Effects of a dietary education program on problems in eating habits among education majors

Abstract

　This study was carried out (i) to reveal problems in the awareness of eating habits among college students majoring in education, using the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top; and (ii) to assess the changes in awareness among the students after undertaking a proposed dietary education program. A survey incorporating the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top revealed that the daily dietary intake of the students was inadequate with the exception of their intake from the fish and meat group, which includes meat, fish, egg, and soybean dishes. Given the intake of between-meal snacks, the number of servings was calculated. We found that in terms of energy intake, snacking influenced intake of staple foods i.e., the grain group, which includes rice, bread, noodles, and pasta. Then, we offered the students a dietary education program on the staple diet. After participating in the program, the students scored higher in all areas of knowledge of the staple diet. They retained this knowledge 6months later. Therefore, we suggested that the dietary education program is effective in increasing knowledge and awareness of the staple diet and between-meal snacks.