• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.269-281
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the frequency of convenience food consumption at convenience stores (CVS) and the CVS usage patterns of middle and high school students as well as to understand students' attitude toward sodium and sugar reduction. Methods: We used an online questionnaire for data collection. The questionnaire comprised five distinct categories: general characteristics, CVS usage, frequency of consumption according to convenience food menus at CVS, attitude toward sodium and sugar reduction, and adherence to dietary guidelines. Results: A total of 75 students from Seoul (14 middle school students and 61 high school students) participated in the study. Most respondents visit CVS 3-5 times a week. CVS are predominantly used during weekdays, mostly during lunch, and dinner. The students mostly checked the caloric content and expiration date as food labeling information. The participants were aware of the need to reduce their sugar and sodium intake. Among frequent CVS convenience food consumers, there was an increased consideration of the need to reduce their sugar and sodium consumption, despite their actual selection of foods with high sugar and sodium content. Additionally, they did not check the sugar and sodium levels indicated in food labeling. Further, the dietary action guide from the Ministry of Health and Welfare were poorly followed by most students. Conclusions: There is a need for nutrition education specifically addressing the sugar and sodium content of the convenience foods predominantly consumed by students. Additionally, educating students with frequent convenience food consumption to actively check the sugar and sodium information on food labels could help promote healthier food choices.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.332-338
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine consumers' behaviors toward ready-to-eat foods and to develop ready-to-eat food market segmentation in Korea. The food-related lifestyle and purchase behaviors of ready-to-eat foods were evaluated using 410 ready-to-eat food consumers in the Republic of Korea. Four factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis (health-orientation, taste-orientation, convenience-orientation, and tradition-orientation) to explain the ready-to eat food consumers' food-related lifestyles. The results of cluster analysis indicated that "tradition seekers" and "convenience seekers" should be regarded as the target segments. Chi-square tests and t-tests of the subdivided groups showed there were significant differences across marital status, education level, family type, eating-out expenditure, place of purchase, and reason for purchase. In conclusion, the tradition seekers consumed more ready-to-eat foods from discount marts or specialty stores and ate them between meals more often than the convenience seekers. In contrast, the convenience seekers purchased more ready-to-eat foods at convenience stores and ate them as meals more often than the tradition seekers. These findings suggest that ready-to-eat food market segmentation based on food-related lifestyles can be applied to develop proper marketing strategies.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.564-570
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although the issues of singles' dietary style and quality of life are becoming important due to the increasing number of singles with economic power, little research has been conducted to date on singles' use of convenience food and quality of life in relation to their dietary style. Thus, the present study intends to provide basic data to improve the quality of life by determining the current status of the use of convenience food and explicating its relationship with quality of life through analyzing the dietary lifestyles of the singles. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The targets of this study were singles, identified as adults between the ages of 25 and 54, living alone, either legally or in actuality having no partner. A statistical analysis of 208 surveys from Seoul, respectively, was conducted using SPSS12.0 for Windows and SEM using AMOS 5.0 statistics package. RESULTS: The convenience-oriented was shown to have a significant positive effect on convenience food satisfaction. HMR satisfaction was found to have a significant effect on positive psychological satisfaction and the convenience-oriented was found to have a significant negative effect on all aspects of quality of life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: There must be persistent development of food industries considering the distinctive characteristics of the lives of singles in order to satisfy their needs and improve the quality of their lives.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.623-635
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• 2013

