This study was undertaken to examine the dietary adaptation in Korea, and utilization of university foodservice (UF), according to the nationality of foreign students. The survey was conducted from April to June in 2017, and included 604 subjects studying in a university in Busan. The questionnaire was designed to examine the adaptability to Korean food and the consumption of UF. The nationalities included students from China (63.4%), Vietnam (13.2%), Central Asia (8.9%), Southeast Asia (5.0%), and others (9.4%). Vietnamese and Southeast Asians showed higher adaptation to Korean food than Chinese or Central Asians. The degree of contribution of UF to diet was highest amongst the Chinese, followed by Vietnamese. The main reason for not consuming UF for the Chinese and Southeast Asians was ‘lack of menu variety’, and for Central Asians was ‘no menu that can be eaten, including due to religious reasons’. In order to improve UF, all groups asked for increased ‘variety of menu’, and Vietnamese and Southeast Asians also asked for ‘decrease in price’. In meat, fish, and vegetable menus, there were significant differences in the types and recipes of foods preferred, as per the nationality. These results indicate that different approaches by considering the national characteristics are required, to help international students adapt to Korean food, and to increase their consumption of UF.

The purpose of this study was to develop a dietary education program, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the education program for children from low-income families. A total of 242 children (122 education groups and 120 control groups) were run six times a dietary education program from April to December 2018, and a questionnaire was administered before and after the education to evaluate effectiveness. Elementary school students were the most prevalent in the education and the control group. In the education group, the body height and weigh were 137.27 cm and 33.69 kg, respectively, and in the control group the body height and weight were 143.48 cm and 40.64 kg, respectively. The education group showed positive change in dietary self-efficacy and dietary knowledge compared to the control group. In particular, ‘I can have meals regularly’ (Education Group: 4.00 points from 3.71 points) and 'I can choose fruits instead of cookies candies as snacks (Education Group: 4.01 points from 3.70 points) The score increased after participation in the program. In the change of nutritional and hygiene knowledge of children, the education group scored 3.63 of 10 points before education, but the score significantly increased to 5.70 points after education(p<0.001).

This study was a qualitative investigation of the process of adaptation of nutrition education programs by marriage immigrant women who completed education programs for training of food citizen leaders. Focus group interviews of seven marriage immigrant women from Vietnam, China, Mongolia and Russia were conducted and analyzed based on the Normalization Process Theory (NPT). Participants were aware of the purpose of the education program (coherence) and their confidence in organizing and reconstructing the knowledge of nutrition was increased after education (reflexive monitoring). However, they had difficulties attending long-term education programs (cognitive participation) and overcoming language barriers (collective action). Although the program was beneficial for the participants in that they could apply acquired nutrition knowledge to their everyday life as food citizen leaders, the continuous monitoring and feed-back system (management), customized application, and consideration of personal and social factors need to be developed and facilitated. In addition, various programs targeting marriage immigrant women may increase economic independence of these women. The NPT proved beneficial in conceptualizing the barriers and facilitators to implementing nutrition education. The successful implementation of nutrition intervention needs special support to overcome barriers to cognitive participation and collective action.

This study was conducted to understand the dietary life of North Koreans by analyzing dietary life-related articles published in Joseon Nyeoseong, which is the only women’s magazine in North Korea. This study employed content analysis of 769 articles from 1999 to 2017. The major findings of this study were as follows. Out of the 769 articles, 131 (17.0%) were about dietary culture, 541 (70.4%) were about the food and nutrition, and 97 (12.6%) were about food production. The articles emphasized ethnic food and North Koreans ingredients, spices, cooking methods, containers, and etiquette. A variety of foods and ingredients were used to maintain health, as well as to treat common illnesses and health problems. There were 173 recipes mentioned in the magazine, but no foreign food recipes. There were many dishes that could be preserved for a long time such as Kimchi and pickles. For food security, many vegetables and plant-eating animals such as rabbits were cultivated. Overall, the results indicate that North Korea has been maintaining its unique dietary life without being influenced by foreign countries.

This study examined the historical changes of and dietitians’ needs for the Life Cycle-based Dietary Guidelines for Koreans. Content analysis of relevant documents, a survey of 307 dietitians, and in-depth interviews with eight dietitians were conducted. The dietary guidelines published between 2003 and 2004 included one set of common guidelines and several sets of dietary action guides corresponding to six target groups: pregnant and lactating women, infants and toddlers, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. The guidelines were revised between 2008 and 2011 and consisted of six sets of guidelines for the target groups without common guidelines. The dietitians considered five or six as appropriate numbers of guidelines for each group. Needs for separate guidelines for women of child-bearing age and male workers were reported. The dietitians preferred one set of common guidelines with specific action guides for each target group and wanted easier and more specific messages to be included in the new guidelines. It is suggested that the Life Cycle-based Dietary Guidelines for Koreans should be revised to reflect such dietitians’ needs.

This study examined the effects of ‘Dietary education for children’s health UP’ (DECHUP) on the changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of nutrition and food safety in 5th grade elementary school students in Incheon. The DECHUP program was conducted from May to October 2018 and consisted of education and activities focusing on the children’s levels of understanding. Data were collected before, immediately after, and 6 weeks after DECHUP using the same method. All data were analyzed using SPSS ver 20.0. The level of knowledge and attitudes of the subjects to nutrition and food safety was significantly higher after than before DECHUP, but the attitude of boys did not show any significant difference after 6 weeks. Although there were no significant differences in the behavior for nutrition in the practice of the subjects, there were significant positive changes in the behavior of food safety. The higher the satisfaction of DECHUP, the more positive the change in knowledge, and the more positive the attitude and practice behaviors. Therefore, DECHUP has positive effects on the KAP of the subjects, and it will be helpful for elementary school students to form desirable eating habits if it can be carried out periodically and continuously.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary habits of smokers and non-smokers among a few male university students residing in Changwon-si and factors that affect their smoking behavior. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted for a duration of one month in June 2015 (n=367). The results of this study showed that the breakfast skipping rate of the smoking group was significantly higher compared to the non-smoking group (p<0.001), and the smoking rate was significantly higher among those with more serious smoking problems (p<0.001). Compared to the non-smoking group, the smoking group showed significantly higher BMI (body mass index) (p<0.05) and demonstrated significant drinking habit of more liquid type yogurt among milk and dairy products and significantly more coffee mixes among fat, oils, and sugars (p<0.05). The results of multiple regression analysis showed the necessity to prepare smoking systems in school (t=－2.87, p<0.05), encumbrances to studies due to smoking (t=－3.59, p<0.001), and variables that affect smoking such as the number of close friends who smoke (t=4.17, p<0.001), BMI (t=3.08, p<0.05), and the level of problematic drinking (t=3.67, p<0.001). The results of this study suggest factors that must be considered in establishing smoking prevention education programs, anti-smoking policies, and strategies for university students.