Catering to kids — and their unadventurous taste buds — on board
In an industry synonymous with extravagance, having children on board is the perfect excuse to get playful with dining concepts. For example, how about connecting meals with the day’s activities — perhaps a pirate-themed poke bowl-themed lunch to enjoy after a treasure hunt or a Willy Wonka dessert buffet ahead of a cozy movie night under the stars.
Service tips
To ensure smooth service times when there’s hungry little ones about, these tips come in handy:
- If children are eating separately to adults, plated service is best
for ease and speed. - When plating up on suction plates in the galley, put kitchen roll under the plate to avoid it sticking (presentation is easily ruined when trying to lift it off).
- Serve children first if dining with adults.
- Ensure sauces and condiments are ready on the table to reduce wait time.
Snacks for all ages
For family charters, snacks are an imperative! Quick, nutritious ideas include fruit skewers (not with sharp points for little ones), hummus and crudités, mini quesadillas and pizzettas. Ensure there is a mix of sweet and savory snacks, and to create a wow factor snack experience, present them in interesting shapes — kiwi and grape turtles, strawberry and banana slice caterpillars or celery boats.
Safety
Key considerations for food safety:
- Any foods that could be considered a choking hazard should be cut vertically — think blueberries, grapes and cherry tomatoes.
- If hosting baking sessions in the galley, ensure all prep that requires sharp knives is done ahead of time.
- For weaning babies, find out what stage they are at — child-lead weaning (finger food they can hold and nibble on) or traditional weaning where things must be chopped up much smaller and be softer to avoid choking risks.
Build-your-own buffet-style meals also work well, allowing kids to explore new flavors and textures. Think tacos, pizza (with Nutella pizzas for dessert) or smoothie bowls.
Relying solely on beige food for hungry children doesn’t satiate their appetite or deliver an appealing eating experience. There’s a world of exciting, nutritious options that can be created with a little thought and preparation. By offering fun, adventurous choices, children’s mealtimes can become one of the most joyful parts of the charter.
Ella Peters spent more than nine years in yachting and launched superyachtnanny.co for all things childcare-related on board.