Having a fussy eating child can prevent a parent from doing a lot of things.
It might be hard to believe that fussy eating children would be the reason why a lot of parents feel reluctant to go on holiday. The truth is that having a fussy eating child can prevent a parent from doing a lot of things.
Quite often the easiest option is to base all meal times at the family home where it is easier to cater for the fussy eating child. Many children elevate their levels of fussiness when they are eating at someone else’s house or a restaurant, for example. In other cases, a child will only eat from a certain kind of plate and at a very specific time. Fussy eating can be a very real everyday family stress.
A holiday should be a time of joy. A chance to experience something totally different to everyday life and responsibilities. When a large chunk of the holiday comes with stress and frustration it is easy to see how it might be less appealing. One of the things most people look forward to on holiday is the food.
Whether it’s the all-you-can-eat buffet or the novelty of a couple of lunches at cafes – it’s really lovely to have a break from cooking and to enjoy something tasty as a family. That is if all family members are on board! When one family member is a fussy eater it can really strip the joy from that experience for the whole family. The meal tends to revolve around the one person who is refusing to eat anything.
We’ve put together a couple of ideas for those of you who will have to cater for a fussy eating child on holiday. We hope they’ll make a difference because you deserve to enjoy holiday meal times and you definitely deserve a trip away.
1. Take a couple of emergency supplies from home as a plan B if the child refuses to eat anything at all. You might have a particular non-perishable snack that you could throw into the suitcase in case of emergency.
2. Don’t write off the option of an all you can eat buffet. You might save money in the long run if you’re feeding a large family because it includes drinks, ice creams, snacks and meals. It also means that you won’t get stuck ordering meals for your fussy eating child that end up going to waste. They can browse the buffet and take as little or as much of what they like. It takes the “surprise” element away from ordering food as quite often the way a food is garnished or served is where the problem lies for a fussy eater. A buffet means they will be adding what they choose to their plate because it appeals to them.
3. Ask for what you want even if it’s not on the menu. Even if they don’t advertise ham and cheese toasties chances are they’ll whip one up for you. Remember they want you to come back.
4. Take your child’s regular beaker or bottle with you. It might just help them to relax. If your child is fussy about which juice they drink you might find a handbag sized cordial that you can test run before the holiday. Then you can pack it for the holiday and it’s a safe bet!
5. Bribery will be at it’s finest here. A dessert or treat is never far away when on holiday so if that kind of bribe works for your child it might just be a life-saver on holiday!
Tracey is a happy mammy to four-year-old Billy. She is a breastfeeder, gentle parent and has recently lost five stone so healthy family eating is her passion! You can find her at www.loveofliving.ie.
