Development of a Korean Food Culture Education Textbook for Married Female Immigrants / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to develop a textbook of the integrated education of Korean food culture and language for married female immigrants. METHODS: An analysis was conducted with the textbooks and researches for married female immigrants, and dietary life related contents were extracted. The contents were organized by activity oriented approach which is acquired the culture. The evaluation was conducted through depth interview with 6 married female immigrants through an analysis of the qualitative materials. RESULTS: The text book comprised of 30 Korean food recipes with the target expressions and vocabularies. It also included Korean basic table setting, Korean table manner, main dishes and side dishes, basic cutting, seasoning and garnish, measure of the ingredients, symbolic food, regional food culture, choice of food ingredients, shopping, bargaining, taste expression, color expression, all sorts of spices, Korean traditional festival food, and seasonal customs and food. For intensifying communication, activity which is close to real life was added. Through cooking, married female immigrants expose words and sentence patterns and that allows to evaluate their level of understanding. We observed that the developed textbook is suited for married female immigrants' needs and cognitive level. The text book included a comparative study between Korean culture and their country's culture, which could provide the motive for accepting each other’s cultures. The study showed how to develop a textbook that integrates Korean language education and Korean food culture and how to apply the textbook in real life. CONCLUSIONS: The correct understanding about Korean food culture could lead to improvements communication ability. Useful information which relates to Korean food, recipes, and food culture could increase daily life satisfaction. Conducting both cultural education and language education could increase the participation of married female immigrants in learning activities. Therefore this study could help these females to adapt Korean society and manage family dietary life effectively.

Chinese Female Marriage Immigrants' Dietary Life after Immigration to Korea : Comparison between Han-Chinese and Korean-Chinese / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate Chinese female marriage immigrants' dietary life after immigration to Korea, focusing on comparison between Han-Chinese (traditional Chinese) and Korean-Chinese (Chinese of Korean descent). METHODS: An in-person survey was conducted with women married to Korean men, having one child or more aged 1-6 years old, and having resided in Korea for at least one year before the survey. The data were collected from the 309 respondents comprising 151 Han-Chinese and 158 Korean-Chinese in the summer of 2013. RESULTS: Overall, there was no significant difference in dietary practice, dietary acculturation, dietary behavior, dietary habits, and food intake between the Han-Chinese and the Korean-Chinese respondents. Over 50% of the respondents ate Korean food every day. The overall level of dietary acculturation was about 3.5 out of 5 points. The average score of healthy dietary behavior was a little bit higher than 3 out of 5 points. Approximately 3/4 of the respondents showed increasing frequency of eating out. The respondents reporting increase food diversity were over 70%. Decreased frequency of skipping meal was about 60% of the respondents. Over 50% of the respondents showed increasing consumption of Kimchi, vegetables, fruit, and meat. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary life of Korean-Chinese female marriage immigrants was similar to that of Han-Chinese female marriage immigrants after immigration to Korea. The results from this study suggest that not only Han-Chinese but also Korean-Chinese should be targeted in various diet-related acculturation support programs as important multicultural populations in Korea.

Food adaptation and nutrient intake of female immigrants into Korea through marriage

The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean food adaption, eating behavior and dietary intakes of married female immigrants by age, number of residence years in Korea and level of income. The survey included 67 female marriage immigrants attending the Korean language class at the multicultural family support center within the northern part of Kyonggi province from October 2010 to July 2011. General characteristics, Korean dietary life adaptation, and eating behavior were collected and dietary intakes were assessed using 24-hour recall. The home countries with regards to all subjects were Vietnam (40.3%), China (23.9%), Japan (11.9%), Philippines (7.0%), and Mongolia (3.0%). Total energy intake was 1432.5kcal and there were significant differences in nutritional intake concerning vitamin B1 and vitamin B2 by age (p < 0.05). More than 50% of subjects did not meet estimated average requirements for calcium (56.7%), zinc (52.2%), vitamin C (55.2%), and folic acid (76.1%). Food adaptation scores were significantly correlated with general characteristics (age, residence year, drinking alcohol and acquisition of nationality), total scores of eating behavior, and nutritional intake (energy, protein, fat, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, niacin, vitamin E, and zinc). These results might suggest that the better their Korean food adaptation, the more desirable their eating behavior and nutritional status.

Dietary Intakes and Eating Behaviors of Vietnamese Female Immigrants to Korea through Marriage and Korean Spouses and Correlations of Their Diets / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study aimed to examine nutritional status and similarities of diets between Vietnamese female immigrants and Korean spouses and dietary changes of Vietnamese females after immigration. Subjects were 608 couples visiting 13 medical centers for the Cohort of Intermarried Women in Korea from November 2006 to November 2007. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were obtained and dietary intakes were assessed using one-day 24-hour recall. Sixty-eight percent of wives answered there have been changes in their diets and consumptions of meats, fish, dairy products, vegetables, and fruits increased after immigration. Energy intakes of wives and spouses were 1491.7 kcal and 1788.8 kcal, respectively, showing most couples (80.1%) consumed less than the Korean estimated energy requirements. More than half of the couples were below the Korean estimated average requirements of zinc, vitamin B2, and folate. The correlation coefficients between couples ranged 0.15-0.38 for unadjusted, 0.22-0.35 for per 1000 kcal, and 0.21-0.40 for energyadjusted, respectively. The proportions of couples in the same quartiles of each nutrient intake and in the same answers of each question of Mini Dietary Assessment were about 30% across nutrients and around 50% across questions. The length of residence is related to similarities of nutrient intakes between couples: similarities decreased after 3 years of residence in Korea. In conclusion, nutritional intakes of inter-married couples were inadequate although wives reported that their dietary intakes increased after immigration. Inadequate nutrient intakes of wives were partly explained by similar diets between couples because these wives without enough adjustment to Korean culture were more likely to follow what their spouses ate. Findings from this study may be helpful to improve the nutritional status of inter-married couples and make policies and programs for them. A follow-up study should identify factors affecting inadequate nutritional status of intermarried couples and similarities of their diets.