All inclusive

[strawthatbrokethecamelsback]

Seriously I thought it was the easy option! Currently on holiday in Menorca, lovely hotel, food is generally good but my 4 year old twins hate it.

this is our first time abroad, we usually get a cottage in the uk so of course I do all the cooking. The breakfast cereal is not the same - we have shreddies, bran flakes or weetabix. Wouldn’t entertain cornflakes or the “sugarpuffs” either. That then led into not eating anything and sitting and crying.

lunch no better, bit of bread & butter eaten, cheese not the same colour as ours - you get the picture.

and then having to run around the food hall 16 times to get their food, then your food so no one is actually eating together.

massive stress

someone tell me it’s gets better as they get older

I wouldn’t worry too much, as you are All inc. they can have snacks, toasted sandwiches, ice creams all day, as long as they eat, it won’t hurt for a week or two.

someone tell me it’s gets better as they get older

Yes, and they'll be older tomorrow. They'll find something if they get hungry enough. It stinks when something you thought would make everything so much easier for the family backfires and you end up feeling like you've paid a fortune to ruin your children's lives!

Take one child each to the buffet and and don't stress if they only pick chips, bread and ice cream.
Get snacks from the shop and just make sure they drink loads of water.

They'll be fine!

Oh like other ps have said let them eat cake! It’ll be fine.

Have you asked if they do particular kids food? I only ask as we went all inclusive last year and discovered half way through that you could ask at the buffet for things like chicken nuggets and chips or pizza which felt more familiar to them at least. Although really ours ate a lot of plain pasta in the end! Although again you had to ask for that as what was displayed was always covered in sauce.

When we did hotel buffets at that age we’d go to breakfast early when it was quiet show dc what was where and then let them choose. Often they’d find something familiar, something they had no intention of eating and some fruit always a win.

This, no pool time if they behave like this. Stop indulging them with this behaviour. You're on an AI holiday- there will be something to eat!

I went b and b in Greece recently with my nearly 3 year old. So many choice say breakfast buffet that she loves- fruit, cereal, chips, cheese, bread etc etc but all she wanted every day was chocolate cake. My mum was with us and said what’s the harm if she has cake for breakfast for 10 days and I thought you’re so right why am I stressing about cake! Second day onwards I said eat half a slice of toast then you can have your cake and she happily did! Even when we wnt for lunch/dinner in restaurants she basically ate chips and olives for the whole week and strawberries out of the cocktails 🙈

Sucked the sauce off 🤣🤣🤣 this is the sort of ‘needs must’ shit we did, am glad to read this.

I wouldn't take them up to get food if it's too overwhelming, you know what they'll eat so either make a plate up for them or get a big selection on your plate and let them pick off that. Stick to things that are recognisable and don't worry about it being bland and unhealthy for the holiday. It's ds's favourite thing about holidays - 5 types of cake for breakfast!

We also did try going up ourselves and coming back with “safe food” which helped when it was busy and they were tired.

Considering the way they are reacting, this holiday is a very important lesson for them in flexibility so use it to teach them to get on with things without moaning and whinging.

Id try teach them independence here and make a game out of sending them on short trips to pick something from the buffet themselves. Then lots of positive reinforcement when one or both of them do go get even a bread roll.

"They come with me but I think they find it overwhelming"

Right, then stop taking them up. You're doing it wrong anyway, I always wonder why people don't plan this better.

One parent walks around outside with them, goes to the playground if nearby or whatever while the other goes in to the restaurant and sets up dinner. So get everybody's drink on the table and a plate of whatever the kids will eat plus starters for the adults and a basket of bread for the table. Text the other one to say you're ready 🤗.

Then you all have a settled first course all day together and the adults go up one at a time for their main.

You tell them the cereal is the same not go to get them what they've tantrummed for! If they won't eat it then they can have cake or nothing. It's the milk that's different anyway IMO.

It’s not just the food I imagine.
They are probably hot and overwhelmed by the big dining room and all the places.
Just try and find anything they will eat and forget being healthy for now and consider SC in the future.
We didn’t do AI until the kids were 12 and 16 and even then we went back to SC as we aren’t really keen on people while we are on holiday

Do they have headphones, if so could they wear them in the restaurant to dull the noise level?
It does get better, mines 6 and loves AI! She tries loads of things but is also very happy to have almost free reign over the croissants/cake and ice cream! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Don't be ridiculous. They're 4 and overwhelmed by a new place, busy room and unfamiliar food. This isn't something that they need to be punished for.

Do they do pizza at lunch and dinner time, do the twins like pizza?

How about pasta with some cheese on top.

Toast?

Ignore any moaning, praise either of them eating anything.

Breakfast is always my favourite at AI. Surely there is something for them?!

Fry ups
Toast
Cereal
Pancakes/pastries
Fruit
Ham/cheese

I don't stay in classy joints & have never struggled to find something to eat

Can you go slightly earlier so it’s less busy?
Or is everyone doing that?

They won't die of hungry if they skip a few meals while they get used to the idea of the food that's on offer.
Just make sure they have plenty to drink, especially if you're somewhere
hot. Milk is a good option to try. Don't turn it into a battle, if they're crying then something is wrong.

Hope the cereal helps! I would leave them at the table with one parent while the other goes and picks up whatever they will eat.

If that ends up being plain bread and chips, so be it. They can have ice cream etc during the day. It will be fine for a week or two.

It's disheartening if kids don't want the food on offer but I'd just go for path of least resistance as they are only 4 and its probably just all a bit much for them.

If it's any consolation, I went to Spain with my Aunt and Uncle at 4. Not AI but an apartment and they took me out to ear every night. Despite loving all foods at home, did I try any Spanish cuisine? Nope, I ate fried egg and chips with ketchup, every single night for the whole two weeks 😂😂

I thought it was great and lived to tell the tale 😂

Agreeing with what others have said, but also, I always found mine didn't eat as much on holiday, or preferred to graze. I just went with it. They had to sit with us at meal times, but if they didn't eat, fine. There were always snack options outside of meal times, so they just grazed on chips, biscuits and ice cream during the day... Not the healthiest, but nor were the multiple sangrias I had each day so... 🤷‍♂️

We have a 3 year old who is a fussy ish eater at home - good with veg / fish etc but quite specific. I have not yet taken her on an all inclusive holiday for this reason.

We try and go to a hotel complex that does self catering and all inclusive so you still get the nice pools, park, entertainment etc but we can do what we want with the food.

We have managed absolutely fine like this as someone else said most shops in Spain/ Portugal etc do similar foods. I also take a packet of pasta and some peanut butter / dry snacks in the case.

We often feed her in the flat / villa and then eat out later and give her a dessert and her sticker book at that point. Perhaps not ideal in terms of eating habbits and behaviours but she is happy and well fed and we are not stressed out.

Hope you find something they will eat x

This is the last thing I needed to read today OP. Heading to Menorca AI on Saturday with the fussiest eaters known to man. Plus one has (medical) dietary requirements. No idea how it'll go.

Dd is infuriatingly fussy with food.
it doesnt get any better but as she has gotten bigger she can trawl the buffet herself
🤣🤣