Awareness of Eating Habits Among Mothers and Infants and Secular Distortion

Abstract

We conducted an awareness survey of kindergartners and nursery school children in the same age group and their guardians regarding eating habits in order to obtain fundamental information for planning effective dietary education. The changes of awareness survey for kindergartners and guardians was considered over a period of 1 year. The following facts were elucidated :

(1) The results of the awareness survey showed almost no change from the previous year in awareness of eating in kindergartners and their guardians ; current dietary education was thus judged to be largely ineffective. (2) The results of the awareness survey conducted on kindergartners and nursery school children in the same age group regarding eating habits demonstrated that, although nursery school children and their guardians had a higher level of diet awareness than kindergartners and their guardians, restrictions due to guardians’ working hours or both guardians working made it difficult for them to act in accordance with this awareness. (3) Drawings of meal-time scenes including peaceful meal-time scenes, meal times with siblings or eating alone by kindergartners were used to clarify the conditions of communal eating at home. These findings also suggested a lack of efficacy of dietary education in kindergartners and their guardians. (4) Comprehensive evaluation based on the Food Balance Guide of the meals consumed in one day by kindergartners indicated poor food balance and insufficient volume.