There are being compared and analyzed the degree of understanding about nutrition indication of processed food eaten as snacks and the actual situation of ingestion street food among teenagers. The investigation was made in Seoul junior high school, t...
There are being compared and analyzed the degree of understanding about nutrition indication of processed food eaten as snacks and the actual situation of ingestion street food among teenagers. The investigation was made in Seoul junior high school, the total number of students inquired is 459 persons. The results could be used as a basis to stimulate healthy eating habits among teenagers through purchasing right products according to nutrition indications. As well, the results of the actual situation of street food could help to find the problems and improve the solution.
1. The highest frequency of eating processed food was once per day; the most frequent answer was 3-4 times per week. The answers about preferred snacks are showing the following trends by the sex. The most preferred snacks are bread, pastries (3-4 times per week, 36.3% of males, 30.8% of females), noodles (3-4 per week, 32.6% of males, 25.1% of females), coffee, soft drinks (3-4 times per week, 29.6% of males, 24.2% of females). These differences should be kept in mind.
2. The reason of eating snacks are as following: 'being hungry' 72.1%, 'because of a habit' 8.7%, 'being bored' 7.8%, 'Others' 7.0%, 'to release stress', 'because of the friends' 1.1%. The time when snacks are eaten is: 'after school' 39.0%, 'before going to supplementary classes' 32.8% (the most frequent answers). The most important matters which are being considered while buying snacks are taste (53.6%), price (23.3%), amount (11.8%), nutrition (7.4%). The first things to be checked before buying snacks are expiration date, type of goods. The snacks are usually being bought at local supermarket (54.2%), large marts (35.1%), schools shops (5.5%).
3. Female students tend to check the amount of transformed fats, calories, nutrition indications much more often than male students. Among female and male students, female students show greater interest to nutrition indications, and these differences should be kept in mind. Males students tend to check amount of transformed fats (24%), proteins (13.2%), total amount of fats (8.3%). Female students tend to check the amount of transformed fats (18.6%), cholesterol (8.7%), proteins (7.6%).
4. The most frequent answer about the size of letters used to indicate nutrition matters on processed food package was that the letters are too small. Only 41.4% of students from nuclear family wanted private tutor for education about nutrition indications, when 85.7% of students from extended families wanted a private tutor. The answer whether education about nutrition factors would help to improve eating habits are as following: neutral - 72.9%, would help - 14.6%, would not help - 12.5%.
5. The question "How often do you eat street food?" was answered as following: 'Almost never' - 61.1%, 'Once per day' - 26.8%, 'Twice per day' 7.8%, 'Three times per day' - 3.8%, 'No answer' - 2.6%, '4 times or more' - 0.4%. There is no matters to be kept in mind. Male students are choosing by taste (48.3%), price (25.1%), amount (15.5%). Female students are choosing by taste (56.3%), price (26.2%), others (6.0%). These differences should be kept in mind.
6. The most important matters considering street food are convenience (35.0%), good taste (31.5%), moderate price (12.9%). The biggest worries about street food are as following: exposure of environment polluting matters (24.8%), tools and environment are messy (23.1%), water used is not clean (14.7%), the sanitary utensils are too old and disinfection is not enough (12.3%). The answers about environment polluting matters and messy environment are most frequent, though street food is being thought as antihygienic.
The practical education is necessary in order that teenagers would stop to eat processed food just out of habit, to start buy food only after checking the nutrition matters. As well, the street food should be improved according to nutrition matters in order teenagers to improve their body.