Kid-Friendly Japanese Food

When traveling with children, food is always a stress factor. What can my kids eat? Will my kids be willing to try new things? Will I have to eat at McDonald’s every day? I am a firm believer in traveling to eat and during one of our recent visits back to Japan, I hoped that my toddler would be able to experience the country with a happy belly. The result: I found extremely kid-friendly Japanese food and my 22-month-old son still considers miso and natto (fermented soybeans) to be his favorite.

1. Udon2. Tamago Sushi3.



Curry & Rice4. Oyakodon5. Edamame6.

Natto Rolls7. Miso Soup8. Anpan (Sweet Red Bean Bread)9.

Conbini Snacks10. Okosama (Kids) SetBonus: Tabekko Animal Biscuits1. Udon© Photo by iStock: ahirao_photoThe thick noodles have a winning texture that my son can’t get enough of.

Usually, it’s too hot in the broth, so I pull the noodles out into a separate bowl, use a handheld noodle cutter (from the 100 yen shop), and spoon the pieces into his mouth. With the prime ingredients being wheat, water and salt, udon noodles don’t offer a nutritional goldmine. They are not a significant source of vitamins or minerals either, but they can fill your little one easily and make them enjoy their lunch.

2. Tamago Sushi© Photo by iStock: keiichihikiWhat’s not for kids to like? Egg..

. good. Rice.

.. good.

Easy for toddlers to eat with their hands...

good for mommy! Ranks high in all nutrition factors, too, so it really is the golden lunch for toddlers. If you’re worried about your small child choking on the nori (seaweed), which can get a bit sticky in the throat, you can easily peel it off before offering it to them. 3.

Curry & Rice© Photo by iStock: karimitsuIf your kid is a picky eater like mine, getting him to eat vegetables is usually a pain. Fortunately, he likes the taste of Japanese curry, so this dish is the easiest way for me to sneak in some nutrition.4.

Oyakodon© Photo by iStock: kuppa_rockThe direct translation of this dish is “parent and child rice bowl” because it features both chicken and eggs. It’s a bit of a morbid name, but it provides great protein for kids. The egg is soft and blends well with the rice.

When I make this dish at home, I try to sneak in some veggies as well.5. Edamame© Photo by iStock: kuppa_rockAt a restaurant, I ordered some edamame (green soybeans) for myself while waiting for the food.

My son whined that he wanted some, so I let him try it. What ensued was getting two more orders, and I hadn’t eaten any of it myself.6.

Natto Rolls© Photo by iStock: key05I am not a fan of natto. I can’t get past its stickiness and smell. My husband and son love it.

But despite the dreaded smell, natto is a golden health booster—it’s rich in calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin C and magnesium, among other minerals and vitamins. So I’m happy that my son likes it. But it is my husband’s job to feed it to him.

For first-time natto kids, I recommend the natto rolls they sell at most sushi chains and supermarkets. They are very popular with the kids here in Japan and seem to be a smart way to ease them into the idea of it.7.

Miso Soup© Photo by iStock: masa44This is the easiest dinner I can make for my son. Miso soup with tofu, wakame and rice is a healthy favorite with good protein and nutritious seaweed. This dish is also the most widely available in Japanese restaurants.

8. Anpan (Sweet Red Bean Bread)© Photo by iStock: Yusuke IdeI try to avoid sweets for my son, but occasionally, I’d like some myself. I try to get desserts with red beans because I don’t feel as bad sharing them with my kid (red bean cakes are not as sweet as other desserts, and I figure they have some protein from the beans).

Plus, the way he eats and enjoys them is pretty cute. Anpan is so popular amongst kids here in Japan that there’s even a popular superhero called Anpanman. His head is made of anpan, and he breaks off portions of it to share with people in need.

It sounds somewhat creepy but he has a sidekick baking team that makes him a fresh anpan head every time he needs a new one!9. Conbini Snacks© Photo by iStock: Yusuke IdeIn Japan, I love how I never have to worry about carrying around snacks for my son. If he’s hungry, I pop into a convenience store and pick up onigiri (rice ball), nikuman (steamed bun with meat filling) or senbei (rice crackers).

Mommy can pick up a treat, too!10. Okosama (Kids) Set© Photo by GustoMost families in Japan, whether living or visiting, have probably come across a ファミリーレストラン (famiri- resutoran; “family restaurant”). They’re a super great option because there’s something for everyone in the whole family, and everything on the menu is very affordable.

For kids especially, most or all family restaurants have special sets called お子様セット (okosama setto; “kids set”). These sets offer an adorably presented little course of a main meal, side dish and dessert. The main meal may include something we’ve mentioned above, like udon, or a smaller portion of the menu items that are available on the main menu.

These okosama sets are not only available at popular family restaurants like Gusto, Coco’s and Denny’s, but they can sometimes be found at other more local restaurants too. If you’re unsure, you can try asking お子様セットありますか?(okosama setto arimasuka?; “Do you have a kid’s set?”).Bonus: Tabekko Animal Biscuits© Photo by GinbisMy son is obsessed with these buttery Japanese animal crackers.

Each cracker has the shape and name, in English, of a wide variety of animals. If you want your little ones to learn Japanese, you can look at the back of the box for translations. Other flavors include chocolate, vegetable and strawberry.

They also have a version that melts in your mouth that is safe for babies called Tabekko Baby.All of the above foods are convenient to have at home, find at stores and order at restaurants. As my son grows up, I can’t wait for him to try more Japanese foods to love and appreciate.

Have we missed anything? What is your favorite kid-friendly Japanese food?.