This study examined the nutrient intake of Korean adults by considering the lunch type, categorized as home meals (HM), eating out (EO), and institutional meals (IM). Data was obtained from the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Totally, 3,786 adults (1,643 men, and 2,143 women) aged between 19-64 years were included in the study. Subjects with daily energy intake of less than 500 kcal or over 5,000 kcal, and those who skipped lunch, were excluded. The percentage of subjects in the HM, EO, and IM were 31.9, 53.6, and 14.4%, respectively. The daily energy intakes of the HM, EO, and IM groups were determined to be 2,185, 2,360, and 2,339 kcal, respectively, in men, and 1,622, 1,731, and 1,741 kcal, respectively, in women. Among the three groups, men in the EO group had more intake of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and riboflavin, and less dietary fiber, and whereas women consumed more fat and less dietary fiber and potassium. In the IM group, the men consumed more dietary fiber, potassium, and thiamine, whereas consumption of carbohydrate, unsaturated fatty acid, sodium, potassium, and thiamine was more in women. Energy contributions of carbohydrate, protein, and fat were all within the AMDR (acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges) for all lunch types, except for the percent of energy provided from saturated fat in EO (7.4% in men, and 8.2% in women). Our results indicate that the dietary habit of frequently eating out increases the fat intake, thereby resulting in increased health risks for adults. Thus, implementation of a nutritional education program to encourage balanced dietary habits is required to improve the nutritional status of individuals eating out.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the purchasing behavior and selection attributes for Home Meal Replacement (HMR) and to identify the selection attributes affecting purchasing frequency and purchasing costs of married women living in a city. Among 837 questionnaires distributed to HMR married women consumers, 752 complete questionnaires (89.8%) were analyzed. The younger married women group showed higher frequency of purchasing HMR than the older age group. The 20s and 30s age groups showed higher purchasing costs for HMR than the 40s and older age groups. A higher proportion of employed married women purchased HMR three or more times per week and spent an average of more than 20,000 won per purchase in comparison with unemployed married women. HMR selection attributes were classified into five factors: ‘taste and sanitation’, ‘economic efficiency’, ‘health and nutrition’, ‘convenience’, and ‘reliability and awareness’; mean scores of these factors’ importance levels were 4.28, 3.93, 3.59, 3.54, and 3.50 out of 5 points, respectively. The importance level of ‘taste and sanitation’ factor was significantly greater as married women’s age decreased. However, the importance level of ‘health and nutrition’ factor was significantly greater as married women’s age increased. The results of the logistic regression analyses indicate that the ‘taste and sanitation’ and ‘health and nutrition’ factors affected frequency of purchasing HMR. The ‘reliability and awareness’ factor had the most significant impact on cost per purchasing HMR. Therefore, a product differentiation strategy according to married women’s age and employment status should be applied. Product qualities and brand value should be improved to enhance competition in the HMR market.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors consumers seriously considered when purchasing HMRs and the difference among the factors according to their demographic characteristics. The subjects were adults in their twenties or older who had used HMRs and lived in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in Korea. Random sampling picked 550 of them, who were distributed a questionnaire from March 12 to 30, 2005. Total 451 questionnaires were returned(the return rates were 82%). The validity of the 27 features was examined by factor analysis. There were seven factors identified, and they were labeled considering the meaning of their items as follows: 'Factor 1. food quality,' 'Factor 2. appearance and packaging,' 'Factor 3. convenience and reliability,' 'Factor 4. access,' 'Factor 5. familiarity,' 'Factor 6. positive experiences,' and 'Factor 7. practicality.