In the COVID Era, Chuseok Food Has Changed

Surge in Ready-to-Eat Meals Targeting Consumers Staying Home
Long Holiday Break Boosts Popularity of Light and Healthy Diet Options

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-sun] In the era of COVID-19, holiday foods are changing. As family gathering styles evolve, holiday foods are becoming simpler and are increasingly being replaced by convenience foods.

According to related industries on the 10th, food companies have introduced Chuseok sets reflecting these lifestyle trends. Cha Young-mi (31), an office worker, said, "During the long holidays, I tend to be less active and consume high-calorie greasy foods, so I often regret it after the holidays," adding, "This Chuseok, I plan to manage my health through a healthy diet."

Food tech startup Benefit’s ‘Protein Noodle Diet’ offers 3-day and 7-day programs with high-protein diet noodles to start a healthy diet. The ‘3-day One Meal Change’ program consists of one pack of fresh diet noodles (3 servings) and one pack of diet cold buckwheat noodles or low-sugar curry. The ‘7-day One Meal Change’ program includes two packs of fresh diet noodles (3 servings each), one pack of diet cold buckwheat noodles, and one pack of diet low-sugar curry. A recipe book designed by a nutritionist with nutritional information using fresh diet noodles is also provided to help maintain a delicious and healthy diet continuously through the diet noodles.

Park Young-sik, CEO of Benefit, explained, “As interest in plant-based protein for health increases, there has been a growing movement to replace everyday meals with high-protein diet noodles,” adding, “During Chuseok, people tend to eat a lot of carbohydrate-heavy greasy foods, so the demand for healthy diets has increased.”

There is also a Hangawi lunchbox for those spending Chuseok alone. Emart24 is launching the holiday lunchbox ‘Hangawi Man Gatara Hansang Charim.’ Targeting customers who do not return to their hometowns, the lunchbox allows them to enjoy various holiday foods at home and offers discount benefits. The Hansang Charim lunchbox consists of holiday foods such as braised pork ribs, japchae, assorted jeon including donggeurangttaeng, seasoned vegetables, as well as mushroom stir-fry, kimchi, and yakgwa.

Convenience food market Wingit is holding a ‘Complete Collection of Table Setting Items Up to 40% Off’ sale until September 15 for consumers preparing Chuseok table settings. Popular products such as LA galbi, galbitang, tteokgalbi, japchae, as well as songpyeon, injeolmi, and traditional drinks like sikhye and sujeonggwa, are available at discounted prices, covering main side dishes, desserts, and snacks to enrich the Chuseok table.