Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about food
“Food” is something very familiar to children, isn’t it?
When they start speaking, many first learn words like “mamma,” or they remember the names of their favorite foods.
In this article, we’ve picked out “songs about food” from among many nursery rhymes.
We’ll introduce plenty of songs that feature foods kids love, like fruit, bread, and curry rice.
Some of them aren’t just for singing—you can enjoy hand games and dancing, too.
Even children who find eating difficult or are picky eaters might enjoy singing these songs.
It would be great if singing during mealtimes helps them have more fun and eat a little more.
- [Food Songs] Popular Japanese songs that use names of foods
- [Rice Songs] A selection of tracks where food appears in the lyrics!
- Vegetable Song: A Recommended Food Education Song for Children
- [2026] Candy and sweets songs: sugary tunes that make you crave dessert when you listen
- [Hand Play] Popular with kids! A collection of trendy hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs
- [Animal Song] Fun nursery rhymes popular with children
- Snake Song: Children's song, nursery rhyme, and hand-play song
- [2026] Songs about cooking: A roundup of recommended Japanese classics
- Nursery rhymes to sing in spring: a collection of classic songs you'll want to sing with your children
- [Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
- A lunchbox song to sing with kids. A bento song that makes school lunch more fun.
- [Children’s Songs for June] Fun finger-play songs and traditional nursery rhymes perfect for the rainy season
- [Vegetable Songs] Unexpected artists too!? A roundup of recommended tracks
Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about food (11–20)
Fish Heaven
When it comes to songs that help you learn lots of fish names to a rhythm, “Osakana Tengoku” (Fish Paradise) is the one.
Everyone knows the chorus of this song, but did you know it features many different fish names? It even teaches adults about types of fish they might not be familiar with, making it a great learning song for parents and children.
Many kids don’t like fish, but by singing this song and having fun, it might help them overcome their aversion.
It’s well-suited for helping children get over their dislike of fish, so be sure to sing it together.
Yakiimo goo-choki-paYamamoto Naozumi
This is a fingerplay song with a roasted sweet potato theme.
The lyrics are linked to the choreography, so even very young children can learn it quickly.
You make a fist for “Guu” (rock) and say “Chii” while making a scissors shape (choki), so it doubles as light brain training—highly recommended.
Moms and teachers, please gently guide children so their mouths and hands move in sync.
Another nice point is that it doesn’t require any props, so you can do it anywhere.
When you have spare time, try playing “Yakiimo Guu-Chii-Paa” with your child.
Drops SongDaichi Omi
One of the children’s songs broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” and “Okaasan to Issho,” it likens the drops everyone eats to the tears of ancient gods.
Perhaps they become drops because they’re the gods’ tears… I do hope every tear could turn into drops.
If that happened, children would surely regain their smiles right away!
Dango Three BrothersUchi no Masumi
It’s a song about three skewered-dango brothers, playing on the words “dango” and “tango.” It topped the 1999 Oricon annual singles chart and is a famous song that won numerous awards, including the Special Award at the 41st Japan Record Awards, the Golden Arrow Award, and the Japan Gold Disc Award.
One apple piemiyazaki mieko
This is a nursery rhyme about sharing snacks like apple pie.
It teaches the importance of not keeping everything to yourself and sharing with everyone.
It also subtly highlights how tricky it can be to divide things into odd numbers, like thirds or fifths!
loquatIsobe Shū
It portrays a very sweet loquat.
Both the melody and the choice of lyrics are gentle, making it feel like listening to a lullaby.
It’s a recommended song for kids who like loquats.
Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes about food (21–30)
Shopping at the bakeryuta no mama papa
Seeing all the breads lined up at the bakery makes you excited and wonder which one to choose, doesn’t it? This charming hand-play song sung by Uta no Mama Papa captures the fun of shopping at just such a bakery.
It features a parade of breads that kids love, like sandwiches and melon bread.
The lively back-and-forth with the shop clerk makes you feel as if you’re playing store together.
First released in January 2009, the song has been included in many collections of children’s songs, such as the album “Columbia Kids: With Children! With Grandchildren! Let’s Learn and Sing – Nursery Rhymes and Play Songs.” It’s perfect for singing along with hand motions as a parent and child, and also as background music for pretend play.
If you sing it with kids who love bread, everyday snack time will become even more fun!