• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.629-637
• /
• 2002

This study sought to determine family restaurant patrons' attitudes toward nutrition and healthy menus. A written questionnaire was handed out to 300 dine-in customers at the three different sites of T brand family restaurant. A total of 265 questionnaires were usable for data analysis, resulting in 88% response rate. Two attitude statements eliciting the strongest agreement were that 'Diet and chronic diseases risk are closely connected each other(4.44)' and 'Koreans are more nutrition & health conscious than they were in the past(4.41)'. The attitude statement-that nutrition is important when I eat out- received the lowest scores(2.92), which indicated that nutrition was not yet considered the most important factor when dining out. 23% of the respondents were interested in healthful foods, while 30% said they were unconcerned. Nutrition conscious group showed significantly (p<.000) higher attitude scores for most of statements than unconcerned group. Significant differences were found in age groups(p<.05, p<.01, p<.001), income levels(p<.05), educational levels(p<.05), health status groups(p<.05), and weight control interest groups(p<.05). Older respondents, respondents with higher income and educational levels were more interested in nutrition and healthy menus. Respondents who reported good health status and showed higher interest in weight control were more interested in nutrition and healthy menus. These findings indicate that restaurant firms should respond to consumers' increased interest in nutrition and healthy menus by offering healthful menus and increasing nutrition marketing activities. This may positively result in increasing customer counts and revenue as well as customer satisfaction level and brand image of restaurant firms. Moreover, restaurant firms are strongly encouraged to play an active role in promoting public's nutritional and health status because increasing consumption of meals away from home will seriously affect good health of our consumers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.268-277
• /
• 2009

This study examined the restaurateur's willingness to participate in the healthy restaurant program. Using a structured self-administered questionnaire, data on subjects' personal, business and management characteristics, willingness to participate in the healthy restaurant program and the perception of healthy restaurant program were collected from 145 restaurateurs in Seoul. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used in the analysis. Half of respondents (50.3%) were willing to participate in the healthy restaurant program. Years of business (OR = 2.584, 95% CI = 1.049-6.369), consideration of food quality (OR = 0.321, 95% CI = 0.147-0.702), and awareness of importance of nutrition or health information (OR = 2.416, 95% CI = 1.082-5.391) were significant indicators for restaurateur's willingness to participate in the healthy restaurant program. Hence, strategic activities to inform the benefit of healthy restaurant program for both restaurateurs and consumers are necessary.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.348-354
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a serious concern worldwide, for which the restaurant industry holds partial responsibility. This study was conducted to estimate restaurant consumers' intention to select healthy menu items and to examine the relationships among behavioral beliefs, past behaviors, attitudes and behavioral intentions, which are known to be major determinants of consumer behaviors. SUBJECTS/METHODS: An online, self-administered survey was distributed for data collection. The study sample consisted of customers who reported having visited casual dining restaurants in the last three months at the time of the survey. Structural equation modeling was used to verify the fit of the proposed research model. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling revealed that the proposed model supports the sequential, mediated (indirect) relationships among behavioral beliefs, past behaviors, attitudes and behavioral intentions toward healthy menu selection. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the available literature regarding obesity by adding past behaviors, one of the most influential variables involved in prediction of future behaviors of consumers, to the TPB model, enabling a better understanding of restaurant consumers' rational decision process regarding healthy menu choices. The results of this study provide practical implications for restaurant practitioners and government agencies regarding ways to promote healthy menus.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.174-182
• /
• 2014

This study compared total sodium amounts in 'Healthy Restaurant for Sodium Reduction' menu items located in Seoul, Chungcheong, and Gyeongsang in 2011 and 2012. In addition, this study explored reduced sodium cooking methods in 'Healthy Restaurant for Sodium Reduction'. This study monitored and collected menu samples from a total of 103 restaurants participating in 'Healthy Restaurant for Sodium Reduction' in 2011 and 2012. We also surveyed restaurant employees to identify reduced sodium cooking methods in 2012. The results showed significant reductions in total amounts of sodium in menu items of restaurants located in Seoul, Chungcheong, and Gyeongsang between 2011 ($310.8{\pm}156.8mg/100g$) and 2012 ($211.6{\pm}110.3mg/100g$). Amounts of sodium in all seven foodgroups showed significant reductions between 2011 and 2012: 'Gook/Tang' (from $226.6{\pm}127.7mg/100g$ to $168.5{\pm}74.3mg/100g$), 'Jjigae/Jeongol' (from $385.8{\pm}111.7mg/100g$ to $257.1{\pm}82.53mg/100g$), 'Noodle/Dumpling' (from $263.8{\pm}116.9mg/100g$ to $194.1{\pm}55.6mg/100g$), 'Gui' (from $390.3{\pm}120.6mg/100g$ to $258.8{\pm}92.7mg/100g$), 'Steamed dish' (from $305.3{\pm}124.3mg/100g$ to $175.6{\pm}76.6mg/100g$), 'Bob' (from $273.7{\pm}162.5mg/100g$ to $167.1{\pm}93.1mg/100g$), and 'Stir-fried dish' (from $368.6{\pm}116.6mg/100g$ to $219.0{\pm}72.4mg/100g$). The survey results showed that responses for 'Reducing salt amount' were 75.7%, responses for 'Using enchovy stock, shrimp, radish, or fruit soup' were 64.1%, and responses for 'Liking the taste because it is bland' were 50%. This study indicates that 'Healthy Restaurant for Sodium Reduction' nutrition policy was successful for reducing sodium contents of restaurant menu items, and also consumers were satisfied with the tastes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.323-329
• /
• 2007

