一、飲食体系を変化させる大きな社会的要因は二つある。一つは都市化と核家族化である。祖父母、父母と同居しないことから、伝統的飲食をとることが小なくなる。他の一つは婦人の社会的進出である。婦人が家事労働から解放されるには、食事作りの簡便化が必要である。東アジアではこの二つが過去三○年間急速に進行している。このため伝統的飲食体系に大きた変化が起っている二、所得水準の上昇に伴う飲食形態の変化、所得水準の向上は澱粉質食品の相対的低下、動物性蛋白食品の増加、澱粉質食品では、雑穀、芋類の相対的低下、米食とパン食の増加、さらに所得が向上すると米食からパン食へと移行する。この移行は一人当り一日の栄養摂取量が二四○○~二五○○カロリーから発生する。大陸中国、台湾はすでに日本のカロリー摂取量をこえて、欧米型の過栄養状態に近づきつつある。三、今後東アジア諸国、地域は肉食、アルコール消費の増大が引き続き起るが、伝統食品は消滅しないであろう。伝統食品のインスタン化が進行しよう。
1. Two big social backgrounds have caused a change in traditional foods and drinks. One is urbanization and the formation of small family units in which young couples do not reside with the older generations. Young couples are apt to choose fast foods. The other is female participation in society and in the work force. This automatically spreads food simplification. For the last 30-40 years, in Far East Asian countries, these two social changes have affected lives in a way. 2. The corcllation between the rise of disposable income and changes in foods and drinks. As family income increases, starchy foods decrease considerably. Instead, animal protein foods such as meat and fish increase. Within the staple foods, miscellaneous cereals such as millet, corn, and potatoes become less significaut while rice and bread become move important. In the following stage with even greater income, the ratio of bread over rice becomes greater. This change generally occurs around the level of 2400~2500 calorie per capita in daily nutritient consumption. Both mainland China and Taiwan have already surpassed the Japanese level and are approaching that of the US and West European countries, which ca n be called excessive nutritient consumption. 3. Though a speedy increase in meat and alcohol consumption in Far East Asian countries has been ouserved, the author does not believe that the traditional foods and drinks will disappear. Instead, a new type of fastfood of traditional foods will be developed.