Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a vegetable growing activity in a kindergarten in improving picky eating habits among preschoolers.Methods: This 10-month longitudinal study was conducted in five kindergartens in Hokkaido. Three kindergartens participated in the vegetable growing activity (241 preschoolers; experimental group), while two did not (138 preschoolers; control group). Tomatoes were cultivated. The preschool-ers＇ mothers provided ratings on a questionnaire before cultivation, after harvesting and six months after harvesting (follow-up). The main outcome investigated was picky eating habits; secondary outcomes were preference for tomato and interest in food and eating. In each group, changes in the answers to these questions were observed, and between-group comparisons were performed on the percentage of preschoolers who had improved picky eating habits.Results: In the experimental group, the percentage of picky eaters decreased significantly after harvesting and follow-up. However, in the control group, the percentage of picky eaters did not change significantly. After harvesting and follow-up, the percentage of preschoolers in the experimental group whose picky eating habits had improved was significantly higher than that of preschoolers in the control group. Furthermore, in the experimental group, the percentage of preschoolers who liked tomatoes, who talked to their mothers happily about vegetables, and who expressed regret for wasting food increased significantly after harvesting or follow-up. However, in the control group, these percentages did not change significantly. Conclusion:Activities involving growing vegetables such as tomatoes in kindergartens may be beneficial for preschoolers with picky eating habits.Jpn. J. Nutr. Diet., 74 (1) 20～28 (2016)

Objective This study investigates whether the working status of mothers results in an unbalanced diet no acceptance of disliked foods of their preschool children, and the relationship of the preschool children s unbalanced diet and its relevant factors.Methods This cross sectional study was conducted using the responses of 1,145 mothers at 15 public kindergartens in a suburban city located in the Kanto region. A self rating questionnaire examined mother s age and working, child s age and gender, the unbalanced diet of mother and their child, and eating education provided to child.Results The unbalanced diet of children were not associated with the working status of their mothers. Among non working mothers, the causal factors of the unbalanced diet of their children were classified as the unbalanced diet of the mother, neglecting to instruct child not to waste food, not giving to child s meal child disagreeable foods or weak foods. Among working mothers, not engaging their child to help in the preparation of meals was the most prominent cause of children s diet unbalances.Conclusion It was suggested that although the working status of mothers has no direct effect on the unbalanced diet of their childrens, differences in the factors relating to the unbalanced diet of their childrens depend on whether the mother is employed or unemployed.