My children, especially my twins, are used to typical North American fare. I know there are McD's and pizza joints there (in Toledo) as my husband already scouted them out for the boys *they inherited his eating habits I'm afraid* but they can't eat that crap for an extended period. I'm curious as to what other travellers with children recommend for kid friendly food? Is/was there something that your kids really enjoyed? I really want to expose them to the a variety of foods and am hoping others can give me an idea as to what their kids enjoyed while in Spain...I'm hoping if I start them out on a 'for sure' thing that they will be more eager to try other items on the menu...kwim? My older child is an adventurous eater...my twins...not so much.

I don't have any kids yet (but am well on the way!)...however do have some suggestions for "kid friendly food".

1. Tortilla Española. Essentially a potato and egg omelette which you will find in any bar in Spain. My 4 year old nephew and 8 year old niece love it everytime their "tío" makes it for them.

2. Queso semi curado. My niece is a really picky eater but she does like the cheese that I bring to her from Spain. I think the aged cheese (curado) might be a bit strong in taste for the kids.

3. Ensaladilla Rusia. Essentially a potato salad with lots of yummy things such as hard boiled eggs, carrots, peas, tuna, etc.

You didn't mention how old your kids were so my recommendations were geared towards those with toddlers.

If your kids are older, you might have them try patatas bravas (roasted potatoes with a spicy sauce), calamares fritos (fried squid)... Madridman's favorite in a sandwich (bocadillo).

Lomo (roast pork)...but you might want to avoid the lomo adobado which might be a bit strong on the paprika for the kids. Likewise with the chorizo sausage which I love.

Paella is always an easy dish since most kids like rice. They might be turned off by seeing the shrimp with the heads on, but you can always pick them out.

Have a great trip! I wouldn't waste the time in American fast food restaurants when there are so many great and delicious Spanish dishes to try!

Oh! For breakfast they must have the churros con chocolate!

I am an extremely picky eater so when I went to Spain the first time I lost 5 lbs. in two weeks which is pretty noticeable on a 100 lb frame. Therefore the second time around, I brought some stuff. Why don't u bring easy things since these are twins (I am guessing they are younger) bring mac and cheese in a box and simple stuff..they will try new stuff but I found it hard to fill up on some of the foods so you can just make something easy while also trying new foods AND avoiding mcdonalds..

Monicasometimes, your picky eaters may find something surprising they like in Spain! There are so many flavors they've probably never tried before. They may like croquetas (croquettes with bits of ham, usually) or empanadillas (savory filled pastries - often with a mild tuna filling). The fruit in Spain is wonderful - always very flavorful. (Have you seen the adorable TV commercial here in the States of a few little Spanish kids shooting a clementine across the ocean to some American kids with a slingshot?) I'm always surprised at how many children like soups with beans, and the Spanish are experts at excellent soups. Roasted chicken is always delicious and served with home made fries - a pretty safe dish for kids. Good luck!

Chica, ENHORABUENA! When are you due???

meencantaespana: My husband can relate to your experience. He has been there since early December and has been starving...he just can't handle the food, between being picky and suffering chronic heatburn, the man is hurting seriously. He said he's down to 165 from his usual 180. How do men lose weight so fast!!!? I've been trying for 5 years to lose the last 10lbs of twin weight!

We will be living in a house so I will be able to cook but I would still like the kids to experience the flavors of spain...kwim? I will definitely have to pack a few favorites.

Thanks everyone for the ideas...it sounds as though there will be a few items on the menu that the twins will enjoy especially the croquettes and the churros con chocolate...yummm

Monicasometimes: The problem is not will they eat it, the problem is after they try it will you be able to get them to stop eating. Flan is always a favorite of anyone that has tried it. The single worst thing that ever happened to me health wise, was the Air Force sending me to Spain. When I went I was a teenager that knew a lot more than I do at 53. I made up my mind that I was going to try those foods even if it came back up right away. Three years and 35 pounds later I was transfered back stateside. As far as your old man and his heartburn is concerned, he needs to walk into any Farmacia and tell them what the problem is, they will take care of him. If you are going to be preparing meals at home, I think when you start getting those fresh veggies and fruit on a daily basis you will notice a change in your childrens eating habits. I think the first time you crack open an egg and notice the yoke is a deep orange not that puetrid yellow like here, then taste the difference, your little ones will come around. I don't know how long you are going to be in Spain but can you imagine after being there a while then comeing back to the states one of them saying "Mom this food is gross, I want to go back to Spain." Could happen. Good luck and enjoy.

There are incredible desserts in Spain like flan and natillas (both are made with milk, egg, sugar and cinamon), arroz con leche (rice, milk, sugar and cinamon), tarta de Santiago (almonds cake),...

