96% of Parents Feel Burdened by Summer Meal Preparation; Lunch Menu Planning a Major Stressor <Kidsline Survey Report>

Kidsline Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Taiki Fukuda), which operates the housekeeping and babysitting service 'Kidsline'—available 24/7 via smartphone across all 47 prefectures in Japan—conducted a survey from June 19 (Fri) to June 28 (Sun), 2026, targeting 226 parents living with children under 18 who are entering summer vacation. This press release presents the survey results.

Key Points

・ 86% of parents reported that household chores increase during summer vacation. Of these, 96% feel burdened specifically by meal preparation.

・ The burden is not limited to cooking itself; the need to continuously decide daily menus and consider nutritional balance constitutes a major psychological strain.

・ Approximately 90% wish they could rely on someone for help, and about 80% delay their own meals. The preparation of lunch is significantly impacting parents’ personal lifestyles and health.

・ While many households rely on prepared meals or dining out, only about 30% have used housekeeping services. However, among users, 49% cited 'gaining mental relief' as the top benefit, indicating that such services help reduce psychological stress.

The Greatest Household Burden During Summer: Preparing Lunch

When asked whether household chores change during their child’s summer vacation, 39.4% responded 'increases significantly' and 47.3% 'increases somewhat,' totaling 86.7% who feel their household workload increases. With school lunches no longer provided and children spending more time at home, the overall household burden has clearly increased for many families.

Among those who reported increased household chores during summer, 62.7% said they 'feel greatly burdened' by meal preparation, and 33.2% 'feel somewhat burdened,' totaling 95.9% who feel some level of burden.

Furthermore, when asked which meal is most burdensome, 'lunch' received the highest response at 56.9%, followed by 'dinner' at 21.3% and 'bento boxes' at 18.6%. This highlights that lunch preparation is a major burden for parents during the school-free summer months.

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In a separate survey asking about particularly burdensome household tasks during summer (up to five responses), 'preparing lunch for children' ranked highest at 74.0%, far surpassing other tasks. Other notable responses include 'increased dishwashing due to more meals' at 52.6% and 'making bento boxes for after-school programs, tutoring, or club activities' at 29.6%, underscoring that meal-related responsibilities are the most prominent burden.

Specific burdens cited include:

<Reasons for Feeling Burdened by Housework>

⚫ Due to working full-time, preparing three meals a day is difficult. Although I prepare and freeze meals in advance, high consumption means I have to do this more frequently. (Female, 40s / Hyogo Prefecture)

⚫ With more meals, I’m constantly thinking about menu planning and cleanup. (Female, 30s / Saitama Prefecture)

⚫ More cooking increases the burden of grocery shopping. In addition, more cooking means more housework overall. (Male, 30s / Tokyo)

The Struggle of Lunch Preparation: Daily Menu Planning

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Digging deeper into the challenges of preparing lunch during summer vacation reveals that parents face more than just the time required to cook. The main reasons for feeling burdened include: 'difficulty deciding menus or meal plans' (53.0%), 'having to prepare meals multiple times a day' (49.8%), 'increased frequency and volume of dishwashing' (39.4%), and 'the need to consider nutritional balance' (30.3%).

During summer vacation, when school lunches are unavailable, families must prepare all three meals at home. Comments such as 'Since we had noodles yesterday, let’s have rice today' or 'We’re low on vegetables, so I need to add a side dish' indicate that the constant need to plan daily menus is a significant psychological burden for parents.

About 80% Delay Their Own Meals, and About 90% Wish for Help

The survey revealed that parents’ own lifestyles and health are being affected as they are overwhelmed by children’s meal preparation and housework.

When asked, 'During summer vacation, do you often delay your own meals?', 45.2% answered 'frequently' and 32.4% 'sometimes,' totaling 77.6%—nearly 80%—who delay their own meals. While parents prepare nutritionally balanced meals for their children, they often settle for quick meals or even miss eating altogether.

As daily burdens accumulate, when asked if they ever feel like relying on someone when struggling with meal preparation, 50.0% said 'frequently' and 38.8% 'sometimes,' meaning 88.8% of parents currently feel the need for external support.

Specific comments include:

<Moments When I Felt I Needed Help>

⚫ I can’t eat my meals slowly because I’m busy with my children’s meals and care. (Female, 40s / Shizuoka Prefecture)

⚫ I have to think about meals all day and wished someone could plan the menus for me. (Female, 30s / Saitama Prefecture)

⚫ Our meals have become repetitive, and it’s hard to think of new menus. I’d like someone to suggest new options. (Female, 30s / Kanagawa Prefecture)

How Are Families Coping? Housekeeping Services as an Option

The most common strategy for getting through summer vacation (multiple responses allowed) was 'using supermarket prepared meals or bentos' at 59.0%. This was followed by 'dining out' at 41.0% and 'meal delivery or food delivery services' at 27.7%, showing that many households rely on prepared or restaurant meals.

On the other hand, only 31.4% of respondents said they had previously used housekeeping services during summer vacation, indicating it remains a minority choice.

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However, when parents who actually used housekeeping services during summer vacation were asked what they appreciated about the service, significant benefits beyond saving cooking effort were observed.

The most common response was 'gained mental relief' at 49.3%, indicating that nearly half of users experienced reduced psychological stress. This was followed by 'reduced burden of meal preparation' at 38.0% and 'gained personal rest time' at 28.2%, suggesting that reducing physical tasks directly translates into more time and mental space for parents.

The value of housekeeping services extends beyond merely cooking. Reducing the daily stress of 'What should we eat today?' provides parents with peace of mind and emotional relief, knowing they don’t have to carry the burden alone.

Housekeeping Services: 'Outsource It All'