현대 소비자의 식생활 라이프스타일 이해를 통한 조리역량 강화 방안

Abstract

Purpose: This study attempted to discuss ways to enhance the concept of cooking in the modern consumers’ dietary life and strengthen consumer cooking competencies from the perspective of education and research carried out by food and nutrition experts. Main issue: With the rapid change in modern lifestyle, cooking in modern households has been declining, and individual cooking skills, food-related knowledge, and utilization are significantly decreasing. In addition, the degree and level of understanding of cooking vary greatly depending on generation, gender, and family characteristics. From the standpoint of experts, it is imperative to enhance the concept of cooking in modern consumers’ food-related lifestyles and find ways to strengthen their cooking competencies. Therefore, this paper examined the process of cooking and food experience and suggested strategies to strengthen the essential cooking competencies for modern consumers at each stage. As a result, six topics were decided, and detailed action plans for each topic were discussed. The topics included 1) choosing good quality ingredients, 2) cooking for the modern lifestyle, 3) experiencing the joy of cooking, 4) enjoying real taste, 5) reducing food-related waste, and 6) sharing and evaluating the right food-related information. Conclusion: Strengthening consumers’ cooking competencies means increasing their ability to positively connect to food within the food system through the skills and understanding of choosing, cooking, and consuming better food. In addition, it can be said that it implies becoming a ‘food citizen’ with food literacy that includes the cultivation of decision-making ability to support an individual’s health and society’s sustainable food system. Therefore, related researchers and educators should continue to present and educate consumers on ways to strengthen their natural and easy-to-practice cooking capabilities by considering consumers’ food literacy level and the cooking and food experience process.