Nobody has mentioned pasta, which makes a major part of our regular eatings nonetheless, specially maccaroni with tomato and chorizo. Chorizo? Every kid likes it, along with salchichón, sausages, cheese from Burgos (very soft), and serrano cured ham. I remember wonderful bocadillos of them...

Did I mentioned bocadillos? Yes, two halves of french bread cut along and filled with that stuff, or others, like tuna with red peppers, spanish omelette, lomo adobado, or even chocolate!

It will be a crime not to taste an orange juice

As for rices, you may try a sure champion: arroz con tomate (rice with tomato, olive oil and garlic) and arroz abanda (like paella without fish and seafood pieces in it). Which leads us to seafood and fishes, try gambas al ajillo (small prawns with garlic), lenguado, merluza or rape (shave). And also patatas alioli (potatoes with mahonese with garlic) or patatas bravas (potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce).

And meat: cordero (roasted lamb), steak, roasted chicken,...

There are an infinity of things to taste in Spain, of which kids like many of them. You should try to drive them wisely to taste those things.

As you know them, you can try things first and you will instantly know what they'll think of them.

Good luck and let us know your experience!

Fernando

PD: I can give you the recipe of any of the dishes above

Fernando:
Thanks...your recommendations sound wonderful! I'm sure, after reading this thread, my children will love the food.

I notice from your profile that you live in Madrid. Perhaps you can help me with another issue we are facing right now with regard to our rental home. We have finally, after many phone calls, got the power turned on in our rental home but apparently there is no fuse in the fuse holder at the house. My husband has been searching high and low to find a fuse for this holder and no one seems to know where he can get one...it seems like such a small item but he is completely stumped. Where would one find a fuse for an electrical fuse holder and how does one determine what type of fuse goes in. Any ideas?

Desert dweller:

You are probably right about how my boys' preference for food will change. We are going for 3-6 months and I'm sure they will get used to it and probably prefer it after awhile. Fresh food is always so much better as opposed to packaged stuff that has been sitting on the shelf for months!

Let us see:

The one who rented you the house should provide it completely equipped. Try talking to him/her.

If you have to handle it yourself, I think I have only seen a kind of fuses in Spain in my whole life. You must find a "tienda de electricidad" (electricity shop) or a "ferretería" and ask for a "fusible".

Still, ask your neighbours if they have one or if they can let you know how is the fuse and where to buy it (they may give them one to you if they have an extra one).

Anf finally, if you aren't able to get it that way, try to call an "electricista" (electrician) to solve the problem. Your neighbours can help you with the language, I'm sure.

Not only I live in Madrid, I'm from Madrid and have lived here for my whole life

Fernando

Thanks Fernando!

I have forwarded your response to my husband...hopefully he will solve the problem before I get there...LOL

Monica,
I am from the states and have been living in Madrid for 19 months now. I have 2 kids (8 and 11) who eat very well here. You will find Grocery stores that cater to every nationality(Carrefor, Lidel, Caprabo). You can find restaurants that serve American style food such as VIPS, RIBS, Tony Romas, Fosters of Hollywood). There are even stores that cater to Americans with American Brands(Taste of America) but you will pay a lot for the products. Don't worry, any food you want can be found here if you know where to look for it.

Thank you MedicalMan..and everyone else. After reading all of the responses, I think any worries we had about our picky eaters are unfounded...they'll be just fine!

Here in southern Spain kids like “ puchero ” very much. That is a soup you can add noodles, rice, egg, hamm,... My wife cooks caldo for several days and put on the freezer. If you can´t cook it, you can buy at supermarkets one litre brick of that soup ( caldo ), and add what you want. They also love “tortilla” , “queso manchego” and “arroz con gambas (prawns) y almejas (clams)” (you can buy the prepared sea food at the supermarket and then make the rice at home).

Fried fish: my kids have eaten a lot of fried “acedías” when they were younger!! In Andalucía kids like " pescaíto frito " very much (fried fish). Don’t forget gambas( prawns ) and jamón serrano (cured ham).

Fruit: we make a macedonia at home in order the kids eat all kind of fruit. And “mandarinas” are well accepted for kids.

I hate to say it, but with your husband being a picky eater, you are swimming uphill with your kids. Our youngest was picky and my husband and I had no tolerance for it. When we travelled in Greece and Spain, we refused to hunt for special food for him. He ate many meals of bread and olive oil. I kept some yogurt and fruit on hand, too. Not good for the long run, but for a few weeks, he survived. He is now seven and loves chipirones! (fried baby squid). To travel and not enjoy the local food is really a shame. I'd go the bread and olive oil route before McDonalds. Just my two cents worth.

