• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.714-724
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• 2006

In an attempt to investigate mothers' perceptions of factors affecting preschool children's food preferences, their policy improving food intake and belief in food selection, in-depth interviews with 30 mothers who had preschool children were conducted in Daegu and Busan. The interviews were tape-recorded and the contents of interviews were analysed by researchers. Most mothers and children liked meats. It was found that children usually disliked vegetables such as onions, carrots, and green onions. Mothers perceived that many factors affected their children's food preferences: mothers' and fathers' food preferences, food offering at meals. mothers' food intake during pregnancy, children's food intake during weaning period, heredity peer pressure, and advertisements on television. Mothers made efforts to improve childrens food intakes in many ways: change of cooking method, emphasizing function of nutrients and food for health, conciliation and enforcement, and comparison to other children. The most affecting belief for mothers in food selection was family members' food preference. Health, balance in nutrient intake degree of food processes food additives, chemicals, convenience, diversity, and economy were also important beliefs to select food. Convenience was especially the primary belief in choosing and preparing children's snacks. Mothers offered frozen dumplings and meat, instant noodles, tuna, and ham for snacks for convenience. These results showed that mothers understood many aspects affecting children's food preference tried to improve children s food intakes and had several beliefs in food selection. We concluded that it is necessary to give information for mothers to make healthy snacks in a short time and chance to learn cooking skills.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.659-667
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• 2009

The primary object of this study was to examine both preferences in a variety of foods and snacks and the eating habits among young children (aged 13 months through 50 months old). In addition, this study examined whether there would be significant differences in the preferences and eating habits by of young children of different ages and gender of young children. This study included 193 infants (85 boys, 108 girls) of aged 13 through 50 months of old who were enrolled in early childhood education and care settings in Seoul and Gyunggi Province. The information regarding food and snack preferences among young children were gathered through surveys filled out by their mothers and the children's overall eating habits were assessed by their teachers. The main results of this study were as follows. Overall, there were some patterns in eating bere asss and food preferences in foods and snacks among young children. There were no significant differences in both eating bere asss and food preferences by gender of young children. But, however, there were significant differences in food (p<0.001) and snack preferences (p<0.001) by of children of different ages of young children.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.302-311
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary data for better safety control over children's preference foods sold in school stores. The survey was conducted from June to July 2009, to collect 749 types of children's preference foods sold in 150 middle and high school stores nation-wide excluding Jeju Island and general and nutrition information were analyzed. Out of 749 types of snack food items, 689 and 602 snacks were sold at high school and middle school stores respectively. Among children's preference foods, cookies, bread, and ice-cream were the main items. Among them, 98% of snacks were domestic products and the price range of each individual snacks were mostly between 600 and 900 won. 27.8% of children's preference foods sold were found to be in the high calorie/low nutrition food group. Even though the proportion of candy and fruit/vegetable beverages sold were not high, their proportion in high calorie/low nutrition snack group were higher than 68.1%. Among the children's preference foods sold in middle and high school stores, carbonated drinks and ramen were continuously sold in certain middle and high schools, even though sales were prohibited. This study concludes that government, corporations and retailers should work together in developing healthier children's snack distribution environment. In addition, dairy products, which take up 15% of children's preference food, should be diversified to meet their nutrient requirements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.403-410
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• 2018

