Abstract
In this investigation, 480 high school students attending school in Seoul, Incheon were surveyed for their knowledge of seaweed and their preference of seaweed products provided during school meal service. Female students answered that they preferred seaweed more than male students. When asked to explain their preference for seaweed, most students who preferred seaweed responded 'it is tasty' (82.9%), while those that did not like seaweed responded 'I don't like the texture when chewing it and it is not tasty' (47.8%). Most students reported that they usually eat 'laver', and the number of times that they at seaweed was '3-4 times a week'. The primary place in which they ate seaweed and the place where they feel it had the best taste was a 'house'. The primary source of information regarding seaweed was mass media including TV, newspapers, magazines and the internet (48.8%). With regard to seaweed in school meals, which is offered twice a week, most students reported, 'I eat seaweed and leave it to some extent.' They perceived 'laver' to be most often provided in school meals, and 57.7% reported that their favorite seaweed meal was 'laver'. When asked why they dislike seaweed in school meals, the most common responses were 'I didn't like seaweed the first time I tried it' (27%) and 'Its taste is different from what I eat at home' (24.6%). The most common request regarding seaweed provided in school lunches was for the taste to be improved (48.2%). Evaluation of the preference for seaweed menus in school meals revealed that both males and females had higher preferences of more than 4 points for 'fried laver' and 'broiled laver'.
