This study attempted to investigate the effect of housemaker's interest in dietary life on the knowledge of cooking principles and cooking methods, and on the daily meal management. Housemakers whose age ranged from 20 to 50 were surveyed in their residence. The results of this study were as follows. First, the level of interest in dietary life was positively related with ages, education and income levels. Moreover, housemaker who did not work or did not take care of relatives had higher level of interest in dietary life than those who did. Second, most housemakers bought foods and prepared a meal by themselves. The average time spent in preparing meals was 2 to 3 hours, and the number of side dishes cooked per day expect for the main dish was 5.46 percent of the total respondents ate out more than once a month for a 'family tie'. Third, there was no relation between the knowledge of cooking principle and the variables such as ages, education and income levels. Fourth, the level of the knowledge of cooking method about Korean traditional dishes was positively related with ages, education and income levels. In addition, housemakers who did not work or did not take care of relatives had less knowledge of Korean traditional dishes than those who did. Finally, the interest in dietary life was significantly correlated with the knowledge of cooking principle and cooking method of Korean traditional dishes.

• 김우경 | Kim, Woo-Kyung