Abstract
We evaluated the influence of household composition on diets for the elderly. Households composed of only a married couple were most frequently observed, followed in order by 3-generation households and one-person households. A questionnaire survey showed the highest degree of satisfaction with meals in households composed of only a married couple. However, a dietary survey showed insufficiency based on the standard dietary intake values in one-person households and households composed of only a married couple. In 3-generation households, the elderly members were dissatisfied due to the “absence of favorite dishes” whereas family members who cooked placed the greatest importance on “cooking favorite dishes”. These results suggest difficulties in satisfying the tastes of family members over different generations. The elderly in one-person households were dissatisfied with the lack of talking between family members, suggesting the importance of talking during meals.
