"Delicious Without Being Salty or Sweet"... Jeonju City Launches Customized Healthy Lunchboxes for Seniors

Low-Salt and Low-Sugar Meals
for Seniors and Disabled People
with Hypertension and Diabetes

A single meal can change a life. Even though it is well known that long-standing habits of eating salty and sugary foods gradually harm the body, healthy diets have remained out of reach for many people living alone or for those with limited mobility.

In response, Jeonju City in Jeonbuk Province is launching customized lunchboxes—so-called "low-salt and low-sugar lunchboxes"—that reduce salt and sugar while preserving nutritional value, specifically for elderly and disabled individuals suffering from chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. The first beneficiaries are recipients of the integrated care program, which delivers both medical and care services at home.

Jeonju City in Jeollabuk-do held a "special tasting event" on the 6th to preemptively check the taste and quality of low-salt and low-sugar lunchbox services before their full-scale implementation. Photo by Jeonju City

According to Jeonju City on May 7, before the official launch of the service, about 10 people—including staff from the city’s Senior Welfare Division, local community center representatives, and officials from senior clubs—gathered on May 6 for a hands-on tasting event. Instead of a stiff meeting room, the event was held in a tasting hall filled with the comforting aroma of freshly cooked rice.

On the table were low-salt lunchboxes prepared by Seowon Senior Club and low-sugar lunchboxes by Jeonju Senior Club. Attendees carefully checked whether the food’s taste, portion size, and side dish combinations were appropriate, and scrutinized the cleanliness of the containers.

The Seowon Senior Club is responsible for low-salt meals, while the Jeonju Senior Club prepares low-sugar meals, allowing for more tailored menus to address specific health conditions.

Low-salt and low-sugar lunchboxes are designed to be accessible regardless of one’s financial situation. Basic livelihood security recipients and those in the next-lowest income bracket with chronic illnesses can receive them for free, while elderly individuals receiving the basic pension only need to pay 20% of the cost. All other general applicants must pay the full price. Applications can be submitted after consultation at the integrated care desk at the nearest local community center.

Lee Hyesook, Director of Senior Welfare at Jeonju City, said, “With the full-scale launch of the integrated care project this year, we believed that the most urgent need for seniors and people with disabilities is a healthy meal. We will continue to expand nutritional support so that everyone can enjoy healthy and happy days in their familiar neighborhoods.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.