Are there Picky Preschool Eaters in Japan?
Abstract Background: Picky eating or refusing certain foods (or food groups) and/or having strong likes and dislikes around food is common among preschool children in the United States. Japanese children under 5 years of age may have minimal amounts of picky eating due to the Japanese preschool programs that emphasize shared eating.Methods: In this study, we visited 8 hoikuen and yochiens (kindergardens) in Tokyo and Chiba prefectures. Interviews were conducted with managers, teachers and dietitians and observations were made of meal and snack times. Results: Japanese preschool/nursery meal times are structured and follow a specific format of thanks, group seating and multiple plates/bowls of food, none of which are finger foods. Conclusion: We conclude that the frequency of picky eating in the United States may be a culture bound syndrome, or a behavior/syndrome specific to American and Western cultural norms.