To just get a big bag of chicken nuggets?

[Fianceechickie]

We're off on a self catering holiday to Spain on Tuesday and won't have much money to eat out. I love to cook though so it's not that that's the issue, kind of looking forward to the amazing food markets, cooking lots of fresh fish etc. My kids (especially my DSCs) are incredibly fussy eaters and I just can't be doing with cooking different things or restricting myself and DH to the very narrow range of things they'll all eat and fretting over what I can actually make, putting up with the moaning, sullen faces when they're pushing something trouble their plates. AIBU if i just go to the supermarket on day 1 and get a big bag of frozen chips and chicken nuggets and just say 'if you don't like what I'm cooking any night, that's your dinner'.

No problem with the idea of them eating nuggets and chips for the duration of your holiday, but when I've self catered on the continent, I've never had an oven

Are you allowed to take bacon and cheese on a plane

Personally, I think YABU to pander to them and they're taking the piss. Really surprised that most people seem to think otherwise

If they won't eat it, they go hungry (with a little compassion- e.g. if one hates olives, leave out the olive tapenade on their plate etc). They won't starve. They need to learn to get a grip.

Perhaps get them involved in the cooking process- make it a fun activity? If they just get fed their favourite meal all the time they really will learn that they can just eat that and should never try anything new- I know it's just a holiday, but it's a dangerous route to go down leading to food fears and potentially phobias.

Not any more. This was about 16 years ago, but I always remember it because that's all they'd eat. Bacon and cheese toasties in the apartment!

(basically, if you allow them to just eat 'safe' foods you're kind of confirming to them that their refusal is reasonable and that they shouldn't try new things- and assuming you're cooking 'edible' foods and not weird Heston Blumenthal type stuff their fussiness is not reasonable. If you imply to them that it is, it will escalate. Nice bread and butter on the table as an accompaniment if you're really concerned they start to waste away...)

You can take bacon and cheese on a plane if you're not leaving Europe, yes. Most other places, no.

I totally agree with not pandering. DH and I are totally on that page and if they lived with us all the time we would definitely go down the 'take it or leave it' route (we wouldn't be where we are now anyway) BUT they are allowed to be fussy at home unfortunately and whenever we've tried to challenge it, their mum has hit the roof. We get tears, texts from their mum and, because they both complain frequently of tummy pain, this is often blamed on the food we've got them to eat and we're told to avoid it. Rice, kidney beans and sweetcorn all fall into this category. Then there's the things DSD is mildly allergic to...stone fruits, apples and strawberries. Then there's the stuff they don't like (and are entitled to dislike according to their mum)...fish, cold meats, cold cheese, anything spicy (which gives DSD heartburn anyway) lots of different fruit and veg, cured meats, mushrooms, tomato, I could go on..Honestly it's not worth the hassle...

It's short term, you are on holiday, go for it. Loved the sausages' menu @QuiteChic Brilliant Make them cook it! I don't think a short holiday it's the time to establish ground rules, creating arguments or choosing battles. Especially with the intolerances / allergies and their mum allowing the fussiness. You'd end up with upset teens and stories about not enjoying the holiday because you forced them to eat something that didn't agree with them. At that age, they burn whatever they eat. Have healthy sides to share, like nice salads, breads, olives, ready-made Spanish omelette, whatever they might eat and might add variety to their meal? What about one of you choosing the menu of the day and the rest agreeing with it no matter what? You'd probably have fast food three days a week but two days (DH and you) would be normal food for everyone?

To pp, when I lived in the continent we always had an oven, though. OP, maybe ask in advance?

I don't think I'd even bother cooking for them. Take them to the market with you, let them choose things they can prepare themselves (bread, meat, any salad, pasta etc) and leave them to it on the nights they turn down what you've prepared.

I have a very fussy son who is too young to cook for himself yet but he'll happily choose and help make a meal from "easy" ingredients in the fridge.

Saying that, if it makes things easier for you and lets you enjoy your holiday and mealtimes stress-free, it wont do any harm. YANBU