Children in Birmingham are the fussiest eaters – and those in London are the most adventurous, according to research.
A study of 2,000 parents of children aged six to 16 revealed which UK cities have the pickiest and most open-minded eaters.
Kids in Newcastle are the second hardest to please at the dinner table, followed by Leicester.
It also found 37% of mums and dads regularly struggle to go out for meals as a family because of their kids’ limited tastes.
And 83% said it’s even more challenging when holidaying abroad as it’s hard to find a restaurant that will please everyone.
MSC Cruises, commissioned the research in addition to an interactive map of the UK which reveals how picky kids are across the nation when it comes to food and how this affects family holiday plans.
Antonio Paradiso, the cruise liner’s managing director for UK and Ireland said: “From our research, it’s interesting to see what an important role food preferences and cuisine play in holiday habits and travel itineraries.
“It’s apparent that parents have their work cut out for them to keep their youngsters happy – whether that’s here at home or further afield.
“We’ve also observed that kids can be pickier on holiday as they can’t always access the food they can get at home, and this can have a real impact on family travel.”
The study also showed when abroad, kids not wanting to try new foods was deemed the most frustrating eating-out related issue (22%).
While 20% worry about a limited choice at their holiday destination, and 18 per cent feeling frustrated when kids complain about foods they’d otherwise enjoy at home for ‘looking different’.
It’s no wonder that six in 10 (63%) of parents also admit food options in a location abroad sway their travel decisions, at least somewhat.
And as many as 14 per cent would actually cancel a foreign holiday plan if there weren’t enough food options available, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
To try and get kids more interested in food, the south-west is the place most likely to get kids into the kitchen at a young age to help cooking, with residents of Bristol and Plymouth opting for this tactic (58 per cent).
But 45 per cent of Liverpudlians will use sweet treats or familiar foods as a negotiation tactic to encourage their children to try something new.
IT can be stressful travelling with kids, but there are a few things you can do to make it easier. Here's five we'd recommend:
Snacks
It might sound simple, but it’s a good idea to pack a LOT of snacks. Think of how much you might need, and double it. After all, it doesn’t matter if you have too much – your kids can eat it another time – but it will be a big issue if you run out. There are also snack boxes with lots of little dividers that are great for long journeys as kids can pick at those throughout.
Entertainment
This covers a whole range of things – from a tablet to watch films or play games if you’ve got older kids, to books and colouring. It’s advisable to pack a variety of options, especially if you’re on a long journey or have various legs on your haul.
Toys
If you’ve got a baby or a toddler, there are some sensory-type toys you can buy that can really help keep little ones entertained. These include ones that you stick on the windows of a plane, or on a tray on a highchair, that they can spin and play with to their hearts’ content.
Equipment
There are a whole host of things on the market that aim to make sleeping on a plane loads easier. These include a hammock that you can attack to your tray which hangs down to put your feet on. You can also get blow up cushions to turn a seat into a bed for littles, and neck cushions that boast you will be able to use for a decent night’s sleep wherever you are.
Yourselves!
Don’t underestimate how entertaining you are to your kids. Learn some games you can play with them, and songs you can sing, as kids always love the opportunity to have one-on-one time with their parents.
Exactly one in four parents find it ‘very frustrating’ when kids won’t try a food they’re convinced they will like.
The research also asked questions of the respondents’ children, and found 54 per cent of them have turned down trying a new food because it ‘looked weird’.
And nearly six in 10 (59 per cent) confessed they’d eat pizza on holiday every day, if they could.
Antonio Paradiso for MSC Cruises, which has a fleet including the MSC Virtuosa ship with 10 different restaurants catering for many tastes, added: “For parents, going somewhere they know they’ll have options can be a load off the mind.
“We want parents and kids to be able to indulge in all their favourite food choices – and focus on creating memories together.”
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