A focus group approach to understanding food-related emotions with children using words and emojis

Focus groups were conducted to understand children's use of emotion words and emojis to describe reactions to foods. A total of 17 children, ages 8-11, in three groups of 4-8, were asked to use words and emojis to describe how they felt in response to self-selected favorite, least favorite, and just okay foods before, during, and after recalled consumption occasions. Participants also provided responses to three food interventions before tasting, after tasting, and after seeing product packaging. In addition, the group discussed emotion words and emoji valence. Although children initially were concerned with product characteristics, such as flavor, when explaining their food preferences, participants readily used both words and emojis in discussion and activities to communicate how foods made them feel. Words and emojis not considered for further testing were either infrequently used, redundant (based on children's usage), or not used to describe a feeling in response to a stimulus. Based on children's use of the words and emojis through discussion and activities, a list of 51 words and 38 emojis were considered appropriate for further emotion testing with children ages 8-11. Practical applicationsThis research addresses the need for a food emotion tool for use with children. The findings show that children are able to use both words and emojis to describe their emotions in response to varied products. The resulting lists of words and emojis can be used in subsequent quantitative testing with children.