It's the easiest call at any beach restaurant: flip to the kids' menu, point at the breaded chicken and fries, and avoid a mealtime meltdown. But that convenience comes with a cost — and it's one that quietly adds up over every family holiday.
Why the classic kids' menu is more harmful than it seems
Breaded, deep-fried meat and a pile of salted fries might keep the peace at the table, but nutritionally, they offer very little of what a growing child actually needs. Both are high in fat, salt, and calories — and low in the vitamins, minerals, and variety that support healthy development.
The real concern isn't one meal. It's the pattern. When kids eat the same fried combination every day on holiday, they're not just filling their stomachs — they're reinforcing a preference for heavily processed, salty flavours. Over time, this makes it harder for them to enjoy — or even tolerate — anything different. Research consistently links childhood obesity and high blood pressure to diets dominated by exactly these kinds of foods.
Holidays are actually one of the best opportunities to expand what your child is willing to eat. New places, new energy, new curiosity — it's the perfect setting to introduce flavours they'd never accept at home.
Healthier alternatives that kids will actually enjoy
The good news: eating well on holiday doesn't have to mean a battle of wills. It's about framing the food as part of the adventure.
At a seaside destination, fresh grilled fish, colourful salads, and lightly cooked vegetables are often on the menu — they just need a little encouragement to order. A simple grilled chicken breast with roasted vegetables, or a vibrant salad packed with seasonal ingredients, can be just as satisfying as the standard kids' plate — and far more nourishing.
The key is presenting these options as something exciting, not as a punishment for not getting fries. Let the location do the work: "This is what people who live by the sea actually eat" lands very differently than "it's good for you."
How to motivate kids to try something new
One of the most effective strategies is simple: give children a sense of ownership over the choice. Instead of telling them what they're having, let them pick from a shortlist of healthier options on the menu. Children are far more likely to eat something they chose themselves.
Involve them in the ordering process. Tell them a little about where the dish comes from or what makes it special to that place — it turns eating into storytelling.
If the restaurant's menu really is limited, work with what's available. Ask for a side salad instead of fries, or swap chips for rice or couscous if the kitchen allows it. Small substitutions add up. And if you want a head start, try cooking one or two new recipes together at home before the trip — kids who've helped make something are almost always more willing to eat it.
The magic of local food as part of the experience
Travel is about discovery — and that includes what's on the plate. When you encourage your child to try a local speciality, you're not just feeding them; you're giving them a memory. Food is one of the most vivid ways we connect to a place, and children absorb that more deeply than we often realise.
Talk about the food. Where does it come from? What do the locals call it? Why do people here eat it? That curiosity transforms a meal into a moment.
A family holiday is one of the rare times when routines loosen and kids are genuinely open to new things. Use that window. The breaded chicken will still be there next week — but the chance to taste something new, somewhere beautiful, with the people they love most? That won't.
