Lovely nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs

Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about food

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICSasashina
Deputy Editor of the web media RAG MUSIC. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. In my student days, I studied broadly at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, covering sound, lighting, and video technology, and acquired skills from comprehensive stage production to the fundamentals of creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, and have consistently built my career on the production side, taking on diverse tasks centered around music. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting in my own way, as well as insights and discoveries from interacting with my kids every day. I hope I can be of help to you, even just a little!

“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.

Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about food (11–20)

Yakiimo goo-choki-paNaosumi Yamamoto

Yaki-imo Rock-Paper-Scissors (with actions) ♪ Roasted sweet potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, my tummy goes grr~ ♪ [Hand play / Children's song]

Yakiimo Goo-Chii-Paa by Naosumi Yamamoto

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.

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The Banana That Flew AwayJun Sakurai

Japanese Children’s Song – Nursery Rhyme – The Banana That Flew Away – Tondetta Banana

The Banana That Flew Away — Jun Sakurai

Kids love bananas.

In the scuffle over who gets it, the banana goes flying and from there it embarks on a journey that’s almost like an adventure.

It seems this banana is actually running away on its own to avoid being eaten.

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One apple pieMiyazaki Mieko

[Children’s Song] One Apple Pie

One apple pie, Miyazaki 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!

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mixed juice

We did the fingerplay song “Mixed Juice.”

mixed juice

Since this song features many fruits throughout, children can enjoy learning the names of various fruits as they listen.

Even kids who aren’t fond of fruit might come to like it thanks to this song.

It’s great to sing together with parents or teachers, and it’s also fun to sing with friends.

Plus, because the fruits are used as examples for facial features, it helps practice learning the parts of the face as well.

It’s like killing two birds with one stone—so much knowledge in a single song.

The song is short and simple, so it’s easy to remember.

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Drops SongMegumi Oonaka

[Children's Song] The Drops Song ♪ (Anime ver.)

Drops (Song) by Megumi Ono

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!

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Dango Three BrothersMasumi Uchino

[With the Person Themself] Dango Three Brothers [Kentaro Hayami and ZETKI]

Masumi Uchino from Dango San Kyoudai

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.

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Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes about food (21–30)

loquatIsobe Atsushi

[Children's Song] Biwa ♪

Biwa Isobe 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.

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