Jana:
I agree, we can't 'feed into' our kids' quirks all the time...9 times out of 10 with mine it's simply a quirky food issue not so much that they don't like it, but that they don't WANT it. If the kids don't like somethings, that's fine but I won't go out of my way to ensure they get something they are used to without them giving the effort of at least 'trying' the food. They won't die...I've packed mulitvitamins! LOL I think they will be fine.

I know when I went to Spain with a group there were a lot of kids in the group that wouldn't eat the food. I mean we were there for five weeks and really only ate salad and bread with oil. But what they did eat was the Spanish omlet (potatos and egg omlet) which i make at home, bocidillos, simple paella *without the whole shrimp). I was so upset when we went out to eat plain old Pizza that we could get in the states. There's a lot more food options out there but you can't let your kids not try the food just because it looks funny, or isn't what they're used to. Spanish food is delicious, they should really give it a try.

When I first came back to Spain I was so upset, and nothing tasted like it should. It was so disgusting, and over processed. I've gained back all of the weight I lost over there simply but eating American food. (and I'm not talking about fast food places, i refuse to go to those) I was actually sick coming back because of the differences in food. So I would be mindful of that when you and your children return home. Ease into American food because 9 times out of 10 you will be sick.

Hope it all goes well!

I say this as a parent so, please noone take offense - there's a saying "monkey see - monkey do" and I found that holds true for kids in their eating habits as well as many other areas.

If you eat and seem to be enjoying something, the child will try it - you might not want to go into graphic detail about the content - just eat and appear to be enjoying it. That worked for me when my daughter was little - and it still works not only with her but with my peers as well.

Monicasometimes,

Looks like you have already received a lot of good replies to your question on "food recommendation" on Spanish food for children. I have had some experience with American children in Spain and vice versa ...Spanish children in America. It is a fact that children have many more taste buds than us adults and it is not always an easy task to find foods that they like. However, I do think that you will find success. I found that most children like tortilla, ternera, jamon york, chuletas, bocadillos, ensaladas, soups, fruits, breads, desserts, and rice in Paella....good or bad, patatas fritas are also on many menus. My last trip with my Niece has left her craving the fresh fruits and vegetables of Spain! She had no idea that things could taste so good Have a great time and let us know of your adventures!

Hi Monicasometimes!,

Here are my two cents.

I'm afraid I'm not sooo optimistic as previous posters, and think that you and your children are not likely to love everything; since I don't think of myself as overly picky and as I kid I would not try/like 'oreja' (pig's ear), and to this day I don't like 'ensaladilla rusa', for example.

But that's no biggie, they'll be other things you'll adore :-) (My vote goes for 'tortilla de patata', 'calamares', 'croquetas',....

Anyway, I'm from Madrid, but have been living abroad for a while now....

Very recently, over X-mas, my significant other and myself expent 2 days in Zaragoza, 3 days in Cercedilla, a village in the Madrid mountains, and 3 in Segovia...
Boy!, I had almost forgotten that outside Madrid (city), the tapas culture is alive and VERY well!!!

I mean, during my last years living in downtown Madrid, yes I knew of a few places where you'd get the odd little dish of olives, crisps (chips), paella, mussels, or sausages, etc....but I find this custom is getting lost in the big, busy, multicultural metropoli that Madrid is becoming....

Still, in "provincias", you get a free sample of food with your wine, beer o cola-cola EVERYTIME!
So much so that in Zaragoza we were with family, in Cercedilla we decided to have hearty "menús del día" (the daily menus), due to the intense cold and because we miss them so much over here, and they're such good value; but in Segovia....both the first night and the last afternoon there, even though our intention was to just have a few drinks BEFORE the meals ('aperitivos'), we were served so many free tapas....that we were stuffed and skept them altogether!

I say this because (depending on their age, of course), you might explain to them, that hey!, you've just asked the for their 'mosto' a non-alcoholic grape drink that I strongly recommend your children to try, for every child I know loves it; and guess what? they've been given 'gambas con gabardina' (literally, prawns in overcoats; really, battered prawns), or 'canapés de cangrejo' (clam canapes)!

So, in short, my advice, take them out "tapasing" a lot!!! :-) They might think it's cooool that you get all these freebies and maybe they'll be more keen on being adventurous....

My son (aged 13) loved the fact that you got free food in Madrid with every drink, and tried everything put in front of him just because it was free. He didn't like the boquerones (which i loove) but adored everything else. also, he absolutely lived for chocolate and churros for breakfast every day.

That's exactly what I was trying to express....make it sort of like a game!

i even had to take a photo of him and his chocolate and churros in El Brillante because he loved them that much. We went to the one in Vallecas every morning.