Travelling with fussy eaters can be a challenge, but visiting places with unfamiliar cuisine can also be part of the solution.
I have a love-hate relationship with the chicken nugget. On one hand, as a parent to picky eaters, the chicken nugget is a lifesaver. It’s a quick meal choice that refuels my kids on the ski slopes of Switzerland, avoids meltdowns in transit at Singapore’s Changi Airport, and takes care of the afternoon munchies beachside in France.
However, as beneficial as chicken nuggets have been, they have also become a crutch for everyone in my family, especially when we travel.
This kid-friendly option appears on menus worldwide, as both restaurateurs and parents know that chicken nuggets guarantee no mealtime fuss — a win-win scenario. Unfortunately, I often sacrificed a good meal for the sake of avoiding drama, choosing peace over culinary exploration by favoring these familiar bites over more adventurous dining experiences.
The battle of the chicken nugget was a reality for us, until we visited Portugal.
The allure of warm weather and lazy beach days had us spending 10 days under the bright blue Portuguese sky. We travelled with friends familiar with the beautiful coastline from Faro to Quarteira, which made planning our meals a breeze. Our daily routine consisted of mornings at the beach, afternoons by the pool, and indulging in delicious local cuisine.
Interestingly, their children are not enchanted by chicken nuggets, allowing us to venture into restaurants we might have shied away from alone.
In Portugal, the dining experience differs significantly. I scarcely encountered chicken nuggets or a separate kids’ menu. A restaurant that offers chicken nuggets likely does not cater to local tastes. It seems Portuguese parents expect their children to share in adult meals: fresh seafood, charcoal-grilled chicken, and simple green salads adorned the tables around us.
It genuinely felt like a world where chicken nuggets simply didn’t exist!
Initially, I panicked at the idea of unavailability of my go-to kid-friendly meals. I braced myself for tantrums at every restaurant, but as the days progressed, we all let go of our dependency on the ‘chicken nugget crutch.’ Surprisingly, the kids began to try new foods. Regardless of where we ate, we consistently found satisfactory options. At times it was just spaghetti or fries. However, other times we enjoyed amêijoas (clams), frango assado (Portuguese BBQ chicken), and bifanas (traditional pork sandwiches). Cue the parental high-fives under the table!
Do you know what? Our picky eaters not only survived; they thrived! Almost daily, they had to push past their comfort zones and explore new flavors — an experience that would not have been possible had chicken nuggets been an option. I am pleased to report that they left Portugal significantly less picky than when we arrived.
Chicken nuggets are now no longer the primary filter through which we choose restaurants. Instead, we eagerly seek out authentic local cuisine. At home, I’ve proudly incorporated bifanas into our family meal plan, and our overall attitude has become more inviting towards trying new foods. Although it took time to break the habit of selecting eateries based on the availability of a kids’ menu, we have shifted towards opting for dining experiences that we as parents will enjoy while trusting that there will be suitable choices for our (less) picky kids.
While travel hasn’t entirely resolved our picky eating dilemma, it has imparted a valuable lesson: when chicken nuggets are not an option, we become much more adventurous in our culinary journeys.
Visiting Portugal soon with your own picky eaters? Give these dishes a try:
Frango assado: Portuguese BBQ chicken is renowned for its mouthwatering flavor. Our favorite spot? Marufo 1 near Quarteira.
Bifana: This is the Portuguese take on a steak sandwich. It has rapidly become a favorite with my pickiest eater, featuring thinly sliced pork marinated in paprika, bay leaves, white wine, salt, and plenty of garlic, pan-fried and served on bread.
Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato: If clams were available, we ordered them to start every meal. They became the main draw for our more adventurous picky eater and encouraged her to try other seafood, including lobster and mussels.
