40% Experience Summer Appetite Loss; Demand Rises for Both 'Refreshing' and 'Stamina' Meals
A survey by Wellness Dining revealed that 44.4% of people feel a loss of appetite in summer, while 45% find heat-based cooking to be a major burden. Consumers seek meals that balance light flavors with nutritional stamina.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 25, 2026 at 17:50
- 🔍 Collected: May 25, 2026 at 09:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 28, 2026 at 14:48 (77h 47m after Collected)
Wellness Dining Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sumida-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tetsuhiro Nakamoto) conducted a 'Survey on Summer Meals' targeting 300 men and women nationwide. The results showed that approximately 40% (44.4%) responded that they 'lose their appetite in summer.'
Furthermore, essential elements sought in meals included 'refreshing taste' and 'ease of eating,' along with 'stamina' and 'nutritional balance,' highlighting a dual need for lightness and satisfaction.
Specific popular dishes included stamina-building items like 'fried chicken' and 'eel,' while seasonings like 'grated radish with ponzu' and 'lemon/citrus' were highly supported.
### Survey Summary
- 44.4% experience appetite loss in summer.
- The top concern for summer meals is 'reluctance to cook using heat' (45.0%).
- Burdens like 'not wanting to stand in the kitchen' (30.3%) were also high.
- Expectations for summer lunch boxes are 'refreshing' (45.3%) and 'easy to eat' (36.7%).
- 'Nutritional balance' (30.3%) and 'stamina' (27.7%) are also prioritized.
- Popular dishes include 'fried chicken,' 'rolled omelet,' and 'grilled eel.'
- Popular seasonings are 'grated radish/ponzu' (58.3%) and 'lemon/citrus' (48.0%).
### Appetite Loss in Summer
12.7% said it happens 'often' and 31.7% said 'sometimes,' totaling 44.4%. However, over half reported 'not really' or 'not at all,' suggesting appetite loss is an issue with significant individual differences.
### Challenges in Summer Cooking
The #1 challenge was 'reluctance to cook using heat' (45.0%), followed by 'not wanting to stand in the kitchen' (30.3%) and 'difficulty managing ingredients' (28.3%). It is clear that the 'burden of preparation and heat-related stress' is a bigger bottleneck than appetite itself.
### Needs for Summer Lunch Boxes
While 'refreshing' and 'easy to eat' are top priorities, a significant number of people also value 'nutritional balance' and 'stamina,' indicating that simple lightness is not enough to satisfy consumers.
### Popular Dishes and Seasonings
Top lunch box items were 'fried chicken' (35.3%), 'rolled omelet' (33.7%), and 'grilled eel' (31.7%). For seasonings, while refreshing tastes led the way, appetite-stimulating flavors like 'garlic soy sauce' (27.7%) and 'curry' (26.7%) also received steady support.
### Conclusion
The survey reveals that in summer, the hurdle for 'preparing' meals has become higher than for 'eating' them. The key to summer meal choices is how to balance elements like being refreshing, convenient, nutritious, and stamina-boosting.
A registered dietitian suggests that the secret to maintaining healthy summer eating habits is 'not to overstrain' and 'to adopt easy-to-implement formats.'
Furthermore, essential elements sought in meals included 'refreshing taste' and 'ease of eating,' along with 'stamina' and 'nutritional balance,' highlighting a dual need for lightness and satisfaction.
Specific popular dishes included stamina-building items like 'fried chicken' and 'eel,' while seasonings like 'grated radish with ponzu' and 'lemon/citrus' were highly supported.
### Survey Summary
- 44.4% experience appetite loss in summer.
- The top concern for summer meals is 'reluctance to cook using heat' (45.0%).
- Burdens like 'not wanting to stand in the kitchen' (30.3%) were also high.
- Expectations for summer lunch boxes are 'refreshing' (45.3%) and 'easy to eat' (36.7%).
- 'Nutritional balance' (30.3%) and 'stamina' (27.7%) are also prioritized.
- Popular dishes include 'fried chicken,' 'rolled omelet,' and 'grilled eel.'
- Popular seasonings are 'grated radish/ponzu' (58.3%) and 'lemon/citrus' (48.0%).
### Appetite Loss in Summer
12.7% said it happens 'often' and 31.7% said 'sometimes,' totaling 44.4%. However, over half reported 'not really' or 'not at all,' suggesting appetite loss is an issue with significant individual differences.
### Challenges in Summer Cooking
The #1 challenge was 'reluctance to cook using heat' (45.0%), followed by 'not wanting to stand in the kitchen' (30.3%) and 'difficulty managing ingredients' (28.3%). It is clear that the 'burden of preparation and heat-related stress' is a bigger bottleneck than appetite itself.
### Needs for Summer Lunch Boxes
While 'refreshing' and 'easy to eat' are top priorities, a significant number of people also value 'nutritional balance' and 'stamina,' indicating that simple lightness is not enough to satisfy consumers.
### Popular Dishes and Seasonings
Top lunch box items were 'fried chicken' (35.3%), 'rolled omelet' (33.7%), and 'grilled eel' (31.7%). For seasonings, while refreshing tastes led the way, appetite-stimulating flavors like 'garlic soy sauce' (27.7%) and 'curry' (26.7%) also received steady support.
### Conclusion
The survey reveals that in summer, the hurdle for 'preparing' meals has become higher than for 'eating' them. The key to summer meal choices is how to balance elements like being refreshing, convenient, nutritious, and stamina-boosting.
A registered dietitian suggests that the secret to maintaining healthy summer eating habits is 'not to overstrain' and 'to adopt easy-to-implement formats.'
FAQ
夏場に食欲が落ちると回答した人の割合はどのくらいですか？
調査対象の300名のうち、44.4％（「よくある」12.7％、「たまにある」31.7％の合計）が食欲の低下を実感していると回答しました。
夏の食事における最大の悩みは何ですか？
「火を使う調理が億劫（45.0％）」が1位となり、次いで「キッチンに立ちたくない（30.3％）」が挙がっており、調理の負担が大きな課題となっています。
夏のお弁当に求められている要素の上位は何ですか？
1位「さっぱり食べられる（45.3％）」、2位「食べやすい（36.7％）」、3位「手軽に食べられる（35.0％）」が上位を占めています。
夏場に人気のあるおかずは何ですか？
「唐揚げ（35.3％）」「だし巻き卵（33.7％）」「うなぎの蒲焼き（31.7％）」など、スタミナ系や定番のおかずが人気です。
夏に好まれる味付けの傾向はどのようなものですか？
「おろし・ポン酢（58.3％）」や「レモン・柑橘系（48.0％）」といったさっぱり系が主流ですが、「にんにく醤油」や「カレー味」などの食欲を刺激する味付けも支持されています。