OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop new meal planning tools for a nutritionally balanced diet. METHODS: Based on the food exchange list for diabetes, we adjusted the food group classification system to reflect the suggested nutritional factors for chronic disease prevention and health promotion. We developed a nutritionally balanced dietary profile for adults and compared it with the dietary reference intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) and the food pattern recommended by the Korean Diabetes Association. RESULTS: The newly developed menu planning tools are the LOHAS food exchange table and the LOHAS food pattern. Our recommended daily 1,800 kcal dietary composition for adults is as follows: The carbohydrate food group consists of 4 ‘whole grains’, 3 ‘refined grains’, 2 ‘sugars’, 9 ‘vegetables’, 3 ‘starchy vegetables’, 2 ‘fruits’ and 1 ‘high sugar fruits’. The protein food group includes 3 ‘plant protein foods’, 3 ‘animal protein foods (low-fat)’, and 1 ‘animal protein foods (high-fat)’. The fat food group consists of 2 ‘oils and nuts’ and 1 ‘solid fats’. The total number of calories is estimated at 1,840 kcal and the energy ratio is 62% carbohydrate, 18% protein, 20% fat, 6.8% saturated fat and 13.2% sugars. Using the LOHAS food exchange table, it is possible to estimate values of saturated fat, unsaturated fat, dietary fiber, and sugars besides carbohydrate, protein and fat. It is also possible to compose a dietary design considering carbohydrate, sugars, saturated fat and dietary fiber. The LOHAS food pattern provides benefits for the management of both institutional food services and individual meals, as it can help reduce the levels of saturated fat and sugar intake and help develop healthy meals rich in unsaturated fats and dietary fiber. CONCLUSIONS: The LOHAS food exchange table and LOHAS food pattern are expected to be practical tools for designing and evaluating nutritionally balanced diets.
Adult ; Carbohydrates ; Chronic Disease ; Classification ; Diet ; Dietary Fats ; Dietary Fiber ; Fats, Unsaturated ; Food Services ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Meals ; Menu Planning ; Recommended Dietary Allowances

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop new meal planning tools for a nutritionally balanced diet. METHODS: Based on the food exchange list for diabetes, we adjusted the food group classification system to reflect the suggested nutritional factors for chronic disease prevention and health promotion. We developed a nutritionally balanced dietary profile for adults and compared it with the dietary reference intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) and the food pattern recommended by the Korean Diabetes Association. RESULTS: The newly developed menu planning tools are the LOHAS food exchange table and the LOHAS food pattern. Our recommended daily 1,800 kcal dietary composition for adults is as follows: The carbohydrate food group consists of 4 ‘whole grains’, 3 ‘refined grains’, 2 ‘sugars’, 9 ‘vegetables’, 3 ‘starchy vegetables’, 2 ‘fruits’ and 1 ‘high sugar fruits’. The protein food group includes 3 ‘plant protein foods’, 3 ‘animal protein foods (low-fat)’, and 1 ‘animal protein foods (high-fat)’. The fat food group consists of 2 ‘oils and nuts’ and 1 ‘solid fats’. The total number of calories is estimated at 1,840 kcal and the energy ratio is 62% carbohydrate, 18% protein, 20% fat, 6.8% saturated fat and 13.2% sugars. Using the LOHAS food exchange table, it is possible to estimate values of saturated fat, unsaturated fat, dietary fiber, and sugars besides carbohydrate, protein and fat. It is also possible to compose a dietary design considering carbohydrate, sugars, saturated fat and dietary fiber. The LOHAS food pattern provides benefits for the management of both institutional food services and individual meals, as it can help reduce the levels of saturated fat and sugar intake and help develop healthy meals rich in unsaturated fats and dietary fiber. CONCLUSIONS: The LOHAS food exchange table and LOHAS food pattern are expected to be practical tools for designing and evaluating nutritionally balanced diets.
Adult ; Carbohydrates ; Chronic Disease ; Classification ; Diet ; Dietary Fats ; Dietary Fiber ; Fats, Unsaturated ; Food Services ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Meals ; Menu Planning ; Recommended Dietary Allowances

