Friendly to Senior
Care · Conversation
小さい頃、よく食べていたものってありますか？ — Is there a food you used to eat a lot when you were little? (Care · Conversation, Friendly to Senior, JLPT N4)
You
小さい頃、よく食べていたものってありますか？
ちいさいころ、よくたべていたものってありますか？
Is there a food you used to eat a lot when you were little?
Romaji: Chiisai koro, yoku tabete ita mono tte arimasu ka? / Reply Romaji: Aru aru! Okaa-san ga tsukuru nikujaga ga suki deshita nee.
Reply
あるある！お母さんが作るにくじゃがが好きでしたねえ。
あるある！おかあさんがつくるにくじゃががすきでしたねえ。
Oh yes! I loved the nikujaga my mother used to make.
Gesture & etiquette
Smile warmly when they mention a dish — this validates the memory. If you can, connect it to a current meal: 「今日のメニューに似たものがありますよ」(There's something similar on today's menu). This bridges past and present.
Food memories are among the most emotionally vivid and accessible for seniors. This question often unlocks rich storytelling about family, home, and seasonal traditions. Follow up with 「どんな作り方でしたか？」(How was it made?) to encourage deeper sharing.