A Study on the Factors Related to the Seafood Preference of Elementary School Children

This study was undertaken with 237 fifth grade children to investigate the factors, affecting the seafood prefrerence of elementary school children as one of the approaches to find strategies to promote these children's acceptance of seafoods. Subjects for this study were from one public elementary school under meal service located each in Boryeoung-city Chungcheongna Co (coastal area) and Chelowon gen Gangwon do land locked area) The preferences for than those in Boryeong and differences in may items were significant Among four area gender groups girls in Cheolwon had the lowest preference for most seafood items except cephalocoda for which the preference of body in Cheolwon was the lowest Making soup was the least preferred method to cook fish regardless of gender and area, while grilling was the most or the second most preferred in each gender area group Compared to girls bodys had a higher preference for deep frying The seafood preferences of mothers in both areas were similar to those of their children except for processed seafoods which were even more preferred by the children than mothers. Gender, distance from the sea and the method of preparation/cooking seemed to affect the children's preference more than their mother's preference and frequency of serving in the case of seafood. And the effect of gender distance from the sea and cooking methods differed for each seafood category The several suggestions to improve seafood preference especially in land locked area are discussed.