Objectives This study aimed to examine the frequency of convenience food consumption at convenience stores (CVS) and the CVS usage patterns of middle and high school students as well as to understand students’ attitude toward sodium and sugar reduction. Methods We used an online questionnaire for data collection. The questionnaire comprised five distinct categories: general characteristics, CVS usage, frequency of consumption according to convenience food menus at CVS, attitude toward sodium and sugar reduction, and adherence to dietary guidelines. Results A total of 75 students from Seoul (14 middle school students and 61 high school students) participated in the study. Most respondents visit CVS 3-5 times a week. CVS are predominantly used during weekdays, mostly during lunch, and dinner. The students mostly checked the caloric content and expiration date as food labeling information. The participants were aware of the need to reduce their sugar and sodium intake. Among frequent CVS convenience food consumers, there was an increased consideration of the need to reduce their sugar and sodium consumption, despite their actual selection of foods with high sugar and sodium content. Additionally, they did not check the sugar and sodium levels indicated in food labeling. Further, the dietary action guide from the Ministry of Health and Welfare were poorly followed by most students. Conclusions There is a need for nutrition education specifically addressing the sugar and sodium content of the convenience foods predominantly consumed by students. Additionally, educating students with frequent convenience food consumption to actively check the sugar and sodium information on food labels could help promote healthier food choices.
The purpose of the study was to examine the adolescents' awareness and practice of Dietary Action Guide for Adolescence, which was developed by the Ministry of Health & Welfare. Subjects were middle and high school students, selected one class each from all of the 16 provinces in Korea, which were 32 schools and 998 students all together. The subjects were asked to self-evaluate the degree of awareness and practice of Dietary Action Guide using the 5 point-Likert scale from July to September, 2010. On average, 55.1% of the students responded that they were aware of the Dietary Action Guide and 49.4% answered that they put Guidelines into practice. The average score of awareness and practice were 3.54 +/- 0.24 and 3.42 +/- 0.33, respectively. The awareness score was higher than those of practice score in all the questions in the 6 categories. Awareness score of female students was higher than those of male students but there was no difference by residence area. Awareness and practice of the nutrition education-experienced were higher than those of the inexperienced. Practice score was higher among middle school-students compared to high school students, which reflected the opportunity of taking nutrition related classes. This finding shows that nutrition education for adolescents is important to change their dietary behaviors regardless of gender, residence area and school level.
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This study was conducted to examine differences in nutrient intakes by the compliance with the Dietary Action Guide for Korean Children. The subjects included 343 elementary school students in Gwangju city. Compliance with the Dietary Action Guide for Children showed that 62.4% of subjects had breakfast everyday; 44.3% of subjects ate vegetables/fruits/milk and dairy products daily; 26.8% of subjects ate a variety of lean meats/fish/eggs/bean products daily; 32.9% of subjects enjoyed outdoor activity everyday and ate according to their energy needs; 40.2% of subjects chose healthy and nutritious foods for snack; and 15.5% of subjects avoided food waste. Intakes of most of nutrients including energy were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in those who complied with the Dietary Action Guide well. Also nutrient intakes had the positive correlation with the scores of Dietary Action Guide (p < 0.05). From these results, nutrient intakes of children were significantly influenced by dietary factors suggested in the Dietary Action Guide for Children. In addition, the results also confirmed that good food behaviors were indispensible to maintaining a proper nutritional status. Based on these results, good food behaviors and practice were critical to secure good health and proper nutritional status for children, and that nutrition education should be strengthened in school as well as at home.
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