All inclusive

3/4 slushy….. love it! 😂

We've been here three days and they're living on chips and ice cream. 🙄 Our room is a banana stockpile from all the ones they will have 'later'. DD had beans yesterday morning but refused them today. Her bloodstream is 3/4 slushy.

We always go AI I remember when dd2 was about 2 all she ate for an entire week was watermelon.
I just roll with it. They can eat whatever they want whenever they want. We don’t argue about food on holiday. If they want cake and ice cream for breakfast and it’s an option they can have it. If they just want chips every single day for every single meal cool. You do that kiddo

Kids club it is, every day as much as possible!!

The large number of young children is to be expected, as it is outside school holidays. Reminds me of travelling back from the south of France in early July, at the airport the announcement for those with young children to board first, and it was about half the plane!!

DS was always easy to feed so when we tried AI when he was about 7 it was great. We had stayed half board or B&B in a few hotels abroad before that though and he was fine. Not sure it would be much fun with picky eaters. Hope things improve for you. We had spells of needing to ask for the cheese and beans a particular way around but other than that we were lucky! For us AI was good because there was stuff to entertain him and we hardly spent anything extra. He could have as many ice creams as he wanted without worrying about the budget. We went to a boutique hotel in Morocco when he was 4 and while he ate the food it was hard work keeping him entertained. It was a lesson. After that it was camping, Haven, Center Parcs or AI so there was always stuff to do. Now at 16 (and for a couple of years now) he is happy wherever so long as there is internet and somewhere nice to walk the dog so we have been self catering.

Oh and we never really managed to be eating all together. Some of us would be halfway through before another sat down. Our eldest has ADHD and is very impatient. She would rush through and be trying to go elsewhere. Once she was old enough we just accepted she wouldn't sit with us for long.

We have been on quite a few all inclusive holidays with our kids (now grown up). I always found there was plenty of choice of food? Though at one time, one ate pasta and tomato sauce everyday for a fortnight, but at least they were eating. I suspect it's the noise, bustle, space, choices etc overwhelming them. Try earlier or later to avoid the main rush.

Re leaving them alone- I'd take two plates and one child and fill your and their plate at the same time (assuming you have a partner who can do the same with the other child)

Above all, don't give up. Children can't learn to cope with what they are never exposed to. Our youngest used to hate travelling. I remember her screaming at an airport where a huge crowd of passengers were queuing and it felt like everyone but her was silent (and disapproving). I wanted a hole to appear in the ground to swallow me up. But then someone gave her a sweet and she stopped (stupid mum for not having any to hand). That was the worst time probably but there were other occasions. But she got over it in time and we had some lovely holidays.

Mine still like AI and we did all go on one last year but I get bored with it and prefer to go out to dine.

That's spoilt not routine. You are the parent! Don't forget that otherwise you will make a rod for your own back.

At 4 they have no way to control their emotions and the new routine, place everything with be sending their brain into hyperdrive. Our 3 year old was exactly the same and just wanted to go home all week (mixed in with some enjoyable moments) food is also one of things they can control themselves at that age so it's common for them to not want to eat certain things.
Try chatting to them about the fact that you understand it's all new and different for them ☺️

They sound a bit high maintenance OP 🤣. Crying because there's no stool? God, that would do my head in.

Make sure they have a nap in the afternoon and sit at the same table for food. Hope you have a better day today

I think maybe they are hot and overtired?

Enjoy your g&t

@TheOrigRights I actually think it's often poor value but perceived as good value by people whose children want/demand multiple snacks and ice creams all day plus partners or themselves who drink a fair bit . by the way this isn't bashing those people- it's just being honest about who it's perceived as good value for -- for others who don't drink that much and aren't massive buffet fans it's often not that great value.

What is the attraction of AI such that you've continued to go despite your DD struggling with the food?

I've always struggled with DD at AI hotels. Then we found holiday Village Majorca, they did chips in cones of "newspaper" all day around the pool and she lived on them. She liked the Indian restaurant there too. But last year we went to a bog standard AI and ended up feeding her from the subway over the road if we didn't go out to eat.

Magic life's hotels are fab. They have a kids corner with a chef. Kids activities where the play group leader even sits with the kids too.

I wouldn't make a fuss about it just say fine to your girls and they can eat at a snack bar later on.

I've never had this with DS and we always go AL.

Have you got a kids club and splash Park for them OP?

Do you think they might just be hot and over tired OP because of the heat ?? That's one reason we tended to go for the villas, apartments and Eurocamp- because our son was getting grumpy when small by around 8.45pm- so evenings out were a bit of an adult right off and we decided we would rather go for a meal around 6.30 and get the drink in and sit on the patio whilst he was in bed- he wasn't quite so bad if he had a sleep between 3 and 5 pm - he could then manage till around 9.30

Are they having afternoon naps? Mine needed them at that age or they were grumps. Infact they still tend to have them now and are 10, 13 and 18.

I remember my DS first AI he was 6 - he couldn't believe that Mummy was letting him have doughnuts for breakfast - I had 2 rules - first don't pile yr plate up - you can always go back ,2nd rule - you need at least one fruit or veg - he loved it

He was pretty adventurous. The thing he liked doing in the evening before the entertainment was going to a food point where they cook it in front of you and you choose all the components - that and he added fries to mist dinners- well we were on holiday

If they enjoyed Kids' club earlier, maybe they are just too overtired to enjoy the evening entertainment. Tomorrow is another day.
I recall an AI trip to Majorca when mine was a similar age. Normally a great eater, but lived off chips and cucumber followed by ice-cream. I did not give her a (child sized) plate full due to the waste element, she got more if she ate the bit she'd been given. So maybe a little plain pasta with nothing else then seconds if needed.

Ah that's miserable. How long have you been there? Ours took a day or two to settle after a stupidly early flight.

I'd just take the pressure off and shovel crisps, ice cream, toast etc in at every available opportunity. Aim for avoiding hanger rather than nutrition!

Mine do this. We go abroad quite a lot and sometimes they do it, sometimes they don't. Infuriating!!

Try not to put too many things on the plate and just keep it quite simple, find something they like and stick with it!! Mine normally like things like, oranges, toast, fried egg, plain pasta, cucumber and tomato. Surprising how many things are 'different'!

To the parents whose DC haven’t eaten much on All inclusive holidays how are your DC when you eat out at home?

I remember when my DC were very young I’d make them up a plate of food of no more than 4 different food items so it looked similar to their dinner at home.

I also remember one sweet thing that started happening after a few all inclusive holidays. My oldest by 21 months DC liked to walk around with myself or my DH and choose the food for their younger sibling. My youngest would then give it a rating out of 10 and it was always 8 or over.