2005 Volume 16 Issue 2 Pages 169-176
A survey was conducted targeted at the parents of kindergarten children attending three kindergartens in the city of Fukuoka serving meals prepared at the school consisting primarily of Japanese style meals (Group A) and the parents of kindergarten children attending kindergartens serving commercially prepared lunches (Group B). Both groups were assessed for differences in intake of nutrients and so forth contained in the meals as well as differences in diet, eating habits and so on, the results of which are summarized below.
1. With respect to differences observed in the lifestyles of the children, 51% of the children in Group A went to bed after 9:00 PM, while 66% of the children in Group B went to bed after 9:00 PM, and this accounted for the largest percentage of children in that group. Thus, a trend was observed in which children tended to go to bed somewhat later in Group B (p<0.01).
2. Those nutrients that did not satisfy daily nutritional target values consisted of energy (93%) lipids (69%), vitamin D (56%) in Group A, and calcium (76%), vitamin D (49%) in Group B.
3. Energy ratios were such that the percentage of energy from protein was 18.1% and that from lipids was 20% and that from carbohydrate was 61.9% in Group A, while that from proteins was 15.4% and that from lipids was 35.3% and that from carbohydrate was 49.3% in Group B. This demonstrated that the percentage of energy from lipids is extremely low in Group A, while the percentage of energy from lipids is extremely high in Group B. The percentage of energy from lipids is extremely high in Group B and the percentage of the energy from lipid has exceeded 30% of maximums of the proper ratio of the lipid of infancy. Prepared Lunches needs to be looked again in group B
4. In Group B in which meals were provided in the form of commercially prepared lunches, it is evident that considerations are being given to nutritional factors due to the use of 30% milled rice and 70% milled rice and the use of a larger amount of fish than Group A. Conversely, at the homes of the children of Group A in which meals were prepared at the school and consisted primarily of Japanese style meals, there were higher frequencies of use of oils, wheat products and eggs as compared with Group B. Consideration of making a meal at a home which the guardian of A and a B group compensates with each supply of food heard.
5. The overall image of the meals services was such that meals were provided in Group A that emphasized a Japanese-style diet consisting mainly of grains, beans, vegetables and kelp, meals were not served that used large amounts of oil such as in deep-fried foods and the like, and were evaluated highly. In addition, the use of frozen foods and processed foods was found to be more common in Group B.
6. Changes in diet that occurred after the children had entered kindergarten consisted of improved eating habits and eating behavior in Group A as compared with Group B, and changes with respect to food in Group A were found to be considerable from the standpoint of providing meals. The supply of food based on Japanese Style Meals Prepared at School is considered to have brought the education effect of a meal to the guardian who makes a meal at home.