This study was conducted to evaluate children's purchase behavior (frequency of snack consumption and purchase) and preference for high protein snack products developed for weight control and nutritional balance. A total of 80 elementary school students (from the 3rd to 6th graders) in the Gyeonggi-do learning center were participated and 76 were used for the analysis. The most common response for liking snacks was taste (71.4%), and the most preferred types of snacks were chips (42.1%) and puff snacks (34.2%). The highest frequency of snack ingestion was 1-3 times per week (48; 63.2%), and the main purchasers were parents (65.8%). Cheese, corn and chili flavors were more preferred than the control, while yogurt taste was slightly less preferred than the control. The results of this study showed the possibility of commercialization of new protein snacks according to children's seasoning preference and provide the insights into the snack preferences of children as main consumers.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.139-151
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the eating patterns of children with cerebral palsy having motor disturbances as well as stiffness. The food habits, nutritional status, and snack intakes of 1 to 7 year-old children with cerebral palsy were examined. The subjects were grouped into three categories according to their table-utensil handling skills: superior, normal, and inferior. The children in the superior group were significantly taller and heavier compared to children in the other two groups. The %EARs of folic acid and total calorie intake were insufficient in all three groups; however, their %EARs of other nutrients were fully sufficient. When comparing the children's intake frequencies and preferences for snacks, the superior group showed a greater likelihood to consume various kinds of snacks than the inferior group. And the inferior group disliked more kinds of snacks than the other two groups. It was also shown that the inferior group had a significantly higher tendency for problems in chewing and swallowing. These results indicate that the development of table utensil-handling skills is very important for the food intake and growth of children with cerebral palsy, and the better their table utensil-handling skills the greater their physical development. Thus, considering their preference and intake frequency, it seems necessary that children in the inferior group be provided a greater variety of snacks and foods to receive more calories.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.1172-1179
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to determine eating behaviors and nutrient intakes of 256 third grade primary school children(134:boys, 122:girls) in Kwangju. There were no significant differences in the heights, weights, physical circumferences measurements between the boys and girls, but the skinfold thickness measurements were significantly different. Most nutrient intakes were higher than the Rec ommended Dietary Allowances but the intake of energy, calcium, and vitamin E were lower than the RDA. The intakes of calcium, niacin, and vitamin E of the girls were significantly lower than those of the boys. With regard to meal volume, 13.6% of the subjects has been 'much'. With regard to meal speed, 24.6% of the subjects has been 'fast'. The study also found that 50% of the subjects skipped breakfast, 67.6% of the subjects had irregular meal times, 64.6% of the subjects ate snacks after dinner and 85.9% of the subjects ate snacks. These results show that the nutrient intake of children was related to snack eating more than regular meals. With regard to dietary behavior and nutrient intakes, meal volume, meal speed, skipping breakfast, eating snacks and eating snacks after dinner were major influences. But regularity of meal time was not influence on nutrient intakes. These results suggest that children's eating behaviors are in needs of correction. This reasserts the importance of nutrition education to children through teachers, parents and dietitians. The findings of this study should be applied to nutrition education to ensure better physical fitness of children.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2009

Effective parenting attitudes have been known to be associated with children's health practices including dietary intake and physical activity. The objective of this study is to compare children's body weights and eating habits by maternal parenting attitudes. Data were collected at school (N = 396; 4th and 5th grade students) using self-administered questionnaires on maternal parenting attitudes, eating habits and physical activity. Parenting attitudes were categorized as 1 of 4 parenting attitudes (overprotective, authoritarian, democratic, and neglectful) using affection and control median cut points. Children's body weights, frequency of breakfast, eating out and fastfood, and physical activity were compared by maternal parenting attitudes. Children's body weights were related with mother's employment status (p < 0.05) and parenting attitudes (p < 0.01). Children of unemployed mothers were more likely to be overweight. Children of neglectful mothers (p < 0.01) were more likely to be underweight, compared with children of mothers with other parenting attitudes. Since, unfortunately, the number of children of neglectful mothers was very limited in this study, we could hardly assess eating habits of children of neglectful mothers. Children of authoritarian mothers ate breakfast more regularly (p < 0.05), but ate snacks less regularly (p < 0.01). Children of democratic mothers ate fastfood less frequently (p < 0.01) and ate snacks more regularly (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, children of overprotective mothers ate breakfast less regularly (p < 0.05) and ate out less frequently (p < 0.01). However, maternal parenting attitudes were not related to children's physical activities. In conclusion, the maternal democratic parenting attitude was associated with healthy eating habits including regular snack time and less fastfood. On the other hand, the maternal neglectful parenting attitude was associated with high risk of children's underweight. Understanding the mechanism through which parenting attitude is related with underweight risk and healthy eating habits may lead to the development of better interventions.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 1976

