• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.206-215
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of foodservice management in organizations delivering meal boxes for low-income children during summer vacation. A survey was conducted with persons in charge of meal box production and service of these organizations via mail. Out of 114 questionnaires distributed nationwide, 100 were analyzed(87.8% analysis rate). Over half(53%) of the organizations delivered meal boxes consisting of rice and side dishes while the rest delivered side dishes only. About 81% of the organizations received KRW 3,000 per meal from their local governments and the rest received KRW 3,500. Only 28% of organizations had employed a dietitian. Over one-third(38%) of the respondents were unaware of the official nutritional standard of the foodservice program for low-income children during vacation. Most of the organizations(94%) had menu planned in advance. The average percentage of food cost was 84.1%. Over 40% of the organizations did not keep food samples for sanitation test(43%) and did not take any measures for keeping food temperature during delivery(45%). The organizations delivering rice and side dishes were more likely to be located in cities rather than rural areas and received higher reimbursement rate. The organizations receiving reimbursement of KRW 3,500 or hiring a dietitian were more likely to use standardized recipes, keep food samples for sanitation test, or take measures for keeping food temperature during delivery compared to the counterparts. Respondents reported that increasing reimbursement rate was the most necessary for improving the quality of meal box. This study results showed that the meal box delivery service for low-income children was not properly managed during the vacation, with regards to menu planning and food production. It is recommended that reimbursement rate for meal boxes should be adjusted depending on meal box types and local conditions.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.515-521
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diet of children under the government-funded meal support program. The 143 children (67 boys and 76 girls) participated in this study among $4^{th}-6^{th}$ elementary school students receiving free lunches during the summer vacation of 2007 and living in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea. The subjects consisted of four groups supported by Meal Box Delivery (n = 26), Institutional Foodservice (n = 53), Restaurant Foodservice (n = 27), or Food Delivery (n = 37). A three-day 24-hour dietary recall and a self-administered survey were conducted. In addition, the children's heights and weights were measured. The average energy intake of the children was 1,400 kcal per day, much lower than the Estimated Energy Requirements of the pertinent age groups. The results also showed inadequate intake of all examined nutrients; of particular concern was the extremely low intake of calcium. On average, the children consumed eight dishes and 25 food items per day. The children supported by Meal Box Delivery consumed more various dishes and food items than the other groups. The percentage of children preferring their current meal support method was the highest in those supported by Meal Box Delivery and the lowest in those supported by Food Delivery. We requested 15 children among the 143 children participating in the survey to draw the scene of their lunch time. The drawings of the children supported by Institutional Foodservice showed more positive scenes than the other groups, especially in terms of human aspects. In conclusion, the overall diet of children under the government-funded meal support program was nutritionally inadequate, although the magnitude of the problems tended to differ by the meal support method. The results could be utilized as basic data for policy and programs regarding the government-funded meal support program for children from low-income families.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.716-723
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• 2016

