Taking a fussy eater abroad

[MommaTonda]

Hello, I hope this is in the right topic.

I am taking my 5 year old to Italy next week. She will (thankfully) eat tomato pasta and margarita pizza but having been to Italy a lot, there isn't much else you'd find on a menu there that she will eat.

I'd like to take a few things in my bag that she can snack on should we find ourselves in a restaurant where there isn't much on the menu for her (we're going with a big group so I won't have full control over where we eat every day).

I'm after ideas as to what I could take for her in my handbag.... Obviously when I get to Italy I'll stock up on fruit etc. Just worrying I guess!!

If she’ll eat tomato pasta & pizza then in Italy I really wouldn’t worry too much, you’d be hard pressed to find a restaurant which couldn’t cater for her. It’s not ideal but for a week or two won’t do her any harm!

Yeah ok thanks, I'm probably overthinking it. It is only a week!!

Cereal bars, sachets of soup, beans etc. She’ll be ok for pizza at least!

We went to Italy with DS2 who isn't that fussy, but won't eat tomatoes or cheese, which made Italy really hard.

He lived of bread, which was always served with meals and fruit, which was easy to buy, it's only a week.

She does love bread. They just don't seem to put butter on it, just oil and salami (delicious)! She loves cheese too but only cheddar 🙄I'll buy some fruit when I get there and keep some in my handbag in case..

Tbh it’s difficult to say without knowing what she would eat. I usually had a banana for mine and a juice drink, a friend took this snack type salami sausages or babybel, her child wouldn’t eat a banana.
By the way for a week you would be ok with the same snacks.

She just likes really really plain food and no meat whereas where we go in Italy (haven't been since she was born) they eat a lot of meat and everything is quite rich and full of flavour so the opposite of what she likes 😅But no you're right, even if she has pasta every day and bread, she'll be ok! I'll get fruit for the apartment and won't worry about veg too much! I was thinking maybe some rice cakes and apples in my handbag in case of emergencies...

I don’t think most Italian restaurants will be too keen on you taking your own food, even if it is for a ‘fussy eater’. However, if you explain her preferences they will almost certainly offer to supply them, most menus in ( non tourist) Italian restaurants are invitations to treat rather then fixed cheffy offerings, especially as it is for a child. (Unlike France where they would faint at the concept of your not wanting their particular creation. )

She might surprise you if you can manage to convince her that its just what happens when you go on holiday for a week and then she will be back at home with her old favourites. Maybe talk a bit about it before hand so she isnt surprised about it when she gets there.

Yeah I think you're probably right. I'm sure they wouldn't mind doing her something plain if I asked! They do seem to love kids there!

I would take maybe a pack of uniced cupcakes and a small container to have one with you.
If she likes ice cream ….it’s only a week

We took two fussy eaters to Rome.

Most restaurants are happy to do a variation on either plain pasta or pasta with butter or pasta with cheese. Breadsticks went down well as well.

Ours tried gnocchi and didn't hate it.

Also lots of ice cream and nice puddings.

Agree with this. A nice chance for her to learn? I'm not saying don't take a few bits for her, but she might try a few new options if you don't bring a bag full of snacks to all the restaurants.
Have a lovely time and don't worry too much- she will be fine!

You are over thinking- she likes the 2 most obvious dishes they would serve!

If you are taking things in your case that's light/ won't get too squashed- dried pasta (pasta pots just add hot water), soreen bars, raisins, breakfast bars, crepes, dried fruit, yoyo's, crisps, biscuit bars, brioche, cereals, mini cheddars, etc.

If you are all inclusive you won't need half of that though.

I do think you're overthinking though!

Don’t worry about it. Surviving on fruit, bread, tomato pasta and pizza for a week is totally fine. Mine always tried stuff on holidays - prawns was the biggest surprise. They ate Parmesan when cheddar wasn’t there. They might surprise you.

You are overthinking it.

I wouldn't take anything major with me, you don't go to Italy and take pasta pot!.

When we travelled with DD so young, we had some snacks to get her going for a day or two and stocked up where we were.

You can get all kind of items in any supermarket plus lots of fruit. Take a knife and a spoon for things like a yoghurt or pudding on the go.

Restaurants do like children and normally getting them to do pasta with butter is easy.

I absolutely wouldn’t pack any food, pizza and pasta is fine for a week.