2022 Volume 32 Issue 4 Pages 207-215
Poverty notably persists in Japan especially among families with children and single parents. The number of food banks has strikingly increased in the last two decades in Japan, and they provide free grocery items to those households with hardships through food pantries. This study aims to examine the impacts of food distribution through food pantries on clients with children in Tokyo regarding dietary habits and attitudes.
A survey using a self-administered questionnaire was undertaken among the clients of four food pantries organized by Second Harvest Japan from January to February 2020. Datasets from 194 participants out of 241 were analyzed. The Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to analyze the answers.
The clients with children had an increased frequency of family meals, and opportunities to eat together with others. The parents observed their children skipped breakfast less frequently, and started eating items which they had not eaten before. The children increasingly showed enjoyment towards meals. These families had a tendency to use food pantries longer than other clients.
This study suggested that food pantry-based intervention could serve as a focal point where children in user households could receive positive impacts on their eating habits and attitudes.
