Children in Birmingham and Newcastle are the fussiest, making holidays a nightmare
Research shows that children in Birmingham are the fussiest eaters, while children in London are the most adventurous.
A survey of 2,000 parents of children aged 6 to 16 revealed which British cities have the most fussy and open-minded eaters.
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Children in Newcastle are the second most difficult to please at the dinner table, followed by Leicester.
It also turned out that 37% of mothers and fathers regularly have difficulty going out to eat with the whole family due to their children’s limited taste.
And 83% said it is even more difficult to find a restaurant that everyone likes when on holiday abroad.
MSC Cruisescommissioned the research, as well as an interactive map of the UK, which shows how picky children are when it comes to food across the country and how this is affecting families’ holiday planning.
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Antonio Paradiso, the cruise ship’s general manager for the UK and Ireland, said: “Our research shows that food preferences and cuisine play a key role in holiday habits and itineraries.
“It is clear that parents make it a challenge to keep their children happy, whether at home or elsewhere.
“We’ve also found that children can be more picky on holiday because they don’t always have access to the food they can get at home. This can have a real impact on family travel.”
The research also found that children’s reluctance to try new foods abroad was the most frustrating problem (22%).
20% worry about the limited choice at their holiday destination and 18% get frustrated when children complain about food they would like at home but that ‘looks different’.
It’s no wonder that six in ten (63%) parents admit that dining options abroad influence their travel decisions, at least to some extent.
And as many as 14 percent would even cancel a foreign holiday if there were not enough dining options available, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
In order to get children more interested in food, the South West is the most likely place to send children into the kitchen at a young age to help with cooking, with residents of Bristol and Plymouth opting for this tactic (58 per cent).
But 45 percent of Liverpool residents use sweet treats or familiar foods as a negotiating tactic to encourage their children to try something new.
How to Make Traveling with Kids a Breeze
Traveling with kids can be stressful, but there are a few things you can do to make it easier. Here are five we recommend:
Snacks
It may sound simple, but it’s a good idea to pack a LOT of snacks. Think about how many you’ll need and double it. After all, it doesn’t matter if you have too much – your kids can eat it another time – but it becomes a big problem if you run out. There are also snack boxes with lots of little dividers that are great for long trips because kids can pick out of them all the time.
Entertainment
This includes a whole range of things – from a tablet to watch movies or play games if you have older children, to books and coloring. It is advisable to pack a variety of options, especially if you are going on a long trip or have several legs.
Toys
If you have a baby or toddler, there are some sensory toys you can buy that can really keep little ones entertained. Think toys that stick to airplane windows, or on a tray on a high chair, so they can spin around and play to their heart’s content.
Equipment
There are a lot of things on the market that make sleeping on a plane a lot easier. Think of a hammock that you can attach to your tray table and that hangs down to put your feet up. You can also get inflatable pillows that turn a seat into a bed for little ones, and neck pillows that claim to be able to be used for a good night’s sleep wherever you are.
You!
Don’t underestimate how entertaining you are for your kids. Learn some games to play with them and songs to sing, because kids always enjoy spending one-on-one time with their parents.
Exactly one in four parents find it ‘very frustrating’ when children don’t want to try a dish they know they will like.
The survey also asked questions to the respondents’ children, and found that 54 percent of them have turned down trying new foods because they “looked weird.”
And nearly six in ten (59 percent) admitted they would eat pizza every day on holiday if they could.
Antonio Paradiso of MSC Cruises, whose fleet includes the MSC Virtuosa ship with 10 different restaurants catering for all tastes, adds: “For parents, it can be very reassuring to go somewhere where they know there is plenty of choice.
“We want parents and kids to be able to enjoy all their favorite foods – and focus on creating memories together.”
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