This study examined the extent of information needs regarding convenience store private brand (PB) foods and variables affecting information needs for convenience store PB foods. This study will be able to provide useful information based on determining the information content and information sources needed by undergraduate consumers for convenience store PB foods. Data analyses were conducted by frequency, mean (SD), reliability tests, and multiple regression with SPSS version 19.0. The major results of this study are as follows: First, undergraduate consumers' purchase intention toward convenience store PB foods is comparatively high, and they say they will buy the products if the PB foods' quality-related areas like taste, nutrition, or safety are favorable. Second, the general level of information needs for convenience store PB foods is comparatively high, and among general information needs, 'information needs for convenience store PB food quality' are the greatest, while in the area of comparative information needs, 'comparative information on PB food and NB food quality' is needed the most. In addition, undergraduate consumers most often want to obtain convenience store PB food information from convenience stores themselves. Third, as purchase intention and information acceptance of convenience store PB foods increase, information needs also increase. However, as quality perception of convenience store PB foods is more positive, information needs reduce.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.279-290
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary habits and the consumption patterns of convenience foods by university students according to where they reside. The subjects were 572 university students in Changwon and Masan who were divided into three groups by their residential type; students living with their parents (n=297), self-boarding students (n=139), and students living in a dormitory (n=136). This survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Among all students, 22.4% skipped breakfast, and the major reason was lack of time (38.1%). Convenience food intake at lunch was 39.1%, and that of snacks was 35.4%. In particular, convenience food intake at lunch was 45.9% for students living with their parents, 30.9% for those self-boarding, and 32.6% for those living in a dormitory (P<0.01). Approximately 66% of the students said that the reason they bought convenience food was that it was easy to cook. Those who were residents of a house (P<0.001) believed that nutritional imbalance was a problem with convenience food. The students who lived in the dormitory ate frozen fried pilaff (P<0.01), canned vegetables (P<0.05), packed kimchi (P<0.001), and Ramyon cups (P<0.001) more, while the self-boarding students ate Ramyon (P<0.05) more. The results suggest that it is necessary to educate people how to buy reasonably by understanding the interrelationship between convenience food and health care and by checking the nutrition index label on convenience foods.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.246-257
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• 2004

To provide basic information for the proper usage of frozen convenience foods in elementary school foodservice operations, 51 dietitian employeed in school foodservices in Inchon were surveyed. Among the frozen convenience foods, dumpling-type foods(60.8%) and processed meats(40.4%)were used widely in school foodservice. Generally, the frequency of using frozen food items was fewer than 1 time per month. More than 15% of respondents were using pork cutlet, chicken, chickenball, dumpling stuffed with meat about 2-3 times per month. Sweet and sour pork(Tangsuyuk), kebap(Sanjuk), fish/shrimp cutlet, fried potato items were used only fewer than 1 time per month. Dietitian's age, carrier, employed status influenced the utilization rate. The grand mean of satisfaction score was 3.36 out of 5. The factors affecting satisfaction in using frozen foods were sanitation, taste, price, nutrition, food additives in order. The major reasons of utilizaing frozen convenience foods were 'improved labor productivity(4.47)' and 'meet customer preference(4.25)'. The limiting factors in using frozen foods were taste(35.3%), price(23.5%), nutrition(17.6%). The management practices of frozen convenience foods through food processing flow were assessed. Average performance rate was 64.7%. To enlarge the usage of frozen convenience foods in foodservice operations, dietitians should observe sanitary practices.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.375-386
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• 2017

Objectives: Rapid economic growth and industrial development in South Korea have led to a great change in dietary patterns, and the use of convenience foods has continuously increased. This study was performed to evaluate the energy and nutrient contents of convenience foods at convenience stores near the universities as a meal. Methods: Data was collected by visiting 22 convenience stores near some universities in Chungbuk and Seoul and by checking nutrition labels on convenience foods at the stores. Data of a total of 338 food items were collected, and divided into five groups according to the food categories; rice products (n=156), noodles (n=101), burger/sandwiches (n=62), Tteokbokkis (n=11), and dumplings (n=8). Further, rice products, noodles, and burger/sandwiches were divided into subcategories. Results: The proportion of calories from carbohydrates was high in the rice products and tteokbokki, while the rate of calories from fat was high in burger/sandwiches and dumplings. Among the rice products, the proportion of carbohydrate calories was high in a one-dish food, rice with soup, and triangular kimbap, while the proportion of calories from fat in lunch boxes was high. In the noodles category, ramyeon and spaghetti had a high percentage of fat calories, while udong had a high percentage of carbohydrate calories. The ratio of the calorie content in relation to the KDRIs for adults aged 19-29 years, lunch boxes provided about 1/3 of daily required energy. However, the amount of calories as one meal was not enough for other types of rice products except for lunch boxes. Ramyeon was high in calories, fat, and sodium, but low in protein content. The burger/sandwiches had a high percentage of fat and sodium. Conclusions: Our results showed several nutritional limitations of convenience meals in convenience stores according to the type of food. Therefore, college students should limit excessive intake of convenience meals on a regular basis in order to avoid unhealthy food intake patterns. Our results demonstrate the need for educating college students with regard to checking nutrition labels when choosing convenience meals in order to facilitate the selection of food items that contribute to a balanced diet.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.257-268
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• 2019

