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

Success (of sorts)

They’re going to pirate kids club this morning so I said we have to eat breakfast to give us energy otherwise we can’t go.

we sat well away from the food and I gave them cereal from the supermarket. Thankfully they tucked in. I thought I was home & dry when I saw the pancakes but they were refused 😫

I guess it’s just a case of acclimatising and a stark realisation of how much they are wedded to their routines. For instance one of my girls cried that there wasn’t a stool in the bathroom to clean her teeth.

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

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 ☺️

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

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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

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.

3/4 slushy….. love it! 😂