A group of 132 pre-school children with a mean age of six years and one month was the subjects of this investigation. These children were members of three nursery schools locating in Kwang-ju city. Each child's mother replied to a questionaire which included 42 food items and 4 questions. The results showed that the food preference of each child was variable and the group as a whole expressed more positive than negative feelings. The average number of foods liked per child was 22.9(range: $7{\sim}42$) among 42 food items. Peach, Apple, Strawberry, Laver, Egg, Tomato, Sweet Potato, Tangerine Orange and Beef were ranked in descending order of 'like' ratings. The average number of foods refused was 4.9 (range: $0{\sim}25$). Onion, Liver, Red Pepper Leaf, Root of Bellflower, Taro, Wild Seasame Leaf, Egg Plant, Cabbage, Water Cress and Bracken were ranked in descending order of 'refuse' ratings. The odor of hurting feelings, the hot taste and the flabby texture were the reasons why the children refused these foods. The average number of foods unexperienced was 4.4 (range: $0{\sim}14$). Kidney, Dried Small Whitebail, Tangle (DA SHI MA), Liver, SA RI Mushroom, Acorn Mook, Dried Fragrant Mushroom, Pine Agaric, Root of Bellflower and Ped Pepper Leaf were ranked in descending order of 'unexperience' ratings. Children's 'like' rating toward total foods was 57.3% and the 'refuse' rating was 11.7%. Among eight food groups, fruits showed the highest favority (91.4%) and mushroom showed the least (25.9%). The difference between male and female in the preference of total foods did not showed significant level. But the difference were significant in those of individual food groups; other vegetables, green and yellow leafy vegetables, mushrooms(above, p.<01), fishes and shellfish and sea weeds (above, p<.05). Children who had experienced meals missed rated 59.1% and 34.1% of these children missed meals once a week. The main reason for maels missed was due to the heavey snacks before meal time. Children who had snacks twice a day rated 45.6%. Main foods used as their snacks were starch foods (Cake, Biscuit, Sweet Potato) and citrous foods (Fruits, Apple, Tangerine).

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.651-661
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• 2008

The mother's obesity-related stress and it's association with obesity, food intake, and physical activity in both mothers and their children were determined. Based on self-reports from 470 mothers, obesity stress of mothers were scored by using a five-point Likert scale; only low and high stress scores were used in this study. The perceptions of mothers' weights and their children's weights, mothers' Body Mass Indices (BMI), and preschoolers' Weight-Length Indices (WLI)(%) were also determined. The obesity stress of mothers was significantly associated with the mothers' BMI (high stress: $23.5{\pm}2.4$ vs. low stress: $19.6{\pm}1.7$, p<0.05), but not with their children's obesity. Mothers with a high obesity stress reported a higher percentage of family history of obesity (62.1% vs. 38.3%, p<0.001) than mothers with low obesity stress. Compared to mothers with low obesity stress, mothers with high stress had lower correct-perceptions about their weights (p<0.05) but higher correct-perceptions for their children's weights. Almost 54.5% of mothers with high stress reported watching television 2 or more extra hours per day, compared with 32.2% of mothers with low stress (p<0.05). More children of mothers with high stress had long hours of daily TV viewing than children of mothers with low stress (36.0% vs. 15.3%, $X^2=10.491$, p<0.05). Mothers with high stress reported lower intake of protein-rich foods (p=0.01) and vegetables (p=0.039), but a higher intake of snacks (p=0.009), compared to mothers with low stress. More children of mothers with high stress reported eating high fat snacks or high sugar snacks everyday, but this was not statistically significant. In conclusion, high obesity stress in mothers were greatly associated with their BMI and their inactive life style, including long TV viewing hours per day and unbalanced food intakes, which can lead their children becoming inactive and obese. Special attention is recommended for overstressed mothers and their children, especially those who enjoy long hours of TV viewing.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.489-498
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• 2008

This study was designed to evaluate the relationships among snack intake, obesity index, and blood parameters in obese elementary school children. Anthropometric measurements, nutrient intake from meals and snacks, serum cholesterol, glucose, GOT, GPT, and hemoglobin levels were obtained 36 obese elementary students (boys=28, girls=8). The average age, height, weight, % body fat, and obesity index were 11.9 years, 145.5cm, 53.5kg, 45.7%, and 32.4%, respectively. The mean energy intake was 1,818.7 kcal in boys and 1,818.1 kcal in girls. In addition, the energy intake from snacks was 470.4 kcal in boys and 479.4 kcal in girls. The levels of plant fat (p<0.05) and cholesterol (p<0.001) consumed during snacks (1,000 kcal per energy intake) were higher than those consumed during meals. The serum cholesterol, glucose, and hemoglobin levels were 177.4 mg/dL, 90.4 mg/dL, and 14.5 g/dL, respectively. In addition, the levels of serum GOT (p<0.001) and GPT (p<0.05) were higher in boys than in girls. Height was positively correlated with food intake (p<0.05), snack intake (p<0.05), and energy intake from snacks (p<0.05). Based on these results, further studies are needed in order to investigate the relationships among various aspects of snacking and obesity in elementary school children.