How to participate in food tourism as a family
Food tourism is a growing trend in the travel industry that sees visitors plan their itineraries with food as the central theme. Parents may take a sharp intake of breath at this proposition, knowing that fussy little travellers can make meal times challenging at the best of times, let alone in unfamiliar territory. However, travelling can be a great way to encourage children to try different flavours and ingredients. To keep everyone happy, bear these three things in mind and you too can explore new culinary landscapes as a family.
Preparation is key
When travelling solo or with other adults, there’s a lot to be said about leaving space for a little spontaneity when it comes to meal times and deciding where to eat. However, when you’re also responsible for younger diners, there’ll naturally be a little less flexibility, and you’ll want to be certain that they’ll find something to dig into on the menu.
Before you go, it’s always a good idea to research restaurants in the local area and devise a shortlist of options that everyone will enjoy. By all means you can push the boundaries and encourage the little ones to try something a little different when researching where to eat – that’s the object of food tourism, after all. But when you’ve done your planning in advance, if something goes wrong or the little ones are feeling particularly fussy, you’ll always have a backup plan to turn to. Find a combination of international and local establishments to cover all bases.
Find some foodie activities
Food tourism doesn’t just have to revolve around meal times. Granted, meals that are prepared for you at a market or restaurant will provide the most authentic taste experience since they’re prepared by local people who understand the flavours best. But, to truly immerse yourself into a new country’s cuisine, why not add some foodie experiences to your itinerary?
Often, this is the best way to learn all about the ingredients and techniques that are used in creating local, staple dishes. Not to mention, you may even be able to learn some new skills and flavour combinations to take back home. Find cooking classes that use child-friendly recipes and you’re bound to have a memorable family experience while also broadening your culinary horizons together. 81% of tourists agreed that trying new foods gave them a chance to learn about a different culture, and doing so can have long-lasting benefits on childhood development, helping kids to grow into more well-rounded individuals.
Choose your accommodation wisely
Speaking of getting your hands dirty, it’s always worth looking for accommodation that has private kitchen facilities when travelling with young children. As well as being a great way to save your cents, the added flexibility a kitchen offers is priceless.
You may think that cooking your own food flies in the face of the very essence of food tourism – but the opposite is true. To make the most of your kitchen, head to the markets to source local ingredients that can be used in full meals or just to create handy, on-the-go snacks. Plus, it’s a wonderful opportunity to get the kids excited about cooking. Enlist their help to choose tasty, local recipes and find some simple tasks they can help out with during the cooking process. Even if you do need to rely on tried and tested dishes that you know the kids will eat, you can still put a local twist on them so you’re not missing out on the opportunity to savour indigenous products.
Food tourism for families
You don’t have to leave the kids at home when looking to embark on a food-inspired adventure. Keep these three things in mind and you can enjoy a family foray into the world of foreign fare.
