Abstract
In 2015 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, we investigated the menus created by private day nurseries and kindergartens in order to analyse the menus and clarify the frequency of providing local specialties by these facilities. We collected and analysed the menus from 17 facilities and analysed the data. The results demonstrated that the most frequent staple food was “rice” while showing a disparity in cooking method and provision of main and side dishes. Day nurseries and kindergartens demonstrated low rates for providing local specialties (0.21 and 0.41%, respectively), and the numbers of types of provided local specialties were also low (3 types and 2 types for day nurseries and kindergartens, respectively). In addition, the frequency of providing local specialties was extremely low, namely, day nurseries were less than once in 3 months and kindergartens were less than once a month. The results of our study suggest that local specialties are infrequently provided by day nurseries and kindergartens demonstrate that infants have limited opportunities to eat such food.
