Food Behaviors and Food Preferences of the Teenagers in Urban, Fishing, and Rural Areas

일부 농어촌과 도시 청소년들의 식행동 특성 및 식품기호도

The purpose of this study was to investigate the food behaviors and food preferences of teenagers by regional groups. The subjects were composed of 365 third grade students in middle schools from urban, rural and fishing areas in Kyungpook province. The data was collected by using a survey questionnaire. The results of the study are summarized as follows: Eating habits of 21-47% of the subjects, according to the regions, were poor and female students in large city showed the best eating habits while female students in fishing village showed the poorest eating habits. Out of the three regional groups studied, the subjects from the fishing villages had the highest rates of skipping meals and eating between meals. Out of all the people investigated, thirty to forty percent had unbalanced diets, the highest percentage coming from the urban areas and the lowest from the fishing villages. All together an allergic reaction to food was the highest in the fishing villages' subjects and female students were more sensitive compared to the male students. Students from the urban area had higher frequency of symptoms of lactose intolerance. Upon the investigation of the subjects 'food preferences, they preferred boiled rice to any other rice as a staple food. Cha jang myun was the most preferred out of all noodles and breads. It was found that teenagers preferred one course meal such as fried rice to a rice-centered regular meal. Out of all various meat soups, beef soup and beef-rib soup were preferred the most. As for subsidiary foods the most preferred were soybean paste stew and cuttlefish stew which they ate daily. There was a very high preference for fried foods, the most favored being pork cutlet followed by fried vegetables, sweet potatoes, and minced meat. The most preferred cooked vegetables were bean sprouts and seasoned cucumber. Seasoned cubed radish roots were the most preferred kind of kimchi. For desserts there was a very high preference for the following fruits: apples, plums, strawberries, and oranges. For beverages the most popular choice were chocolate drinks followed by orange juice, apple juice, milk and tomato juice. According to these investigations, most teenagers liked daily foods which they are used to. The study showed that on the whole the teenagers had poor eating habits. A problem that needs immediate attention is that female students and students from the fishing villages have a high rate of skipping meals. It is expected that the results of this food preference test of teenagers could be useful in the meal planning of middle school lunch programs in the future.