Abstract
The objective of this study consists in promoting seafood consumption by increasing its intake opportunities for children through analysis of seafood using frequency in the elementary school lunch program. For that purpose, randomly sampled out from elementary schools through the county were 155 dietitians and 5th grade 3581 children, on whom a mail survey was conducted to analyse their seafood using frequency, and preference, and lunch menu by seasons. Results of this study are as follows : The seafood using frequency of the respondents represented the highest value in one or two times a week, while obstacles in seafood use presented high values in the safety of food by 71.6% and children preference by 68.4%. The seafood intake frequency of the respondents showed the highest value in three or four times a week by 34.5% and the places of seafood intake indicated the highest response in the home by 43.5% and then school lunch and dining out. The dietitians responded that children for the most part had not a preference for seafood, whereas the children pointed out average by 46.2%. As for reasons for avoidance of seafood, the dietitians expressed the highest response in it depends cooking methods by 45.8%, while the children because of its peculiar taste and smell by 42.1%. Their required improvement showed the highest response in the taste improvement by 51.8%. The children most preference for seafood that dietitians thought included fried Alaska pollack and shrimp cutlet, while dislikes braised mackerels and seasoned cold jelly fish. Cooking methods frequently used were represented in order of soup, hot soup, and stew, and the children's preferred cooking method was from fried food. Above results suggested that the intention to increase seafood using frequency is needed to at the time of planning the menus so that more seafood-providing opportunities can be given. The development of cooking methods is urgently needed that can change the taste or the smell of seafood, and concurrently with this conveniences be taken into account in eating such as elimination of bones, etc. as early as the states of purchase or checking of seafood. The reflection of the preferred cooking methods is thought to contribute to the enhancement of satisfaction with the seafood as well as to the reduction of food remnants. The recommendation of intake of low preference but nutritionally good seafood is required to be expanded in nutrition education.
