• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.183-195
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate dietary behavior patterns of high school students. As for regularity of meal, female students were significantly more regular than those of the male students in a day. They answered 'between 4th and 6th grades in elementary school' as 'the time for formation about number of meal intake'. As for a highly influential meal, males were higher answered 'lunch (41.0%)' while females were higher answered 'breakfast (39.8%)'. About 'number of meals per day by the grade', they ate 3 times per day mostly. As for the time for formation about number of meal intake: 'before 4th to 6th in elementary school'> 'before elementary school'. In the result of regularity of meal and general characteristics, a family of 5 was higher in regularity and those with pocket money showed lower regularity in meal. As for the person who prepares a meal, mothers prepared meals regularly. Also, higher parents age and education level resulted in more regularity in meals. In number of meals per day and general characteristics, they were eating 3 times; moreover, this trend was evident as parents' age and education level and the household income was higher. Students answered generally regularity in meal in family where parents' jobs were administrative assistant (father job (56.9%)) and housewife (mother (56.9%). In the formation time of meal intake number and general characteristics, they answered order 'middle school'> 'before elementary school'. A highly influential meal, they answered as the highest 'lunch' (37.6%). This study may provide information on dietary behavior of high school students, suggesting that nutrition education or counseling can improve food habits and develop positive behavior.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1244-1255
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare the perception of meals and nutrition knowledge among high school students in Seoul. A survey was carried out on 548 male/female students in general and vocational high schools. The general high school students showed higher frequency of breakfast than the vocational high school students (p<0.001). As for the reasons for eating alone, the general high school students showed high frequency of 'busy', whereas the vocational high school students revealed high frequency of 'irregular meal times' (p<0.001). Concerning the habit of eating alone, 'irregular meal times (25.0%)', 'unbalanced diet (22.4%)', and 'instant food (16.6%)' were observed in that order (p<0.01). The percentage of high school students who regarded family meals as meals eaten with every member of their family was 70.6% (p<0.05). The percentage of general high school students who ate family meals was 61.8% and that of vocational high school students was 50.0% (p<0.01). When agreement with attitudes, environment, and participation in family meals was evaluated using a Likert scale (strongly agree 5 points, strongly disagree 1 point), the general high school students showed a higher level of agreement than the vocational high school students, and the results showed a significantly higher level of agreement as the frequency of family meals increased. Likewise, the groups who scored a higher level of nutrition knowledge had positive attitudes, environment, and participation in family meals with significant differences.