik sebelum adalah 72,15 dan sesudah adalah 81,00. Ada pengaruh edukasi asupan gizi seimbang dengan video animasi terhadap pengetahuan ibu balita di Desa Sidomulyo Kec.Mesuji Kabupaten Mesuji Tahun 2025 (p-value = 0,000).Kesimpulan: Edukasi gizi seimbang menggunakan video animasi efektif meningkatkan pengetahuan ibu balita.Saran Saran bagi ibu balita rutin menonton media edukasi digital tentang gizi seimbang dan mempraktikkan isi pesan dalam menu harian balita untuk meningkatkan status gizi anak secara berkelanjutan. Kata Kunci: Edukasi Gizi, Ibu Balita, Pengetahuan, Video Animasi ABSTRACT Background: Balanced nutrition is crucial for the growth and development of toddlers. Poor nutritional balance can lead to stunting, wasting, and reduced quality of life in children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 148.1 million children worldwide experience stunting, and 45 million suffer from wasting. In Indonesia, the prevalence of stunting is 15.8% and undernutrition is 12.9%. In Sidomulyo Village, 18% of toddlers are stunted, and 6% suffer from wasting. Low maternal health literacy has rendered conventional nutrition education less effective. Animated videos were chosen as an educational medium because they are visual, engaging, and easy to comprehend.Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effect of balanced nutrition education delivered through animated videos on the knowledge of mothers of toddlers.Methods: This quantitative study employed a quasi-experimental design with a two-group pretest–posttest approach. The population comprised 328 mothers of toddlers, with a sample of 82 respondents divided equally into two groups: 41 in the animated video group and 41 in the flipchart group, selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using observation sheets and analyzed using univariate and bivariate methods.Results: The findings revealed that the average knowledge score of mothers in the animated video group increased from 74.32 before education to 88.56 after education, whereas in the flipchart group, it rose from 72.15 to 81.00. Balanced nutrition education using animated videos had a significant effect on improving mothers’ knowledge in Sidomulyo Village, Mesuji District, Mesuji Regency, 2025 (p-value = 0.000).Conclusion: Balanced nutrition education using animated videos effectively increases the knowledge of mothers of toddler.Suggestion: It is recommended that mothers routinely engage with digital educational media on balanced nutrition and apply the information to their toddlers’ daily diets to improve child nutrition sustainably. Keywords: Nutrition education, mothers of toddlers, knowledge, animated videos]]>
