Abstract
We conducted a questionnaire survey on the dietary pattern and awareness of staple foods, main dishes and side dishes. The subjects were 284 elementary school students, 278 middle school students and 269 university students, and comparison was made between types of schools.
(1) Those whose breakfast had “no supplementary dishes” comprised 30-40%. The ratio of students without breakfast was 2. 5-16.4%, and there was a tendency to not eat breakfast with the increase of age.
(2) For dinner, more than 50% of middle school and university females said they had “mostly supplementary dishes”, and a tendency to eat less staple foods was shown. About 50% of males said they had “mostly main dishes”, and a tendency to place emphasis on main dishes was shown.
(3) The degree of recognition and understanding of staple foods, main dishes and side dishes increased with the developmental stage.
(4) As a well-balanced diet, about 50% in middle school and about 30% in university acknowledged that “staple foods and supplementary dishes should be eaten equally”, while about 30% were aware of “more side dishes than main dishes”.
(5) Additionally, the students who were aware of both standards averaged about 12% in middle school and university, while whose dietary pattern for dinner fulfilled both averaged 4.3% in all types of schools.
(6) Those conscious of combining staple foods, main dishes and side dishes were about 20% of both middle school and university students.
(7) The need for dietary education regarding the amount of food consumption was suggested in all types of schools.
