Promoting Dietary Education through School Lunch Programs in Japanese Schools

1. Promoting Dietary Educationthrough School Lunch Programsin Japanese Schools Masahiro Oji Director of School Health Education Division Workshop on School Feeding System In APEC Economies 28-29 June 2012

2. School lunch programs MEXT（２０１０　statistics）

3. School lunch by type Milk Side dishes Side dishes Bread or rice Partial meal Milk only Full meal 0.9% 2.9% 90.4% (as of 2010)

4. History of School lunch in Japan • Japan’s first school lunch 1946 Milk distribution program by UNICEF and other organization 1947 Lunches for 2.9 million children (city) • School lunch (all over Japan) • “School Lunch Act” enacted • “Diet and Nutrition Teacher System” launched “ Dietary education Basic Act” enacted

5. Laws of Regulations of School lunch system • Dietary Education Basic Act • School Lunch Act ・Standards (Nutritional Standards) ・ Hygiene Management Standards • The Courses of Study (National Standards of Education in Japan)

6. School lunch costs Facilities Cooks Guardian Municipalities Food ingredients

7. Areas for school lunch preparation Prepare lunches for multiple schools Internal lunch preparation 43.1% Schools operate kitchens External lunch preparation 54.8% Independent kitchen facilities Other 2.1% (as of 2010)

8. “School Lunch Act”revised(2008) In 2008 The School Lunch Act was revised to changed focus Improving dietary habits Promoting dietary education

9. Diet and nutrition teachers In 2005 the “Diet and Nutrition Teacher System” was launched Role of the diet and nutrition teachers • Formulating menus and ensuring hygiene standards for school lunches. • 2 Providing extensive instruction on food in class, as well as homeroom activities.

10. Diet and nutrition teachers In 2005 the “Diet and Nutrition Teacher System” was launched Role of the diet and nutrition teachers 3 Coordinating and liaising so as to enhance relation between the school and faculty, families and the community, with regard to dietary education. 4 Providing individual guidance for children and families on obesity, picky eating, and food allergies.

11. Diet and nutrition teachers Learning during lunch time (elementary school)

12. Diet and nutrition teachers Knowledge-based learning (middle school)

13. Diet and nutrition teachers hands-on learning (cooking activities –child-)

14. Diet and nutrition teachers advise for parents (cooking activities –parents and child-)

15. The Number of Diet and nutrition teachers has been increasing and more 2012 4,262 2005 34 2006 359 School Dietitian about 8,000 School Cooks about 61,000

16. fostering a sense of connection with the community and appreciation for food Incorporate locally-produced ingredientsinto school lunches Local farmers School lunch Local-produced ingredients

17. Hands on learning with local farmers rice cultivation (with local farmers)

18. Dietary Education through school lunch programs School and faculty Healthy minds and bodies Improving focus in class Richness of mind community families