The objective of this study was to compare the healthy dining out attitude of restaurant diners by self-rated health status. Using healthy dining attitude and behavior questionnaire and a single question describing self-rated health status, the needs and importance of healthy dining out was detected. Mean age of the 182 respondents was 38.9${\pm}$11.37 years old and 37.4% of the respondents answered their mean monthly income was over 6,000,000won showing the subjects belonged in high income diners. The needs of healthy dining measured by five scales and offering healthy menus(3.80), labeling foods about original country(3.79), using environmentally friendly foodstuffs(3.71) and labeling nutrients on menu board(3.62) show higher score than others. A total of 76.4% of the respondents assessed their health status as 'good-rated Health' and 23.6% was 'poor-rated health'. There was no difference in frequency of eating out by self-perception of health status but, the 'poor-rated health' group need more nutrition information in restaurant specially for calorie(p<0.05), cholesterol(p<0.05), fiber(p<0.05), functional nutrients(p<0.001) showing significant differences comparing to 'good-rated health' group. In good-rated health group, selection of Korean cuisine for eating out was more frequent than the poor. The results shows the needs of healthy dining can be varied by diner's health status and therefore restaurateur should focus on understanding of the needs of diners with various health status.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.849-857
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate 5th grade elementary school girls' effort to recognize and use nutritional labels on processed foods and restaurant meals to encourage dietary behavior. The subjects (n=976) were divided into three groups (effort group, n=711; normal group, n=193; and no-effort group, n=72) depending on level of effort for the healthy dietary behavior such as eating balanced meals, eating three meals regularly, and eating meals slowly. In the effort group, the frequency of food intake for breads, ramen, noodles and fast foods was significantly lower, while frequency of food intake for fruits and vegetables and salad was significantly higher than in the other two groups. In the effort group, the ratio of the respondents that perception of nutrition labeling on processed foods and restaurant meals was 80.5% and 31.4% and the ratio of girls who checked the nutrition labeling at their point of purchase was 71.1% and 24.7%, respectively. Reasons given for not reading nutrition labeling for restaurant meals were 'not interested' for 34.6% of the effort group, and 52.2% of the no-effort group. Therefore, it is necessary to create an educational program on healthy dietary behavior, including how to read nutrition labeling and establishment of proper body image perception for elementary school girls.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.562-576
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable questionnaire to assess the effectiveness of the healthy restaurant program, which was implemented by Seocho-gu District in Seoul. Evaluation indices were deduced from the logic model of the healthy restaurant program. The questionnaires consisted of three sections (process evaluation, outcome evaluation, and general characteristics) for restaurateurs and customers who were participating in the program or not. To validate the questionnaire, 133 restaurateurs and 246 customers were sampled using convenient methods. Data were collected by interviews. Reliability was tested by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The alpha coefficient for restaurateurs was 0.75-0.99 for the process and 0.79-0.97 for the outcome evaluation questions. The alpha coefficients for customers were 0.76-0.92 for the outcome evaluation questions. Face and content validity were examined for all questions, and construct validity was tested for latent variables. We are confident that more accurate and significant information will be collected using this questionnaire.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.78-86
• /
• 2016

The purpose of current study is to verify a formulated model that explains the influence of informational clues(Nutritional label information and Mass media information) on subjective knowledge, concern, satisfaction, and behavioral intention toward healthy foods in context of full-service restaurants. The results of present study demonstrated that all informational clues have significant influence on both knowledge and concern about health and the significant relationships were confirmed between knowledge, concern, emotional pleasure, and behavioral intention. This study may contribute to develop meaningful marketing strategic for healthy foods in full-service sector, and it can be utilized as a critical study to establish an attractive business strategics to increase revenue as well as satisfy healthy foods consumers in full-service restaurant consumers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.126-136
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate Chinese customers' perceptions of Korean foods and their satisfaction toward Korean cuisine restaurants. The subjects of this study were 202 Chinese individuals who visited Korean cuisine restaurants in Shanghai, China. The subjects viewed Korean foods as favorite foods and perceived them as fresh and seasonal, and mostly composed of cereals and vegetables however they did not view Korean cuisine as good for health. As compared to customers visiting a Korean restaurant for the first time, those who had visited Korean restaurants previously agreed more strongly with the following items: 'Korean food has a beautiful color', 'Korean food is familiar', 'Korean food smells good', 'Korean food is healthy', 'Korean food is nutritious', and 'Korean food is salty and spicy'. In addition, as compared to occasional visitors, frequent visitors of Korean cuisine restaurants more strongly agreed with the followings: 'Korean food has a beautiful color', 'Korean food is expensive', 'Korean food is healthy', 'Korean food is nutritious', 'Korean food is salty and spicy', and 'Korean food includes many fermented foods'. The subjects considered 'appearance of menu', 'variety of menu', 'nutrition of menu', and 'Chinese characters for menu and ingredients' as the most important attributes when choosing Korean cuisine restaurants. The frequent customers of Korean cuisine restaurants considered 'kind service', 'employee knowledge of Korean foods', 'operation hours of restaurant', and 'cleanliness of restaurant' as the most important restaurant attributes. In addition, the frequent customers of Korean cuisine restaurants were more satisfied than the occasional customers with the followings: 'nutritional quality of menu', 'quick service', 'cleanliness of restaurant', 'appearance and signboard of restaurant', and 'image of restaurant'. The implications of the data are discussed.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.96-108
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of attributes related to consumers' selection of a seafood buffet restaurant on consumers' satisfaction and their intention to revisit focused on seafood buffet restaurants in the Busan area to activate the seafood buffet restaurant business and to contribute to the food service industry. The results of this study showed that the attributes related to customers' selection of a seafood buffet restaurant have an effect on customer satisfaction and intention to revisit and that customer satisfaction affects their intention to revisit. Thus, this study is meaningful in that it suggested the trend of customers' consumption and the direction of future development of the food service industry.