When Inside Out swaps broccoli for bell peppers, it tells us something fascinating about how kids from different cultures feel about their veggies. In one scene from the first Inside Out movie, we watch little Riley casually brush aside the bowl of broccoli her dad is trying to feed her. This moment actually reflects a real-life fact that rings true for many children, especially American kids who tend to turn their noses up at broccoli.
Why do kids hate broccoli?
It’s all about biology! Young children have the TAS2R38 gene that makes them much more sensitive to the bitter taste from glucosinolates in broccoli compared to adults. Plus, broccoli has a pretty strong sulfuric smell that gets even more intense when cooked. To make matters worse, most parents tend to overcook it until it’s mushy. This combination of strange smell and mushy texture is particularly off-putting for children aged 2-6 years who commonly experience food neophobia (a natural wariness of new foods).
//The TAS2R38 gene is actually something we’re born with and keep throughout our lives – it doesn’t disappear as we grow up. So why do many people who hated broccoli and bitter foods as kids learn to enjoy them as adults? It’s because as we grow older, we experience a wider variety of foods and gradually adapt to different tastes. This increased exposure and familiarity helps us appreciate bitter foods even though we still carry the same gene – it’s not about losing the gene, but rather about developing our palate.
Why do Japanese kids love broccoli?
When Inside Out was released in Japan, the broccoli-rejection scene was replaced with bell peppers instead! This is a perfect example of Pixar’s ‘localization’ efforts to match Japanese children’s eating culture – because Japanese kids absolutely love broccoli but tend to dislike bell peppers! The secret lies in Japanese cooking culture, which emphasizes preserving vegetables’ natural crispiness and original flavors. Japanese moms typically blanch or lightly steam broccoli, keeping it crisp and vibrant green, with a mild aroma and subtle bitter taste. They often serve it with delicious soy sauce or sesame dressing. As a result, Japanese children have developed a genuine fondness for broccoli. If they had kept the original scene of Riley pushing away her broccoli, it might have left Japanese kids puzzled – wondering why anyone would reject such a tasty vegetable!
