64.3% of Supported Households Eat "2 Meals or Less Per Day" During Long School Breaks Without School Lunches - Kodomo Gochimeshi Survey Results Released

NPO Kids Future Passport (Representative Director: Mariko Nakamoto, Location: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture), which operates "Kodomo Gochimeshi," a service that utilizes local restaurants as children's cafeterias, has announced the results of a "Survey on Meals During Long Vacation Periods" conducted among Kodomo Gochimeshi members.

◾️ Survey Background

Kodomo Gochimeshi has provided meal support for children throughout the year. Particularly last year, we conducted a project to support meals during long vacation periods when school lunches are not provided, anticipating an increase in children facing food insecurity due to various family circumstances. To shed light on the reality, which is often difficult to see in daily life, we conducted a survey targeting Kodomo Gochimeshi members.

◾️ Survey Results

During long vacation periods, 79.5% of general households and 78.6% of households requiring support reported an increase in household financial burden, indicating that the absence of school lunches directly impacts household finances. This impact extends directly to the dining table; not only is it difficult to purchase ingredients necessary for growth, such as seafood, vegetables, and meat, but over half of supported households and about 40% of general households experienced days of eating "2 meals or less per day." The reduction in meal frequency was not limited to children; 82.2% of supported households and 69.9% of general households reported that parents themselves cut back on their meals to prioritize their children's food. Furthermore, an increase in children complaining of "hunger" (supported: 50.9%, general: 37.4%) and signs of emotional instability (supported: 40.2%, general: 28.3%) were observed, revealing that insufficient meals are affecting children's physical and mental well-being.

◾️ Voices from Parents (Excerpts from Free-Response Section)

*The respondents' expressions are reproduced as is.*

As a single-parent household, we are always struggling, and our finances are especially tight during long breaks. Because it's a long break, I don't have money to take them anywhere, and it pains me that there's nothing to write about in their picture diaries for homework.

During long vacations, I can't work because there's no one to look after my children, so my income decreases, but food and miscellaneous expenses increase, which makes me anxious.

◾️ Challenges Revealed by This Survey

This survey revealed that during long vacation periods without school lunches, children's meal frequency decreases, and the impact extends beyond hunger to emotional instability. The issue of children's "food" is not merely a financial problem but a significant social issue directly linked to growth and health. Furthermore, the reality that parents are forced to cut back on their own meals indicates that it is not only children who need support. We believe that mechanisms like "Kodomo Gochimeshi," which utilizes local restaurants during periods without school lunches, play a role as social infrastructure supporting children's meals.

◾️ Survey Results Summary

⚫︎ Household Financial Burden

During long vacation periods, 79.5% of general households and 78.6% of supported households reported an increase in financial burden. The reality that the absence of school lunches directly impacts household finances was revealed.

⚫︎ Children's Meal Intake

Households that experienced days of eating "2 meals or less" were 64.3% for supported households and 38.2% for general households. This figure exceeded half for supported households and about 40% for general households, indicating that this is a problem not only for low-income families but for child-rearing families in general.

⚫︎ Parents Reducing Their Own Meals

Households where parents cut back on their own meals to prioritize their children's food accounted for 82.2% of supported households and 69.9% of general households. This revealed a situation where the food issue extends not only to children but to the entire family's life.

⚫︎ Foods Eaten Less Than Usual

The most frequently cited food eaten less than usual was seafood, at 73.2% for supported households and 62.4% for general households, followed by vegetables/fruits and meat. Particularly in supported households, the impact extended beyond specific ingredients to the entire dining table, revealing a comprehensive deficiency in nutrients essential for growth.

⚫︎ Concerns About Children's Condition

In addition to complaints of "hunger," concerns such as "became emotionally unstable" (supported: 40.2% / general: 28.3%) and "lost weight" (supported: 19.6% / general: 7.0%) were observed. The impact on children's physical and mental health in supported households was 2 to 3 times higher than in general households, and has become apparent in over half of the families.

Survey Overview

Survey Period: June 2, 2026 (Tue) - June 7, 2026 (Sun)

Survey Method: Web-based questionnaire

Target Audience: Members registered with Kodomo Gochimeshi

Valid Responses: 958

◾️ What is Kodomo Gochimeshi?

"Kodomo Gochimeshi" is a system that delivers meals to children in need by having local restaurants function as "children's cafeterias." Since its launch, we have been promoting the "DX of Children's Cafeterias" utilizing IT and digital tickets, aiming for a sustainable form of support.

While solving issues such as "labor shortages," "irregular operation," and "financial difficulties" that traditional volunteer-based children's cafeterias have faced, we are building a win-win-win model that benefits local restaurants, children, and supporters alike.

KFP is committed to creating opportunities for children to gain rich experiences, not just food support. We aim to realize a society where all children can equally enjoy both meals and experiences.

Support us here:

◾️ NPO Kids Future Passport Overview

Location: Office 4, 6th Floor, Chiyo Gōdō Chōsha, 1-20-31 Chiyo, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Establishment Date: June 2, 2023

Representative Director: Mariko Nakamoto

Business Activities: Community Children's Support Project "Kodomo Gochimeshi"

Homepage: https://kids-future-passport.org/

This is an NPO established for child support activities. We operate "Kodomo Gochimeshi" aiming for a sustainable system that supports the healthy growth of all children. We provide meals to children at registered local restaurants using donations and support funds from corporations and individuals.

"Kodomo Gochimeshi" utilizes the GOCHI platform owned by Gigi Corporation.