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the current status of food service management in elementary care classes. METHODS: A focus group interview with seven care class managers and a survey with 101 care class managers using a self-administered questionnaire in Gyeonggi province were conducted. RESULTS: In the focus group interview, purchased meals and snacks were evaluated as low quality by the care class managers. Frequent use of frozen or processed food and products with low prices were also reported as problems. Care class managers were in charge of meal and snack planning without any guidelines or expert advices. The results of the survey show that most schools serve purchased snacks and meals. The average unit costs of one meal and snack were 4,062 and 1,463 Won, respectively. The average unit costs of snacks during semester (p = 0.015) and vacation (p = 0.039) were significantly lower in rural than urban areas. The percentages of schools that prepared nutrition standards for meal and snack planning in elementary care classes were only 7.4% and 10.9%, respectively. The meal menus were mostly provided by catering service companies, and the snack menus were planned mostly by the care class managers. Menu planning by the care class managers was more usual in rural than urban areas (p = 0.054 for meal planning and p = 0.008 for snack planning). Just 33.7% of schools introduced safety standards for food service in elementary care classes, and more than half of the respondents (56.4%) did not do a regular medical check-up. Only 33.7% of the respondents received education for food safety. CONCLUSION: These results show the necessity for establishment of detailed guidelines for food service in elementary care classes and for the introduction of a food safety and nutrition education program customized for care class managers.
Education ; Focus Groups ; Food Safety ; Food Services ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Humans ; Meals* ; Menu Planning ; Snacks* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to determine nutritional status of elderly patients in a long-term care hospital according to meal type and eating ability. METHODS: Subjects were 47 female patients aged over 65 (79.3 +/- 7.1 years) who resided in a long-term care hospital in Seoul. Thirty seven patients who ate diet orally were grouped according to meal type (27 general diet and 10 soft diet) and eating ability (26 eating by oneself and 11 eaten with help) and 10 were on tube feeding. Nutritional status was determined by food consumption and mid-arm circumference. RESULTS: The mean adequacy ratios (MARs) of 12 nutrients (protein, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, niacin, folic acid, vitamin C) were 0.687 for general diet, 0.565 for soft diet, 0.680 for eating by oneself and 0.677 for eaten with help, which were significantly lower than 0.982 for tube feeding (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). The patients on tube feeding had significantly lower % arm circumference compared to those who ate general diet (84.0% vs. 95.4%, respectively, p < 0.05). Nutrients intakes, nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and index of nutritional quality (INQ) were not different between meal types as well as eating ability. The most insufficiently consumed nutrients by the patients on diet were folic acid, vitamin B2, and calcium (NAR 0.334~0.453, 0.515~0.539, and 0.516~0.533, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that regardless of meal type or eating ability, the subjects who were on diets in this study might have inadequate intake of folic acid as well as vitamin B2, and calcium, which need to be reflected on menu planning. The measurement of mid-arm circumference presented more risk of malnutrition of patients on tube feeding than those on diets, despite apparently better nutrient consumption.
Aged* ; Arm ; Calcium ; Diet ; Eating* ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Long-Term Care* ; Malnutrition ; Meals* ; Menu Planning ; Niacin ; Nutritional Status* ; Nutritive Value ; Phosphorus ; Riboflavin ; Seoul ; Thiamine ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamins ; Zinc

