SPAIN
The beauty of travelling – for my kids at least – is that they're allowed to eat things on tour that we'd never condone at home, all in the name of cultural immersion. In Spain that means sugary churros for breakfast, dunked in rich hot chocolate, or hearty slices of potato tortilla for a more sensible protein fix. And from albondigas to patatas bravas, the wide availability of tapas means everyone finds something they love.
JAPAN
The umami qualities of Japanese dishes might overwhelm some young palates, but you're pretty safe with steaming bowls of ramen noodles in an aromatic broth, pan fried gyoza dumplings, teppanyaki grills, ethereally light tempura, and myriad varieties of sushi. What kid doesn't love a sushi train?
FRANCE
The French pride themselves on being the most discerning food nation on earth, although your reception, as a family dining in a restaurant, might depend on your waiter's attitude and your children's behaviour. While the origin of French fries can be traced to neighbouring Belgium, there is no shortage of frites with everything and, for most kids, that's a win. So too are street stalls cooking crepes smeared with chocolate, stunning patisseries selling flaky, buttery croissants and jewel-like tartes and gateaus, plus those fabulous baguettes.
VIETNAM
For kids used to Weet-Bix for brekkie, tucking into a steaming bowl of pho bo might be confronting at first. However, this aromatic noodle soup – topped with finely sliced beef, shallots, bean sprouts, basil and as much chilli as you can cope with – will grow on you. Vietnamese food is all about freshness, texture and the perfect combination of hot, sweet, salty and sour flavours, and Vietnam is the perfect destination for the family cooking class, where you can learn to make rice paper rolls (no cooking involved). Better than any souvenir.
HONG KONG
Whether you're eating at a dai pai dong street stall, siu mai at yum cha or Peking duck at a smart restaurant, dining with kids is easy in Hong Kong. Cantonese food, found everywhere from Singapore to Malaysia, as well as Hong Kong, tends to have a fresh, clean flavour that's not too spicy, and an inherent sweetness that really appeals to kids. Just practise using chopsticks.
INDIA
Don't let the fear of getting ill put you off a family holiday in India; eat only hot, cooked food and you'll be fine. Naan bread straight from the tandoor, crunchy pappadums, charred chapatis, mild curries such as lamb korma, and sweet mango lassi as an anytime treat will tempt even the fussiest eaters. And kids love the etiquette of eating with only the right hand (and the reason behind it).
BALI
Our most popular holiday destination offers plenty of culinary drawcards for junior travellers, including lumpia goreng, moreish deep-fried spring rolls, and nasi goreng, the national dish, which will leave mum's fried rice in the shade.
GREECE
The simplicity of Greek food appeals to kids: mezze and small dishes served with pita bread; succulent marinated and barbecued lamb; salads in which cucumber and tomato are the stars; and filo pastry elevated to an art form in savoury spanakopita and sticky, sweet baklava.
MALAYSIA
A day in Malaysia is a global culinary journey and for kids it's a fascinating geography, history and sociology lesson in one. From mamak (Malaysian Indian) roti chanai to traditional Malay char kwai teow and aromatic beef rendang to Nonya Assam laksa there are dishes for all tastes. And did we mention satay?
ITALY
Home to the holy trinity of kid-friendly food – pizza, pasta and gelato – Italy tops the list for family food destinations. It's due as much to the culture of family dining as the food itself. Kids are welcomed and revered the length and breadth of the boot, where regional specialties such as fresh burrata in Puglia, sfogliatelle in Naples and calamari fritti in Venice await. One trip will never be enough.
