How on earth do you ensure a reasonable diet on holiday?

[1t6y9o]

We are away abroad (self catering) in a popular winter sun holiday destination with my toddlers and stupidly I expected some kind of a holiday. It's completely draining trying to feed them 3 decent meals and snacks each day without access to much in the way of cooking utensils or large supermarkets.

Eating out isn't easy - it's hard to find dishes they are familiar with and a lot of places are awash with pizzas and chips which are no problem sometimes but not for every meal.

I don't mind lowering standards for one week but its more the fact they're getting cranky sometimes if we can't provide what they want when they want it.

What have you fed your 1-2 yr olds whilst abroad if in self catering accommodation? If eating out what have they enjoyed? Do you look at restaurant reviews and plan ahead a lot of take a chance? What do you cook in your villa or apartment?

Any tips or advice most welcome! Would like the holiday to get a little easier than it has been for the last few days. It's a pain to be constantly thinking about what to feed them next.

[Nightfall1983]

I essentially let them eat pizza and chips for dinner for a week, plus occasional lunches and supplement with shop-bought milk, yoghurts, fruit for snacks and cereal for breakfast plus occasional ham/cheese sandwiches for lunch. And juice which I water down to keep them hydrated (they drink water but juice is a treat and makes them drink more). So all I need access to is a fridge, bowls/plates/cutlery and a glass.

[Nightfall1983]

(I don't cook on holiday, we love eating out as a family)

[Pinkheart5915]

I've got ds (18 months) and dd (7 months) we have been away 5-6 times with the dc so far and we never cook on holiday.
Eating out hasn't been a problem as ds especially will try most new foods and loves fish & veg anyway, ds is also happy with a selection of fruit from the fruit platter.
We also don't mind them having a bit of chocolate, pizza, cake as well

[1t6y9o]

The problem I'm having is that neither will try anything that's not exactly the same as home, vegetables prepared a certain way etc! They may well have to live off fruit, pizza and chips! They definitely aren't up for trying new things even though they have good, varied diets at home.

Another thing youngest is used to eating a proper meal at 5pm and few eateries are open at that time. So cooking seems to be the only option. I really don't want to cook but he's ready for a big meal then. And absolutely vile if he isn't in bed by 7pm. Can anyone suggest a way round this?

We have several other holidays planned this year and I don't want to constantly be worrying about the next meal and dealing with cranky hungry children 😔

[Somehowsomewhere]

Pizza and chips for a week.
Mine are 3 and 1. We went away when DD1 was 10 months and 17 months, then took them both at 2 and nearly 1. They basically ate bread, Greek yoghurt, ham, cheese and fruit for 2 weeks every time.

[Somehowsomewhere]

Also we stuck to their routine otherwise they are grotty. So they ate early and went to bed early and we just drank wine in the villa in the evenings!

[1t6y9o]

Ok, feel slightly better knowing I'm not the only one who has lowered standards on hol!

[Hulababy]

On holiday we don't cook (well - if SC we might throw a pizza in the oven or have a BBQ once or twice, or go to the deli and place lots of stuff on the table to eat (salad, meats, bread, etc) or might buy some bread and cereals for breakfast - but we never cook a 'proper' meal, even when DD was tiny.

Holiday we eat out mainly and eat what we fancy.
When DD was 18 months old we went to Italy - she feasted on buttered pasta with cheese, or huge triangles pizza, followed by fruit and cakes (she didn't like ice cream else that would have been on there too.) She's 14y now and seems totally fine for this despite eating whatever and whenever on holiday 3+ times a year.

[annandale]

Sorry we are still more likely to self cater than not on holiday because of this.

Bear in mind that when they are small it's sometimes nicer just to stay at home and have a few days out.

[Lweji]

It depends on where you are.
I'd get nice restaurant meals at lunch time or supermarket ready meals, including soup, and then heat them at home for the 5 pm meal.

[Crumbs1]

We didn't take them abroad until they were old enough to cope with differences. The Isle of Wight has a Tesco!