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to revise the target pattern in food guidance system for adolescents' balanced menu planning. METHODS: The food groups in the target pattern were divided into detailed food items, and intake number were assigned to each food items based on the revised standard food composition table. The validity of revised target pattern was examined. Menu planning according to the revised target pattern was made available to 305 male and female middle school students and the nutritional assessment of the menu plan were carried out using SPSS WIN 12.0. RESULTS: The energy contents, energy contribution ratios of carbohydrate, fat, and protein, and 4 minerals' and 6 vitamins' contents of the revised target pattern were adequate. The average energy contents of the menu planned according to revised target pattern were 400~500 kcal higher than that of the revised target pattern when the revised standard food composition was applied. The energy contribution ratios of fat were 28.9%, close to maximum of acceptable macronutrient distribution range (AMDR) (30%), and that of carbohydrate were 54.5%, lower than minimum of AMDR (55%). The nutrient adequacy ratios (NARs) of calcium and vitamin C were less than 1.0. According to index of nutritional quality (INQ) of food items, kimchi, milkdairy products, and soybean curd were energy efficient source for calcium, kimchi, fruit, vegetable and seaweed were energy efficient source for vitamin C, with INQ of food items were higher or close to 2.0. Kimchi was the best energy efficient source of calcium and vitamin C. CONCLUSIONS: Revised target pattern based on the adolescent's foods intake was not good enough for balanced menu planning by adolescents, because what they ate and what they wanted to eat were very much different. Detailed guidance for food selection is necessary in each food items.
Adolescent ; Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Female ; Food Preferences ; Fruit ; Humans ; Male ; Menu Planning ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritive Value ; Seaweed ; Soybeans ; Vegetables

This study was conducted to analyze traditional aspects of school lunch menus in Korea. We conducted a content analysis of menu-related contents included in guidelines for school lunch programs provided by 16 city and provincial education offices. In addition, the data of 10,495 menus for the third week of December 2010 and March, July, October 2011 from 557 elementary, middle, and high school were analyzed by school grade, area, and province. The results showed that there were no specific and detailed guidelines for menu planning in terms of traditional food culture in most of the guidelines for school lunch programs. However, the basic traditional menu composition was maintained in school lunch menus. The percentage of menus including rice and Kimchi was 97% and 95%, respectively, and that including Korean soup was about 72%. However, the frequency of serving Namul, Korean seasoned vegetable dish, accounted for only about 52% of the menus. The percentage of the menus following the traditional food group pattern including such five food groups as rice, Korean soup, Kimchi, Namul, and optional Korean side dish was only about 35%. The percentage of the menus following the traditional food group pattern excluding Namul from the five food groups accounted for about 30%. The traditional food group score, calculated by allocating 1 point to each of the five food groups was 4.06 out of 5 points on average. Elementary schools and schools in rural area and in Jeolla-do province served traditional menus more frequently. In conclusion, school lunch programs need to consider establishing traditional foods-based standards and relevant guidelines for school lunch, particularly for high schools and schools in urban areas and in some provinces.
Humans ; Korea ; Lunch ; Menu Planning ; Seasons ; Vegetables

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Recently, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased in Korea. The aim of this study was to develop a Healthy Han-sik Nutrition Education Program (HHNEP) based on commonly recognized Korean foods in order to decrease metabolic syndrome risks. The target population of the HHNEP is adults with metabolic risk factors. The initial version of the HHNEP was developed based on a review of literature and various dietary guidelines by expert committees as well as the results of a survey on the perception of common Korean dishes and foods as Han-sik. The focus group discussion conducted of nine participants from the target population. After minor modification, the final version was developed. The contents included five sections: 1) aims, 2) introduction of Korean Food Guidance System, 3) cholesterol contents in food, 4) menu planning method using Han-sik, and 5) examples of daily Han-sik menu. The Han-sik list was selected based on the results from a Han-sik perception answered by 35 Korean adults aged 30-60 years using 517 frequently consumed Korean foods from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The nutrition education program was developed based on scientific evidence for the prevention of metabolic syndrome and focuses on tailoring education to an individual's dietary problems. Educational method was developed by a group of expert committees based in planned behavior theory and related research results. The education method consisted of assessment of current diet, four face-to-face nutrition education sessions over 8 weeks, and evaluation after 8 and 16 weeks. Initial version of nutrition education materials and methods was tested for feasibility by a select group of nine Korean healthy adults. Successful implementation of the program would include application by nutritional professionals at the health promotion center of the hospitals, public health center, and work sites. Intervention studies are needed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this program before large-scale applications.
Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Clinical Trial ; Diet ; Focus Groups ; Health Promotion ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Korea ; Menu Planning ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

