When it’s hot, or everyone’s out of routine, or the food looks a little different to what they’re used to, it’s easy for things to wobble. But with a few little tweaks and a healthy dose of holiday calm, mealtimes can become something to enjoy, not just survive.

Here are some of our favourite tried-and-tested tips to help everyone stay fed and happy, wherever your summer takes you.

Picnic style for the win

Whether you’re abroad or holidaying in the UK, meals feel easier when they’re less formal. Lay out a few options, picnic-style, and let them graze.

Think: sandwich quarters, fruit slices, veggie sticks, dips, cold pasta, crackers - anything they can pick at while chatting about the day so far (It’s a favourite time of day at our Holiday Clubs!)

Go buffet-style (even if you're not at a buffet)

Kids love choice and independence. Even if you’re just eating in the villa or on a rug in the garden, create a DIY setup:

• “Choose your own sandwich toppings!”


• “Pick 3 things from this snack tray!"

Letting them ‘build’ their own meal often wins over fussy eaters and adds a bit of novelty too.

And if you are at an all-inclusive buffet? Don’t overthink it. Let them explore, choose what they like (even if that’s just bread rolls and watermelon for now), and enjoy the fact that you don’t have to cook or clear up. A small win, right?

Hydration is everything

Holiday excitement often gets in the way of basic needs, so keep water bottles with you everywhere.

• Add a splash of squash or frozen fruit for fun


• Check water safety if abroad and keep a stash of juice cartons or boxed drinks handy


• Freeze bottles overnight and pop them in your day bag. They double up as lunchbox coolers!

Keep it relaxed and re-offer later

At Holiday Club, we’ve learned that some kids are too excited to eat all in one go, especially when the older ones are already dashing off to their next adventure.

So we build in a little post-lunch chill time. It gives slower eaters a chance to catch up and lets everyone digest before they’re back to climbing, painting, or picking up the water pistols.

At home or away, the same logic works. If they only nibble at first? Don’t panic. A low-pressure “second chance snack” later often does the trick.

Let them play with their food (really!)

Sometimes the best way to get kids eating is to let them make the food themselves. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just a bit of fun and a chance to get hands-on.

• Build-your-own fruit kebabs (perfect for lunch or dessert)


• Blend and freeze your own smoothie ice lollies


• Set up a “holiday snack station” with different pots they can dip into at their leisure


• Decorate-your-own rice cakes or crackers with spreads, fruit, or edible faces


• Get them to create the menu!

They’re not just eating, they’re making something, feeling proud and probably having a little much-needed shade in the process.

Managing “different” food

If you’re travelling somewhere with unfamiliar dishes, it helps to talk about it in advance:
“We might see some things we don’t usually eat at home - let’s be brave tasters and see what we like!”

Older kids might enjoy:

• Choosing something from the menu themselves


• Helping order in another language


• Creating a mini food passport - try three new things on the trip, rate them with smiley faces or stars

The trick? Keep food positive, playful, and pressure-free. Let them eat when they’re ready. Keep it flexible. And always, always, pack snacks!