The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the consumption behaviors for purchase of Home Meal Replacement (HMR) products and importance and satisfaction on selective attributes of HMR in middle-aged adults by gender. The subjects were 919 middle-aged adults (400 males and 519 females; 40 to 64 years) residing in Seoul and its metropolitan area, who have HMR purchasing experience. The survey was conducted from January to August 2018. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0 program. Consumption frequency of HMR products in male and female subjects was 1-2 times a month by 42.3% and 40.8% and 4-6 times a month by 26.8% and 19.8%, respectively (p<0.05). Reasons for purchasing HMR in male and female subjects were shown significantly different from saving time by 44.8% and 50.5% and easy cooking by 25.8% and 16.6%, respectively (p<0.01). HMR products with high preference and satisfaction for the subjects included Gimbap, precooked dried rice, and frozen food. According to the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA), selective attributes of HMR with high importance and low satisfaction in the second quadrant were food additives, origin, nutrient content, and price, for both male and female subjects; additionally, hygiene was a factor included only by female subjects. Therefore, these results suggest that it is needed to consider to produce HMR products with improved qualities using reliable food materials and ingredients and to maintain competitive pricing for the expansion of HMR products consumption of middle-aged adults.

In this study we compared the cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening: MMSE-DS) and nutrient intake of elderly women with dementia in a long-term care facility (EW-LCF) and a day-time care facility (EWDCF). This survey was conducted from July 2015 to May 2017 on 73 elderly women with dementia (47 women in LCF and 26 women in DCF) in the city of Incheon. The data obtained from interviews with the subjects and caregivers were analyzed using the SPSS 20.0. The total score of the MMSE-DS and intakes of most nutrients in the EW-LCF were significantly lower compared to the EW-DCF (p<0.05). The nutrient adequacy ratios (NAR) of protein, vitamin A, C, B6, B12, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, calcium and phosphorus in the EW-LCF were significantly lower compared to the EW-DCF (p<0.05). However, the indexes of nutritional quality (INQ) of vitamin C, B6, thiamine, niacin, calcium, magnesium, and iron in the EW-LCF were significantly higher compared to the EW-DCF (p<0.05). As a result, the subjects showed an unbalanced and insufficient nutrition intake status regardless of the type of care facility. Most nutrient intakes of the EW-LCF with lower cognitive function were very significantly lower compared to the EW-DCF (p<0.001). Therefore, it is necessary to assess the cognitive function and nutritional status regularly at care facilities for the elderly women suffering with dementia and to provide specialized individual nutritional management.

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.

Elderly with dementia in geriatric hospitals (EDGH) are highly dependent on hospital meals. This study evaluated the foodservices satisfaction and food preference of the EDGH. The survey was conducted on 104 elderly with dementia (21 males and 83 females) in 4 geriatric hospitals in Seoul and Incheon in November, 2016. Data were collected from interviews using a questionnaire that consisted of 6 questions for foodservice satisfaction and 24 questions (10 categories) for food preference. The data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 20.0. The satisfaction with taste, saltiness, texture, and variety in foodservices was good, but the satisfaction with the amount was not, and the reason for leaving food was its large serving size. The subjects preferred soft boiled rice, noodles, porridges, meats, fish, seafood, vegetables, and fruits. Among them, they preferred more janchiguksu, red bean porridge, beef, croaker, oyster, spinach, and banana. Regarding the cooking methods, they preferred soup, grill, and boiling, but not frying. The also preferred Chinese cabbage kimchi, but they did not prefer hard kkakdugi. They did not prefer milk because of diarrhea, but they preferred yogurt. Therefore, to provide a satisfying meal for EDGH, it is necessary to develop a friendly diet considering their food preferences.