Use of School Tuck-shop and Desire for Healthy Tuck-shop among High School Students in Daejeon Metropolitan City According to Snack Frequency

This study aims to investigate the usage of school tuck-shops by students and the desire for healthy tuck-shop according to the frequency of snack. From April 4 to April 13, 2012, a survey was conducted on 348 2nd grade high school students from six high schools in Daejeon Metropolitan City. The snack frequency in school tuck-shops was divided into 3 groups: 2 times a week or less(lower snack group), 3~4 times a week(middle snack group), 5 times a week and above(upper snack group). Out of total subjects, lower snack group was 41.4%, middle snack group 21.8% and upper snack group 36.8%. The upper snack group showed more in male students and more in the students with monthly pocket money more than 50,000 won and more expense per snack. The main reason for taking snacks was hunger at approximate 70% of total subjects, however, no difference was found in reasons by frequency of snack. About 90% of total subjects wanted healthy tuck-shop in school, but upper snack group showed less percentage and less care for healthy snacks. This result suggests that under the circumstance that most of high school students take snacks for relieving themselves from hunger at schools, it is desired to run healthy school tuck-shops in Daejeon Metropolitan, dealing with healthy snacks of balanced nutrition at resonable prices and to implement nutrition education programs especially for high frequent snack takers.