幼稚園における持参弁当を介した親に対する食育

抄録

This study investigated whether bento lunch boxes could be used as a means to provide food education to kindergarteners’ parents. At a private kindergarten in Tokyo where the students bring their own bento to school, we photographed their bento and analyzed the contents according to the different food groups in the food guide pyramid. We also surveyed mothers about the bento they prepare. We found inconsistencies between the survey results and the bento contents. Even though many of the mothers were interested and took care in bento preparation, they found it difficult to know what ingredients to use and how much food to prepare, and often relied on visual cues to determine the amount of different food items to use. Based on these findings, we created and distributed a leaflet presenting visual images of bento contents in the correct proportions for lunch as set out in the Japanese food guide spinning top. By using this leaflet, or a poster version of it, as educational material, it would be easy for mothers to decide approximately “how much” and “what” to prepare for their children’s lunch. Our study suggests that, with the use of a similar method, food education can be provided in the absence of a school nutritionist. Considering that it often facilitates communication, bento can be put to practical use as a teaching material to educate children and their parents about food.