The principal of Umejima Elementary School in Tokyo, Atsushi Ebara, discusses the school's lunch program, kyushoku, which aims to teach students the importance of healthy eating and appreciation for local food culture. The program involves students from grade 1 to 6 preparing and serving food, with the teachers assisting in grades 1 and 2. By grade 6, students are able to handle everything on their own.
The school's lunch program is managed by Rie Kuwabara, the school nutritionist, who oversees a staff of 13 people. The school serves 634 children, but with the help of staff, they manage to prepare 690 meals. The food is sourced from all over Japan, but primarily from the Kanto and Shikoku areas. The menu is planned a month in advance, taking into account seasonal availability, special events, and nutritional balance.
The school also offers a dessert on special occasions, such as birthdays, and uses fruits to mark the change in seasons. The school's lunch program is not unique or special, and is similar to other public schools in Japan. The school's lunch program is not just for the wealthy; the city of Adachi has a social welfare system that provides fees for low-income households.
The school's lunch program is part of a broader initiative in Adachi city to combat obesity and diabetes. The city has an Oishi Kyushoku (tasty school lunch program) and once a month, nutritionists from the 104 schools in the city meet to exchange ideas and menu plans. Parents and children are also involved in the process, designing their own bentos at home and having them included in the kyushoku menu.
Despite the challenges, the principal finds it rewarding when students react positively to the food, indicating that they have learned to appreciate and enjoy different types of food.
1. Atsushi Ebara is the principal of Umejima Elementary School in Adachi-ku, Tokyo.
2. The school lunch program (kyushoku) is designed to teach students the importance of eating healthily and experiencing their own food culture.
3. The program also aims to appreciate the hard work of many people involved in making kyushoku, from farmers to kitchen staff.
4. All homeroom teachers eat with their students in the classroom.
5. As a principal, Ebara eats and checks the food before it's served to the children.
6. Rie Kuwabara is the school nutritionist.
7. There are 13 people working on the school's lunch, including Kuwabara.
8. The school serves 690 meals in total, with 634 children in the school.
9. The school's lunch includes food from all over, but primarily domestic vegetables from the Kanto and Shikoku areas.
10. The school introduces food from Kochi prefecture, including ginger chicken and guruni (stew).
11. The school buys local ingredients, which are delivered and cooked in-house.
12. The school has a work experience program where 8th graders visit a farm to learn about food production.
13. The school's lunch menu is planned one month in advance, considering what vegetables are in season, event food, and nutritional targets.
14. The school tries to avoid using meat for several days in a row to rotate ingredients.
15. The school offers dessert on special occasions, using fruits to mark the change in seasons.
16. The school has birthday lunches where each child gets jelly for their special dessert.
17. The school does not cook the same menu item more than once a month.
18. The school's lunch is not special and is like any other public school in Japan.
19. The school's lunch program is not exclusive to wealthy families.
20. The school's lunch program is part of a social welfare system in Japan that provides fees for low-income households.
21. The school's lunch program is part of a larger initiative in Adachi city to educate kids on the importance of healthy habits through eating and enjoying tasty food.
22. Once a month, there's an Oishi Kyushoku meeting where nutritionists from the 104 schools in Adachi city attend to exchange ideas and menu plans.
23. As part of their summer homework, parents and children design their own bentos at home, and the best ones are included in the kyushoku menu.
24. The community is invited to come and eat the chosen menus together.
25. The school's lunch program is appreciated by the children and their parents, who find the food tasty and are able to eat food they previously didn't like.