Ryukyu University and the Naha City Board of Education started a "food education study" in June 20 to conduct food education classes for 2017 elementary schools in Naha city.
According to a health survey of children in Okinawa, obesity and tooth rate (dental defects in which tooth enamel is dissolved by acid produced by bacteria) are high in the whole country, and vegetable intake is low from dietary surveys. Excessive salt intake has become a problem.
Therefore, the "Food Education Study" is aimed at parents who have agreed to participate with about 20 children from 3,500 elementary schools in Naha City, with the aim of preventing obesity and rodents in children in order to realize longevity regeneration in Okinawa. In addition, we will educate ourselves at home and school for a year and verify whether we eat a healthy diet.
In the dietary education class, we will take up the excess or deficiency nutrients of Okinawa children, such as salt (excess), calcium (deficiency), dietary fiber (deficiency), vitamins (deficiency), energy (excess), dental knowledge (deficiency), etc. ..In addition, from the analysis results of the previous study (Yaese-cho Shokuiku Study), it was found that sufficient nutritional knowledge of children and parents is related to the healthy eating of children, and that there is abundant conversation at home. Since it is known that it is related to the level of nutritional knowledge, we will also use the "Food Education Quiz", which was newly developed based on this previous research and is conducted by children and parents at home.
This "food education study" is scheduled to be held until March 2018, and it is expected that improving the nutritional knowledge of children and parents will lead to improved health behavior and lead to the revitalization of Okinawa's longevity.