Evaluation of a Program Aiming to Improve Breakfast Intake Habits in Early Childhood: The Shokuiku Program

Abstract

The present study examined the Shokuiku program, which aimed to improve the breakfast intake habits of preschool children.

Thirty-two children (16 boys and 16 girls) were included in the analysis. We conducted the breakfast sheet survey (the 1st survey) on June 4-8, 2018, and presented a lecture on Shokuiku education on June 15. In addition, we conducted a survey (the 2nd survey) on June 18-22. We categorized foods into five groups (Grain dishes [yellow], Vegetable dishes [green], Fish and Meat dishes [red], Milk and Milk products [blue], and Fruit [orange]). These five groups were listed in a table on the breakfast sheet. Each morning, the children placed stickers that matched the breakfast food group that they ate in a table on their breakfast sheet.

At the time of 2nd survey, the rate of skipping breakfast, the number of stickers per food groups, and the relationship between the number of stickers applied between food groups showed an improvement in comparison to the 1st survey.

These findings suggest that this was due to the effects of the Shokuiku program. Since nutritional education for parents was limited to a letter and medals made by the children, in the future, it will be necessary to continue to support not only the children but also their parents.