Abstract
A questionnaire survey was conducted in 2001 on the liking for fish by children at day nurseries in 20 cities of Japan. About 70% of the children liked fish, this figure being similar to the results of similar surveys conducted in 1990 and 1996. A similar proportion (about 70%) of the children also liked meat, these likings for fish and meat being significantly correlated (r=0.246, p< 0.05). While the proportion of children who liked meat increased with age, the proportion of those who liked fish decreased with age. The liking of the children for fish was influenced by the food preferences of their mothers and fathers, the geographical location, their sex, the ability to cook fish meals by their mothers and the frequency of eating fish meals. The children's favorite cooking methods for fish were baked, raw and boiled with seasoning.
