Dietary Life among Korean Adolescents Before COVID-19 (2018∼2019) and During COVID-19 (2020∼2021): Data Analysis of the 2018∼2021 Youth Consumer Behavior Survey for Food

This study analyzes the dietary life of Korean adolescents and their altered dietary preferences due to COVID-19. The dietary life of 2,452 adolescents was analyzed using data from the 2018∼2021 Youth Consumer Behavior Survey for Food Comparing where and how they ate their meals in a week, we found that the proportion of eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner at home increased significantly during COVID-19 compared to before COVID-19 (P<0.001). During COVID-19, a significant increase was also observed in the proportion of eating with family (P<0.001). Compared to pre-COVID-19, eating lunch with others increased during COVID-19 whereas eating dinner at least once per week showed a significant decrease (P<0.001). Conversely, a significant increase was determined in the number of meals delivered for both lunch and dinner (P<0.001). Satisfaction with the quality of school meals was significantly higher during COVID-19 than before COVID-19 (P<0.05), and interest in local agrifood was significantly lower during COVID-19 than before COVID-19 (P<0.01). Recognizing the health benefits of fruits (P<0.001), vegetables (P<0.01), beef (P<0.05), and chicken (P<0.05) were significantly higher during COVID-19 than before COVID-19. Moreover, compared to before COVID-19, it was recognized that alcohol had a significantly worse effect on their health (P<0.001). Based on the above results, we believe that the limited outdoor activities of adolescents due to COVID-19 influenced their dietary changes. Therefore, nutrition and dietary education and guidance are required to focus on the dietary behavior of adolescents and to promote healthy eating at home and school.