野菜を最初に食べる習慣が子どもの心の力を高める～約2,600人を6年間追跡し、レジリエンスと自己肯定感との関連を確認～

2026-03-04 東京科学大学

図1. 野菜を最初に食べる習慣とレジリエンス（左）および自己肯定感（右）との関係
（性別、母親の学歴、世帯年収、1年生の時保護者の精神状態、子どものBMI、野菜摂取頻度、家族と夕食を取る頻度、セルフコントロール、1年生時のベースラインスコアを調整）

＜関連情報＞

• https://www.isct.ac.jp/ja/news/jyh2ezte07cr
• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-026-04871-2

食事で最初に野菜を食べることと精神資本との関連性：A-CHILD研究 Association between eating vegetables first at the meal and mental capital: A-CHILD study

Yu Par Khin,Nobutoshi Nawa,Yuna Koyama,Aya Isumi & Takeo Fujiwara
Pediatric Research  Published:02 March 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-026-04871-2

Abstract

Background

Eating vegetables first at meals may be associated with mental capital, such as resilience and self-esteem; however, the association has not been well-studied. We examined how trajectories in eating vegetables first from Grade 1 to 6 were associated with resilience and self-esteem at Grade 6 among children in Adachi City, Tokyo, Japan.

Methods

We used data from the Adachi Child Health Impact of Living Difficulty (A-CHILD) study (N = 2654). Resilience and self-esteem were measured using the Children’s Resilient Coping Scale reported by parents and the Children’s Perceived Competence Scale reported by children, respectively. Group-based trajectory analysis was performed to identify subgroups of eating vegetables first.

Results

Four distinct trajectories were identified: “Not eating vegetables first” (N = 1481, 55.8%), “Increase eating vegetables first” (N = 841, 31.7%), “Reduce eating vegetables first” (N = 157, 5.9%) and “Constant eating vegetables first” (N = 175, 6.6%). After adjusting for potential confounders, children in “Constant eating vegetables first” scored higher resilience (d = 0.20, 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 0.004, 0.39) and higher self-esteem (d = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.47) than children in “Not eating vegetables first”.

Conclusion

Eating vegetables first at meals is associated with mental capital among elementary school children.

Impact statement

• Four trajectory groups can be identified based on the probability of eating vegetables first.
• Children who “Constant eating vegetables first” from Grade 1 to Grade 6 had higher mental capital scores (resilience and self-esteem) in Grade 6 than children who did “Not eating vegetables first”.
• Eating vegetables first at meals is associated with mental capital among elementary school children.
• Further research is recommended to explore the mechanism of how eating vegetables first affects child mental capital.