Shokuiku encourages parents and schools to teach kids where their food comes from and how it affects our mind and body. This concept has been an integral part of Japan's culture, and it's a big reason why we're home to some of the world's healthiest children. As a mother raising a young daughter in Japan, here's what Japanese parents do differently to raise happy and adventurous eaters:1. Some preschools have kids harvest vegetables to eat for lunch, while in elementary schools, they learn about the farms that produce vegetables, fish and other foods. While many preschools also provide lunches, homemade bento lunches can play an important role in promoting shokuiku.

---

Persons: Sagen Ishizuka, Shokuiku, bento, daughter's bento, Yuko Tamura, bok choy Organizations: UNICEF, European Union, OECD Locations: Japan, shokuiku