Abstract
Fifty years have passed since the Japanese School Lunch Law was established in 1954. At this turning point, the central education council proposed a new system to introduce school dietetics teacher.
Unfavorable dietary habits and sedentary lifestyle have been increasing dramatically among the children. It has been demonstrated that the dietary habits will have an effect on life style related diseases on the future life. Nutrition education is, therefore, essential for school children since the quality of nutrition has a direct impact on their growth and development as well as on their nutritional status throughout their life. In response to this, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has strengthened food related guidance in connection with school lunch covering as much as 88%of school children.
The role of the dietetics teachers, who are covering the primary health and nutrition care in school, is to teach how to obtain healthy life and eating behaviors. They are also required to act as educational leaders with special knowledge in nutrition. Furthermore, the teachers who are in the field of nutrition are expected to work as intermediaries between parents, their colleagues in other fields, and health related institutions. They are also expected to play a key role in leading children towards better health administration and improvement in their healthy life style.
