日本儿童健康状况全球第一得益于学校午餐（双语）

　　联合国儿童基金会近日发布的报告显示，日本的儿童健康状况位居全球之首，且儿童肥胖发病率极低。分析人士指出，这在很大程度上得益于全日本范围内实施的学校午餐制度。

　　Japan manages a rare feat for a developed country when it comes to feeding its children -- high scores for nutrition but very low obesity rates. One major key? School lunches.

　　日本在保障儿童摄入充足营养的同时肥胖发病率极低，这一成就在发达国家中并不多见，其秘诀在于学校午餐。

　　A landmark report by the UN's children agency UNICEF released Tuesday shows Japan topping the charts for childhood health indicators, with low rates of infant mortality and few underweight children.

　　联合国儿童基金会于本周二(10月15日)发表的报告显示，日本儿童健康状况全球排名第一，婴儿死亡率低、体重不足人数非常少。

　　But it also manages the lowest incidence of childhood obesity among the 41 developed countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and European Union.

　　日本也是经济合作与发展组织和欧盟的41个发达国家中，儿童肥胖率最低的国家。

　　Experts say there are various factors at work, including a health-conscious society and regularly mandated check-ups for children, but a nationwide school lunch program also plays a key role.

　　专家指出，这一成绩由多种因素促成，包括日本人特别关注健康、定期组织儿童体检，而全日本范围内的学校午餐计划也起到重要作用。

　　"School lunches with menus that are created by nutritionists are provided to all primary schools and the majority of junior high schools throughout Japan," Mitsuhiko Hara, a pediatrician and professor at Tokyo Kasei Gakuin University, told AFP.

　　东京家政学院大学教授、儿科医生原光彦(音)告诉法新社说：“日本所有小学和大部分初中都提供由营养师制定菜单的午餐。”

　　junior high school：初级中学(美国英语)

　　The lunches are mandatory -- no packed lunches allowed -- and while they are not free for most, they are heavily subsidised.

　　午餐是学校强制提供的，不允许学生自带饭食。大部分午餐不免费，但有高额补贴。

　　Each meal is designed to have around 600-700 calories balanced between carbohydrates, meat or fish and vegetables.

　　每顿午餐含大约600到700卡路里，碳水化合物、肉或鱼、以及蔬菜均衡搭配。

　　One sample meal served to children in Japan's Gunma gives a flavor: rice with grilled fish and a spinach and sprout dish, served with miso soup with pork, alongside milk and dry prunes.

　　群马县的学校午餐就是一个范例，包含米饭、烤鱼、菠菜豆芽、猪肉味噌汤、牛奶和梅干。

　　miso soup：味噌汤

　　"School lunch is designed to provide nutrition that tends to be lacking in meals at home," education ministry official Mayumi Ueda told AFP. "I think it contributes to the nutritional balance necessary for children."

　　文部省官员上田真由美(音)告诉法新社说：“学校午餐要能够补充在家吃饭可能摄入不足的营养成分。”

　　Unlike the cafeteria system operated in some Western countries, Japanese school lunches are usually served in the classroom. Pupils frequently dish out the food to each other and clean up the room afterwards.

　　与一些西方国家的自助餐厅不同，日本学校的午餐通常在教室里供应。学生们经常互相分发食物，吃完后将教室打扫干净。

　　There is no choice of meal, and no concessions offered for vegetarians, or anyone with religious restrictions, with members of either group being few and far between in largely homogenous Japan.

　　午餐没有其他选择，也没有给素食者和信仰宗教儿童的专餐。绝大多数日本人属于同一民族，以上两类儿童都非常少见。

　　few and far between：稀少的，不多的

　　The lunches are conceived not only to feed children, but to teach them.

　　而且，学校午餐不仅是为了让孩子们吃饭，也是为了教育他们。