Healthy Kids and Omiyage
(Above: School sports day 2007) Out of 240 some kids at my school, there are maybe four or five kids who you might say are a bit heavy, but there isn’t a single student that you would categorize as obese. I would argue that these results would be the same for 95% of schools in Japan. I think these statistics would be quite different for your average middle school in America. The kids work harder here, and they are required to eat the school lunch, which is wonderfully healthy and balanced. I’m always amazed at not only how hard kids work, but at how ALL the kids are in great shape and physically very healthy. This is an area where I think the US should take a page out of the Japanese book. (Below: your average American physique)
I can just imagine the outrage, however, if kids were all required to eat the same school lunch, the same portions, and had to clean their plates. “What, my child can’t go back for seconds?! What if they’re still hungry?” Then you’ve been feeding them too much. The calories of the school lunch here is calculated exactly for the dietary needs of the kids at this stage in their development. And, yes, they can go back for seconds if there’s food left in the lunch tubs, but only one scoop is granted because other kids might want seconds, too. Also, snacks aren’t allowed at any time. You can only eat at lunchtime. Teachers feel guilty having snacks, and if a snack is needed, it is often quickly and discreetly eaten at a time when no one is looking, and surely when no kids are around. It is customary to bring back omiyage when teachers go on a business or leisure trip somewhere. Omiyage is a small individually wrapped gift, usually foodstuffs, that you bring back for each staff member. For example: a cookie, wafer, rice cracker, chocolate, etc. The omiyage one can find completely varies by region, and it is a good idea to try to find the specific omiyage that is popular in the region. The most famous omiyage is the Tokyo Banana, obviously from Tokyo. (Below)
It has a vanilla/banana cake outside, and a delicious banana custard filling. After every weekend I find 2 or 3 individually wrapped (very important!) treat on my desk from people who actually didn’t go into school that weekend and ventured away. I rather look forward to omiyage now. Anyway, I’ve had these on my desk when a student has come to talk to me and the kids can’t take their eyes off the omiyage! The poor kiddos! (Below: school lunch ready to go in the staff room!)
(Above: School sports day 2007) Out of 240 some kids at my school, there are maybe four or five kids who you might say are a bit heavy, but there isn’t a single student that you would categorize as obese. I would argue that these results would be the same for 95% of schools in Japan. I think these statistics would be quite different for your average middle school in America. The kids work harder here, and they are required to eat the school lunch, which is wonderfully healthy and balanced. I’m always amazed at not only how hard kids work, but at how ALL the kids are in great shape and physically very healthy. This is an area where I think the US should take a page out of the Japanese book. (Below: your average American physique)
I can just imagine the outrage, however, if kids were all required to eat the same school lunch, the same portions, and had to clean their plates. “What, my child can’t go back for seconds?! What if they’re still hungry?” Then you’ve been feeding them too much. The calories of the school lunch here is calculated exactly for the dietary needs of the kids at this stage in their development. And, yes, they can go back for seconds if there’s food left in the lunch tubs, but only one scoop is granted because other kids might want seconds, too. Also, snacks aren’t allowed at any time. You can only eat at lunchtime. Teachers feel guilty having snacks, and if a snack is needed, it is often quickly and discreetly eaten at a time when no one is looking, and surely when no kids are around. It is customary to bring back omiyage when teachers go on a business or leisure trip somewhere. Omiyage is a small individually wrapped gift, usually foodstuffs, that you bring back for each staff member. For example: a cookie, wafer, rice cracker, chocolate, etc. The omiyage one can find completely varies by region, and it is a good idea to try to find the specific omiyage that is popular in the region. The most famous omiyage is the Tokyo Banana, obviously from Tokyo. (Below) It has a vanilla/banana cake outside, and a delicious banana custard filling. After every weekend I find 2 or 3 individually wrapped (very important!) treat on my desk from people who actually didn’t go into school that weekend and ventured away. I rather look forward to omiyage now. Anyway, I’ve had these on my desk when a student has come to talk to me and the kids can’t take their eyes off the omiyage! The poor kiddos! (Below: school lunch ready to go in the staff room!)
posted by Aaron @ 6:54 PM
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