The aims of this study were to investigate usage status, menu preference, quality evaluation and satisfaction of home-delivered meal box for children from low-income families in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea. A total of 320 children and their guardians who had received home-delivered meal boxes participated in 2015. A total of respondents (62.2%) were children and teenagers, and 37.8% were guardians. The 47.7% of children and 43.8% of guardians were using the home delivery service more than one year. Most of the children and guardians answered 'eat almost', 'eat all meals' served meal box, 75.3%, 81.8%, respectively. After receiving the meal box at home, 35.2% of children consumed meals within 1~2 hours, whereas 32.8% of the guardians were ate within 2~6 hours. It was founded that 'throw away leftovers' was the highest and followed 'give it others' in a way to treat leftovers. The results of preference survey on meats, seafood, showed that 'chicken nugget' (4.07) and 'stir-fried fish cake with vegetable' (3.63) were the highest points for children, whereas 'grilled LA beef ribs' (3.98) and 'stir-fried anchovies' (3.72) were the highest point for guardians. 'Seasoned leaves marinated in soy sauce' was the highest preference among vegetables and another dish for respondents. Frozen products were the most preferred types of meal boxes on the menu. In the quality evaluation of home-delivered meal box, although satisfaction with service and packaging of the meal box were high, the satisfaction of food quality was relatively low.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.118-124
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the menu of meal boxes delivered to low-income children during summer vacation. Out of 114 questionnaires distributed nationwide concerning lunch menus during summer vacation of 2008, 51 (44.7% response rate) were returned. A total of 170 daily lunch menus consisting of 5 day menus from 34 organizations (29.8% analysis rate) were analyzed after excluding 16 organizations that delivered side dishes only and one organization that provided menus of less than 5 days. The mean numbers of dishes and food items in the menus were five and eight, respectively. Over two-thirds (67.1%) of the lunch box menus included only three food groups: grain, meat and vegetable. Only 2% of the menus included all five food groups, grain, meat, vegetable, fruit, and dairy products. In general, the menus tended to lack fruits and dairy products; the percentages of the menus not including fruits and dairy products reached 89% and 77%, respectively. The average number of dishes, distribution of food group patterns, and average dietary diversity scores of the menus were significantly different according to reimbursement rate. The organizations receiving reimbursement of 3,500 won were more likely to include diverse food groups than those receiving 3,000 won although most of the menus were not proper in terms of food diversity anyway. These results suggest that lunch box menus for low-income children can be improved, in particular, by including more diverse food groups.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.668-676
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality attributes and importance that affects their satisfaction with respect to lunchboxes amongst children from low-income families in Korea. In case of $1-3^{rd}$-grade elementary school, 57.1% received lunch box through the community child center, while 45.2%, 68.5% and 80.7% of $4-6^{th}$-elementary school, middle school, and high school students received the lunch box from home, respectively. Typically, in 40.2% of all grades, the time to eat the meal was within 1~2 hours of delivery, and 34.0% consumed the lunch within 2~6 hours of delivery. With respect to intake of the contents of lunchboxes, 72.0% of the participants answered that they ate 80% of the lunchboxes delivered and 24.9% only ate 50% of the content of lunchboxes. The largest leftover were vegetables (26.9%), and the reason for leaving food was 'do not like to eat (36.1%)' followed by 'no taste (32.6%)'. Regarding improvements in delivery lunchboxes, elementary school students selected 'taste', while middle school and high school students selected 'variety of menu'. The 'nutrition (3.69 point)' of the lunchboxes was the highest satisfaction and the 'variety of menu (3.34 point)' was the lowest. In all grades, 'nutrition' and 'hygiene' were considered to be important as quality attributes of the delivery lunchboxes, and satisfaction was also high. On the other hand, in the $1-3^{rd}$-grade elementary school, 'variety of menu' and 'amount of side dish' were important but satisfaction was low. The $4-6^{th}$-grade elementary school, middle school and high school students stated that 'taste' and 'variety of menu' were important, but satisfaction was low.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.204-211
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• 2011

Purpose: To investigate the frequency of breakfast skipping and affecting factors in children in poverty. Methods: The subjects were 644 children who were receiving the services of community child center or delivery meal-box. They were asked about their socio-demographic characteristics, health behaviors and breakfast-skipping status in the survey. Results: Breakfast-skippers were 17.4% of the subjects. The count of negative health behaviors in breakfast skippers was higher than that in eaters, and the behaviors of exercise, screen time, alcohol experience, and smoking experience were worse in skippers than in eaters. The odds ratio of breakfast skipping was higher in female children (OR=2.53, p<.001), those with single father (OR=3.76, p<.001) or single mother (OR=1.83 p=.030), those with alcohol experience (OR=1.82, p=.022) and smoking experience (OR=2.80, p=.003), and under-weight ones (OR=2.54, p=.048). Conclusion: Breakfast skipping is associated with gender, family structure, alcohol experience, smoking experience and BMI. Children in poverty need comprehensive health promotion programs including interventions for breakfast skipping and health behaviors.

• Journal of the FoodService Safety
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2023

This study was to suggest the roles of social enterprises in maintaining healthy life of the socially vulnerable by creating a customized care environment through chronic disease diet management targeting the elderly at home in need of care in the community. As for the subjects of this study, 102 in-home elderly people aged 65 or older (14 males & 88 females) who needed care in the community were provided with a diet management lunch box delivery service customized for chronic diseases. Theoretical education and cooking class on chronic diseases were provided to 15 volunteers with 10 sessions, and customized lunch boxes were provided to the elderly with chronic diseases at home on that day. In conclusion, it is believed that only by increasing the level of knowledge about chronic diseases and nutritional knowledge of the elderly will it be possible to establish a proper meal plan. Since the role of volunteers is important, it is necessary to systematically seek nutritional education methods for volunteers.