BKP

We just bought our plane tickets to Egypt and we're so excited! We're flying in from London to Hurghada for a week of sun and then back through Cairo for a day at the Pyramids and then back to London and the cold and grey!

Does anyone have any good food recommendations for a picky 3 year old in Cairo or El Gouna? He likes regular kid stuff -- pizza, spaghetti, bread, fruit, ice cream etc but he won't try anything exciting. Can anyone think of restaurants where we can all be satisfied? Do we have to be careful about giving him fruit? Will it make him sick?

I have so many questions but I'll just start with those right now. I confess that I really don't know much about Egypt! I guess I know what I'm going to be reading about for the next two weeks.

Thanks!

P_M

I would only give him fruit that wouldn't be washed in tap water. Your best bet is fruit you can peel, such as bananas and oranges. I was advised against dairy in Egypt as the milk might not be pasteurized so I (very sadly) avoided ice cream.

BKP

Wow -- I don't know if this kid (or his mom for that matter) can survive with out ice cream!

What about ice cream bars on sticks -- you know the ones that come prepackaged? Are those available and/or safe?

I know it sounds like I'm making a big deal out of something that my son can live without for a week, but it's our "go to treat" when we travel. It works wonders!

Casual_Cairo

The ice cream here in Egypt is just fine. Movenpick is one of my favorites and it certainly is available at all the 5* hotels.

We even have B & R 31 flavors if you want to search them out.

Grcxx3

Debbie beat me to it. I was going to recommend the Movenpick ice cream.....and I have to admit to venturing into B&R on occasion!

Where are you staying in El Gouna? We stayed at the Movenpick and loved it. With the exception of the 1st trip, we didn't do the dinner buffet, but almost every 5* placed we ever stayed in had a pasta bar set up. My boys kept it simple - pasta with garlic and olive oil, but they had a variety of things to add. And almost all the restaurants will do french fries. We learned early on NOT to worry too much about healthy eating when the kids were little. We just didn't want them to go hungry.

As for the milk, there is long-life shelf (boxed) milk that is readily available. You can pick up small boxes of it (the size of juice boxes) and keep it in your hotel room refrigerator. I have to admit - after 7 years of drinking boxed milk......having good fresh milk is one of the things my boys really like about being back in the US.

And when in doubt in Cairo - there is always McD's, KFC, Pizza Hut, etc. Yeah - I know - people HATE to got to American fast food places when traveling, but sometimes....ya just gotta do it!

P_M

So I gave up ice cream for NOTHING??

BKP

Phew -- I was worried we would have to cancel the trip . . . just kidding . . . probably. I've had Movenpick ice cream before and really enjoyed it. Does anyone know if it's an ice cream company that owns hotels or a hotel company that makes ice cream? I hadn't put the two together before.

Grcxx3 -- We're actually renting a house. It's easier on us than a hotel because of our toddler. We don't like to keep his hours and he doesn't like to be cramped in a hotel room. But I assume we will eat at the hotels. I think you mentioned a thai place on another thread? We'll have to search that one out, I love thai food.

I hate fast food on vacations but with a picky kid it's so nice to have as a back up. Thank you for mentioning those as well.

Sorry P_M!!

dmlove

BKP, I have one of those picky-eater kids (he's almost 24 now, and slightly better, let's see, he eats Chinese, Thai and Indian food, and he's just started eating green and red peppers, has never eaten a tomato or lettuce in his life). Traveling with him has always been tremendously fun, but difficult at mealtimes, so we basically learned to eat at simple places, including fast food (certainly not always!) where he could always get a piece of roast chicken or a plate of spaghetti bolognese.

FWIW, there's a KFC/Pizza Hut right across from the Sphinx - no joke.

gail

I also know there is a Pizza Hut across from Sphinx - and I can say we ordered delivery pizza from there - and it tasted exactly like Pizza Hut pizza at home. Why would we do that - because we were traveling with slightly homesick teen and preteen who thought Egypt was the best trip we have ever taken - they just wanted some "normal" food.

There is bread everywhere. Bring some peanut butter, jelly - something to put on it - and he will certainly not starve.

Watch out for fruit juices - sometimes these are concentrates and then mixed with local rather than bottled water. Same for lemonade.

Some milk is not pasteurized - so if he must have milk to drink, you might want to consider bringing some of the boxed liquid milk that does not require refrigeration.

Our picky eater 15 year old (at the time) managed to find things to eat.