The aim of this study was to examine awareness, issues, and solutions regarding provision of snacks during after-school care, through a questionnaire survey with 59 after-school facility teachers and 252 households using after-school care. The results were as follows. (1) Over 90% of respondents were positive about provision of snacks ; (2) It was recognized that the psychological functions of snack provision, such as providing a break or relieving hunger, were more important than the functions of nutrition and dietary education ; (3) Teachers raised nutrition/dietary education and social aspects as issues they recognized in the provision of snacks ; (4) Improved training for teachers on nutrition and hygiene management together with establishment of opportunities to make snacks with children were suggested as effective methods to resolve issues around the provision of snacks.

本論文の目的は、トマト栽培に焦点を当て、幼児の家庭菜園経験（自宅で育てたトマトを食べた経験）と野菜嗜好や食に関する興味/関心との関連について明らかにすることである。2012年5月に札幌市内の6か所の幼稚園において、幼稚園に入園したばかりの年少児448名の母親を対象に無記名自己記入式アンケート調査を実施した。調査項目は属性、家庭菜園経験、トマト嗜好、トマト摂取行動、食に関する興味/関心とした。家庭菜園経験の有無により2群化し、フィッシャーの直接法を用いて比較した。その結果、家庭菜園経験がある幼児はない幼児と比較して、トマトを好きな幼児（p＝0.001）、トマトを残さず食べる幼児（p<0.001）、食事やおやつにトマトをリクエストする幼児（p＝0.004）、食事作りを手伝う幼児（p＝0.043）の割合が有意に高かった。これらのことから、幼稚園に入園したばかりの幼児の家庭菜園経験は彼らのトマト嗜好や食に関する興味/関心と関連することが示唆された。

The present survey aimed to examine the status of dietary education implemented by preschools in Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi Prefectures, as well as problems faced by them.

More than 50% of the preschools, particularly those in Fukushima Prefecture, continued to measure the concentrations of radioactive substances contained in food five years after the Great East Japan Earthquake or later. Although there was an increase (from 22.1 to 73.2%) in the rate of preschools that provide opportunities for “cultivation and harvest” as several years had passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, the rate of preschoolers living in the prefecture who experienced them was still markedly low. According to the results, 75.4% of the preschools had food in stock in the event of emergency situations, although there were significant differences among the three prefectures stricken by the earthquake : 59.5, 73.5, and 86.7% for Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi Prefectures, respectively.

The present study provides valuable knowledge to promote dietary education for children. Dietary education in early childhood is designed to help children develop appropriate and desired dietary and nutrition habits, and become good-natured persons who are healthy both physically and psychologically. Support should be provided to further facilitate such education.