Travelling can be a really fun adventure. It offers a number of benefits including expanding your social connections, learning new cultures and even lowering the risks for cardiovascular diseases. But travelling can also be very tiring on the body and mind.
When kids are in tow, the challenge of travelling is taken to another level. Children need to be constantly entertained. They thrive in familiarity and routine. This certainly applies to foreign and unfamiliar cuisine. They can be overwhelming for the kids.
However, this should not be a reason to put a damper on your holiday. Here are some tips for handling a fussy eater when travelling.
Preparation is key
Before the trip, it is best to get them excited about the new place or country. This includes hyping them up with the idea of trying out the different food and drinks. Over a period of time, slowly introduce new food to them so the concept will not faze them once you are abroad.
You can start by planning out your eating agenda by flipping through the recommendations in a Singapore dining and food guide. Once you know which food they will be eating in the new country, you can let them start viewing images of the food. Something might catch their eye and their interest.
Visit local communities and ethnic restaurants with similar menus as your holiday destination. Or try cooking the dishes at home and involve your kids in the preparation. Bringing kids into the kitchen can encourage an adventurous palate.
Like any other adventurous projects, your kids might not take it overnight. But repeated exposure might help. In fact, a study suggests that offering disliked food to infants at least eight times on alternating days eventually led to at least 70% of them eating and liking it.
Parents with children ages three to four might need to stick it out just a little longer to at least 15 times before seeing results.
Choose familiar food
Once in the new country, get something familiar with local twists. For instance, many international fast-food chains add local flavours and influence in their offerings. Family-friendly restaurants are also an excellent place to bring your kids to.
When they see other kids eating the local cuisine, they might be more receptive to trying the dishes as well. After all, kids have been shown to conform and adjust their behaviour to that of other kids just to fit in.
Head to the buffet
A buffet selection offers a variety of options from local food to international dishes. Buffets allow fussy kids to choose what food want to try. It also allows them to try small amounts of new dishes at a time. Often, kids will try the food out of curiosity as long as they are introduced slowly.
It reduces the pressure on them to eat food that they do not like or feel threatened by. Pressure has never helped anyone, adults and kids alike, to like new food.
Be patient
Raising a child is stressful. But by choosing to become a conscious parent, you can overcome impatience and model successfully to your children. Children learn best through experience and through what they see. When you are trying to deal with a fussy eater, instead of losing your temper, try to encourage him instead.
Let him see that you and everyone else is enjoying the food. Your child’s willingness to try food will depend partly on the eating environment. Pleasant and low-stress meal times can make a lot of difference.
Parents know how fickle the relationship between children and their food is. When travelling abroad or moving to another country, this can easily be an overwhelming situation for you and your children. However, by following the steps above, you might have your children adapt to the new cuisine quickly.