We studied dietary habits and behaviors of women in the urban, agricultural and fishing communities in Tohoku Area —northern part of the Honshu Island— in Japan by classifying the families into two types: the nuclear families (1, 006 subjects) and the extended families (1, 147 subjects). The results obtained are as follows.
1) The frequency of meals taken together with other family members was higher for evening meals in the extended families. In more than 80% of the families surveyed the same main and side dishes were served to all the family members, but there was a higher incidence of serving different side dishes to family members in the extended families.
2) The frequency of meals taken outside or ordered from outside was significantly higher in the nuclear families. Major reason for ordering meals from outside was that they had guests. This was particularly so for the extended families.
3) Most respondents answered that they hardly skipped meals, and this was particularly notable among extended families. The reasons given for skipping meals were that there was not enough time and that they had no appetite, which were more prevalent among nuclear families. The extended families often gave the reason that it was out of habit.
4) Frequencies of serving boiled rice, Miso-bean soup and pickled vegetables were significantly higher in extended families, particularly in agricultural and fishing communities.
5) Meat was served more often in nuclear families, processed fish meat was served more often in extended families, particularly in agricultural area.
6) Frequency of serving vegetables was somewhat higher in extended families. The cooking techniques employed by nuclear families with higher significance were serving raw or stir-frying, while that employed by extended families was boil.
7) The dietary habit and behavior of nuclear families were contemporary on the whole, while those of extended families were more conservative. The same tendency was observed in the three areas, although the difference between two types of families was negligible in urban areas and the tendency was more conservative in the agricultural area.
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