The nutritional balance of the menu plans prepared according to the target pattern was examined. Total of 81 home economics teachers throughout the nation and 161 3rd-grade middle-school girls in Chungnam area participated. The data was collected by questionnaire and analyzed by using SPSS WIN 12.0. Although both teacher and student groups had fairly good knowledge on preparing menu plans related concepts, they rarely make use any menu planning currently. More than 85% of menu plans investigated exceeded their energy goal in the target pattern. The energy contribution ratios of carbohydrate: protein: fat were 56.1%: 17.4%: 26.5% in teachers' menu plan and 55.1%: 17.2%: 27.7% in students' menu plan. The NAR of the protein, phosphorous, iron, zinc, vitamin A and C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6 was 1 or near 1. But in case of calcium, 56.5% of the menu plan prepared by the students was less than 1, and in case of folate 75.3% of teachers', and 85.1% of students' were less than NAR 1. The MAR of the 12 nutrients examined were 0.98, 0.97, and the DVS were 51, 49 for menu plan prepared by teachers and students, respectively.
Calcium ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Iron ; Menu Planning ; Niacin ; Nutrition Assessment ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin A ; Zinc

This study examined students' menu preferences as well as the job satisfaction and specific considerations concerning foodservice operation of dieticians and nutrition teachers at special schools for the disabled. Semi-structured interview questionnaires were sent to all of the 21 special schools with direct school food service in Gyeonggi-do, and 16 dieticians and nutrition teachers agreed to participate in this study. Among the various menu groups, the subjects perceived the meat group as the most preferred and the vegetable group the least preferred. They were generally satisfactory with their job and duty, and had a strong sense of belonging to the school. However, most of them answered that they needed more time for nutritional education and counseling. While most had pride and pleasure in their job, they expressed a desire to change the system to better fit with their roles as professional nutritionists. The content analysis revealed that the subjects mainly focused on safety issues in planning the food menu and were thus limited in selecting menu items. They also felt difficulty in menu planning due to various tastes and preferences, since special schools tend to consist of a wider grade range. However, most subjects reported little trouble in food distribution and food leftovers owing to practical support from teachers and parents. The necessity for education concerning table manners and obesity prevention was generally a shared opinion, and education programs for parents were also perceived as necessary to better understand the special considerations for developing proper eating habits in their child. The study findings provide useful basic data to improve the foodservice system at special schools.
Child ; Counseling ; Eating ; Food Services ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Meat ; Menu Planning ; Obesity ; Parents ; Pleasure ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vegetables

This study examined the current status of foodservice management in elderly welfare facilities and evaluated food service workers' food safety practices and knowledge. For this, the directors of 20 elderly welfare facilities (each with fewer than 50 residents) located in Seoul were interviewed and a survey of 40 foodservice workers was conducted to determine their food safety knowledge and practices. The facilities accommodated an average of 28 residents. All the facilities were self-operated and approximately 62% were dependent on payments by residents. Only 15% had a dietitian in charge of menu planning, food purchasing, and food safety management. Approximately 50% had their facility managers take responsibilities for menu planning and food safety management. Most of the facilities provided food safety training within their own facility and sanitized their utensils, cutting boards, and dishcloths on a daily basis. A limited number of foodservice workers, insufficient training programs, and budget constraints were some of the major barriers to food safety management. Their average score on food safety practices was 1.62, and that on food safety knowledge was 17.6 out of 19 points. These results indicate that the foodservice workers had good food safety knowledge and appropriate food safety practices. There was a significant correlation only between food safety practices related to receiving and storing food products and knowledge of personal hygiene.
Aged ; Budgets ; Fees and Charges ; Food Safety ; Food Services ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Menu Planning