This study provides basic data on how stress impacts the processed convenience foods purchase attitudes and the selection attributes of housewives. The stress consists of 3 factors, which were housework stress, family relation stress and economic stress. The processed convenience food purchase attitude consisted of 2 factors, which were peripheral influence purchase and conviction purchase. The processed convenience food selection attribute consisted of 4 factors, which were quality, convenience, packaging and price. Factor loading confirmation and reliability test were conducted, and the reliability was confirmed with Cronbach's alpha coefficients for all the factors exceeding 0.5. The high stress levels showed significantly high stress factors of housework, family relations and economic stress (P<0.001). The high stress group was shown to make purchases by recognizing peripheral influences (P<0.01). When the selection properties of processed convenience foods depending on different stress levels were examined, it was revealed that among the three groups, the low stress group least considered the price aspect (P<0.01). After deducting the factors, AMOS (Analysis of Moment Structure) was used to conduct the confirmatory factor analysis for verifying validity. The structural equation model was used to determine the path coefficient. From the processed convenience foods purchase attitude, the peripheral influence purchase had significantly positive (+) effects on convenience (P<0.05). Also, conviction purchase was shown to have significantly positive (+) effects on quality (P<0.05). Housework and family relation stress were shown to have negative (-) effects on processed convenience foods selection attribute, and economic stress was shown to have positive (+) effects, although no significant relationships were revealed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.391-400
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• 1997

To provide basic information for the development of refrigerated convenience foods for Koreans, 492 house-wives residing in Seoul and Kyunggi Province were surveyed concerning satisfaction of buying precooked convenience foods, frequency of using them, preferred Korean dishes, and willingness to buy the convenience foods if they are developed. Statistical data analysis was completed using SAS package program. The satisfaction mean score of the marketed precooked convenience foods was 2.73 out of 5 and the housewives were least satisfied with feed additives and sanitation factors. The factors affecting satisfaction in purchasing were sanitation, taste, variety of type, nutrition, price, and food additives for side-dishes sold refrigerated or at room temperature, and taste, sanitation, variety of type, price, nutrition, and food additives for frozen prepared foods in order respectively. The frequency of using the precooked convenience foods was generally low but that of using the pickled dishes, Jokbal Soondae, and frozen prepared foods was relatively high. The answer of 'the thought that meals should be prepared in households' was the primary reason for avoiding using the precooked convenience foods and 'no time to cook' was the most frequent answer among the reasons for using them. Currently, the precooked convenience foods were used for snacks mainly, but the usages to be expected to increase were for lunchbox, main dishes, snacks, side dishes, special occasions foods, and leisure foods in order. Based on preference and buying priority, the dishes needed to be developed as refrigerated convenience foods among Korean dishes were identified. The result showed that 'preference' was not consistent with buying priority and the housewives perceived the factor of 'convenience' more importantly than 'preference' in purchasing the convenience foods.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2012

This study is to research the use and the demand of the elderly generation that pursue economic ability and active lifestyle. The composition of the meals were "homemade meals" 65.3%, "homemade & convenience meals" 26.7% overall. For the "never miss a meal" category, 70-74 years old was 48.3%, over 80 years old was 60.0%. The elderly under 70 years old showed a high frequency in the use of alternative meals (p < 0.05) and the elderly with higher education used the alternative meals more frequently (p < 0.01). The rice-cakes, bread, tuna cans, Korean side-dishes, beverages, meat, cup-noodles and seafood as alternative meals are in the order of most frequency. Also, 96.0%, 59.0% and 46.5% of the elderly had experience in using "Ready to eat (RTE)", "Ready to heat (RTH)" and "Ready to cook (RTC)". The oldest group surveyed, the elderly at the age of 80 years old and above showed lower preference for "completely cooked state" but showed highest results in the "half-cooked state". This shows the difference between people's perception and the behavior that showed high frequency of 96.0% in the experience with "RTE". This can be inferred that the elderly needs the development of convenience food that is moderately packaged according to the newer lifestyle where the elderly live independent from their children. Moreover, there is a higher demand in the healthy convenience food, which means that there is a need for development in the quality of the convenience food that will allow more faith in convenience food by the elderly.