Almost all food education in junior high school is taught during the dietary life classes of the home economics education. However, since there are so few of these classes, it cannot be said that the present program is enough for junior high school students. Therefore, new proposals have incorporated food education into the child care area of the home economics education. These learning activities involve the study of infantile eating habits, creation of picture-books for small children learning about food, and cooking with small children. Before and after the classes, a questionnaire concerning eating habits and student consciousness of these habits was performed. The results demonstrated the impact of food education on a part of students. It is necessary to examine the effective course content on more children.

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We investigated the current state and awareness of dietary habits among participants at events to promote dietary education held in the community and at a school festival. The 147 participants in the community event were divided into 45 males and 102 females to make comparisons between the groups. As a result, the proportions of those desiring better dietary habits were 66.7 and 87.3% in the male and female participants, respectively, and the proportions of those not desiring changes in their dietary habits were 24.4 and 6.9%, respectively, suggesting significant differences (p<0.01). The proportion of those trying to promote knowledge about nutrition and diet was significantly higher in the female (87.3%) compared to male (60.9%) participants (p<0.001). The proportion of those regularly referring to nutritional information was significantly higher in the female (20.6%) compared to male (0%) participants (p<0.001). In terms of sources of information on nutrition and diet, the proportions of those utilizing the TV and magazines were significantly higher in the female (55.6 and 36.7%, respectively) compared to male (33.3 and 14.8%, respectively) participants (p<0.05, respectively). The proportions of those whose families served as source of information were 51.9 and 17.8% in the male and female participants, respectively, suggesting a significant difference (p<0.001).
On the other hand, as a result of comparing the male (n＝66) and female (n＝103) participants at the university festival, the proportion of those trying to promote knowledge about nutrition and diet was significantly higher in the female (67.6%) compared to male (52.2%) participants (p<0.05), and the proportions of those in whom school served as source of information on nutrition and diet were 6.3 and 52.8%, respectively, suggesting a significant difference (p<0.001).
Based on the above-mentioned gender differences in attitude toward dietary habits according to the event, it is necessary to consider the contents of events to promote dietary education.

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Raising the awareness of food education among students who aspire to become teachers is thought to promote its effectiveness. This study analyses the responses of a questionnaire survey on food education awareness conducted on university students.
From November to December 2012, anonymous self-administered questionnaires were handed to 128 students at University O in Osaka. The questionnaire covered items related to both the respondents’ basic attributes and the degree to which they aspire to become teachers, as well as their food awareness, food education, and awareness of nutrition teachers. The students who responded that they “know the term ‘food education’ and understand its definition” were able to comprehend the objectives of food education and considered the disposition of nutrition teachers was an important subject in school. However, many of the students responded that they do not know how to teach food-related materials. Therefore, we believe that food education should be done in collaboration with nutrition teachers during teaching practice.

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