Embarking on a international family vacation can be an exciting adventure, but it can also be daunting on the food front. In this guide, I will share practical tips and strategies for enjoying kid-friendly (or picky eater) dining experiences while traveling. From seeking recommendations for restaurants to handling unpredictable food preferences and managing tired travel team members (with toddlers being the most unpredictable), I aim to help you make the most of planning your culinary adventures abroad. Remember, room service does not represent failure!
Table of Contents
I am focused more on traveling with small children but these strategies can be adapted if other kind of people are in your travel team. However, if you have someone who is an incredibly picky eater and they can’t/won’t ever branch out for whatever reason? Unless they are your minor child, make them do their own research and put them in touch with your hotel or host contact if you have one. Maybe it means they do their own shopping to ensure they have the food they need. If the need is great enough, renting a place with a kitchen might be the only realistic option. And the team does not need to eat together every meal! With that caveat, I hope you find the below helpful.
Dining Out with Kids
In the planning stages, ask your concierge, front desk, or host if they have any recommendations for kid-friendly restaurants. Honestly, we have not encountered significant issues finding places that welcome children in Europe. In certain countries like Greece, the answer is almost always ‘yes.’ It’s perfectly fine to ask! David sometimes checks if a baby or toddler is welcome while Bear and I wait outside, and very rarely have we received a ‘no’ in response. However, even if it is a ‘no,’ that’s okay! Generally, unless children are explicitly prohibited, I believe kids are a natural part of society, and it’s acceptable. This assumes your child is in a decent mood; otherwise, be considerate and avoid subjecting people to a meltdown you saw coming. Kids can be unpredictable, and people are understanding when random tantrums occur. But if you know your child is exhausted, don’t push it. I understand the frustration of being foodies and not being able to try everything you want on the trip. We see our family as a team, and if a teammate isn’t feeling great, we prioritize them. This phase will pass, and dining at a Michelin-star restaurant with a seven-course meal will become possible when they are older. Alternatively, consider hiring a babysitter! Also, room service is an excellent option at such times. Lastly, don’t limit yourself to recommended places; they serve as guidelines to help you plan a few meals if needed.
One thing to note is that kids’ menus, while increasingly popular (unfortunately, in my opinion), are not universally available outside North America. If you have an extremely picky eater, you may find that options are limited, so it’s a good idea to have some alternatives in mind. For kids who are just normally picky or toddlers (who can be quite unpredictable at times), this is when they can surprise you (and themselves)! I believe that exposing your kids to a variety of flavors from around the world more than compensates for the screen time you allow them to have during the trip. The more they’re exposed to, the broader their horizons will become, and this extends to their palates as well.
Our Dining Strategy
So, what’s our strategy? Our baseline approach is to choose something that we believe Bear will enjoy but that we also like, just in case we end up having to eat it ourselves. Additionally, we carry food puree pouches (like Cerebelly) to ensure he gets a few servings of vegetables while we’re traveling, especially since he tends to avoid anything green unless it comes from a pouch for some reason. Most of the time, we still have plenty of pouches left at the end of the trip because he ends up trying and enjoying more new foods than we anticipate. We also purchase a variety of ‘sure hit’ foods like bananas and cheese (fortunately, widely available) to use as supplements if needed. The key is to identify readily accessible options to prevent hunger and stock up once you arrive, then introduce new items! You never know, your child might develop a liking for mussels that you might not have discovered if you hadn’t stopped at that seafood shack in Scotland. Let your kids surprise you. Sometimes it’s a negative surprise (seriously? You don’t like rice?), but most of the time, it’s a pleasant one!
Room Service as a Lifesaver
Whether it’s been a big day or if someone’s beginning to seem a bit frazzled, remember: room service is your friend. You’ve successfully navigated the day with minimal meltdowns (or perhaps just one), and everyone had a fantastic time. However, your toddler now wears that glazed look, a clear sign they’re on the verge of exhaustion. This isn’t the ideal moment for a multi-course meal in a tranquil restaurant where children are tolerated but not entirely embraced. Reserve such restaurants for when your child is in a better mood. Another compelling reason to opt for nicer hotels? Room service. Prior to having a child, we rarely utilized room service—okay, I’m stretching the truth slightly; there were a couple of instances during my pregnancy when exhaustion got the best of me. ‘Exhaustion’ being the operative word here. Whenever everyone’s energy reserves start to dwindle, take a breather and choose the convenient route. Order room service, allowing you to begin the following day with renewed patience and energy. Admittedly, we don’t always strike the perfect balance in this regard, but when we do, it significantly reduces overall trip stress, enabling you to start each day afresh and fully enjoy the fantastic place you’ve chosen as your home base!