LONDON, October 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Children are much more daring diners than their parents

Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to injecting a bit of adventure into mealtimes? We've long been known as a nation who loves British favourites, from beans on toast to fish fingers, but new research by Walt Disney World Resort in Florida shows that two thirds of UK kids crave more adventurous food^[i] and expect a bit more magic during their mealtimes.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130930/642964 )

The research was commissioned by Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, which has hundreds of restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, to reveal family eating habits, and to try and encourage parents to bring a bit more adventure and magic to their mealtimes. The study uncovered that three quarters^[ii] of parents agree that family mealtimes provide a better opportunity to catch up and reconnect than special occasions such as Easter or Christmas, with a huge 90%^[iii] of parents agreeing that regular catch ups with the family over a meal are their favourite time in the day. Surely these mealtimes are the perfect opportunities to sample new cuisines and put some family fun into food?

The kids of 2013 have more adventurous palates than ever before, asking for more variety and international cuisines to be served at the dinner table. Parents may be underestimating the sophistication of their little ones' palates, as more than half^[iv] of parents picked good old-fashioned British fare as their child's favourite type of cuisine, yet only 37%^[v] of the kids themselves said this was the case, with almost 30%^[vi] saying they prefer Italian and 12%^[vii] Asian cuisine.

78%^[viii] of parents said their children are very or slightly adventurous when it comes to trying different foods with the majority of youngsters nowadays having sampled Italian, American, Asian, French and Mexican cuisine; whereas 30%^[ix] of parents said that they had rarely tried new types of food when they were children themselves, with 10%^[x] having shunned new foods entirely when they were younger. This disparity may be the reason that only 14%^[xi] of kids surveyed by Walt Disney World Resort in Florida say they eat a wide variety of foods at home, with almost three quarters^[xii] saying they often eat the same types of meals - showing that parents are staying safe rather than being more adventurous with their ingredients.  

Author and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida food expert Pam Brandon comments: "Magical adventure is Walt Disney World Resort's speciality so perhaps it's time to book a holiday where everyone's tastes can be catered for? Chefs at Disney Parks have re-imagined many kids' menu items to make existing, delicious meals more nutritious^[xiii]. This year, we're offering UK families free dining at over one hundred restaurants across the parks and hotels at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida - families who book holidays before 5^th November 2013 will be offered a free dining package across Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, where we can provide inspiration and excitement during family mealtimes!"

While parents may be less likely to be more add variety during mealtimes at home, on holiday it's a different story. More than two thirds^[xiv] of parents surveyed say that as a family, they are more adventurous at mealtimes when on holiday, compared with when they are at home, while two thirds^[xv] say when on holiday their kids always like to try and test new foods. Meanwhile almost 30%^[xvi] say holidays always inspire them to eat together more as a family, making meal times more of a special family occasion than just an excuse to wolf down their food before heading to the couch to watch TV.  

FINDINGS AT A GLANCE

• 78% of parents say their children are adventurous eaters (q5 - parents' report)
• 60% of parents say they were adventurous eaters when they were kids (q6 - parents' report)
• 14% of children say they eat a variety of foods at home (q2 - kids' report)
• 68% of parents say as a family they are more adventurous at  mealtimes when on holiday compared with when they are at home (q8 - parents' report)
• 75% of parents agree that family mealtimes provide a better opportunity to catch up and reconnect than special occasions such as Easter or Christmas (q8 - parents' report)
• 90% of parents agree that regular catch ups with the family over a meal are their favourite time in the day (q8 - parents' report)
• More than half of parents said that British cuisine was their children's favourite (q1 - parents' report), compared to only 37% of kids claiming the same thing (q8 - kids' report)
• More than two thirds of parents said that their family is more adventurous at mealtimes when on holiday (q2 - parents' report)

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN FLORIDA FREE DINE OFFER

• The Free Dine offer available for bookings made between 2 July 2013 - 05 November 2013 for selected arrivals between 1 January - 8 April 2014 and 27 April - 30 Nov 2014
• Examples of restaurants in the offer include (but are not limited to) 50's Prime Time Café, Tusker House Restaurant , The Wave, Grand Floridan Café, Be our Guest Restaurant, Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano, Hollywood & Vine, Whispering Canyon café, Coral Reef Restaurant
• A Disney Dining Plan must be selected for all members of the party travelling who are aged 3 and over at time of travel and for the full duration of their stay
• For more information, please visit http://www.disneypackages.co.uk  

Notes to Editors

• The research for Walt Disney World Resort in Florida was carried out between 5th - 11th September 2013
• The following sample was used:
  • 1,328 parents of any age child
  • 1,000 Kids aged 16 and under
• All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).
• A selection of the Walt Disney World Resort Restaurants taking part in the Free Dine offer include:
  • Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano (Italian Cuisine)
  • 'Ohana (Asian)
  • Chefs de France (French)
  • 50's Prime Time Café (American)
  • Boma - Flavors of Africa (African)
  • Biergarten Restaurant (German)
  • Jiko - The Cooking Place (African)

FREE DINE OFFER TERMS & CONDITIONS

Offer is available for bookings made between 2 July 2013 - 05 November 2013 for selected arrivals between 1 January - 8 April 2014 and 27 April - 30 Nov 2014 inclusive. Stays are subject to room and flight availability. Eligibility for the Disney Free Dining promotion requires a minimum length of stay of five consecutive nights, and a maximum of 21 consecutive nights at the same participating Disney Resort Hotel. A Disney Dining Plan must be selected for all members of the party travelling who are aged 3 and over at time of travel and for the full duration of their stay. Children aged 3-9 (at time of visit) must order from the children's menu where available. Disney Dining Plans are not valid for children under 3 years. Offer is only available if a package including accommodation at a Walt Disney World Moderate Resort, Disney Deluxe Resort or selected Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, plus Disney Tickets for the whole party and a Disney Dining Plan is booked together. Gratuities are not included. The number and type of rooms allocated to this offer are limited.

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i. Q1 - Kids' Report

ii. Q8 - Parents' Report

iii. Q8 - Parents' Report

iv. Q1 - Parents' Report

v. Q1 - Kids' Report

vi. Q1 - Kids' Report

vii. Q1 - Kids' Report

viii. Q5 - Parents' Report

ix. Q6 - Parents' Report

x. Q6 - Parents' Report

xi. Q3 - Kids' Report

xii. Q3 - Kids' Report

xiii. In 2012, Disney introduced the Mickey Check, a tool that makes it easier to identify nutritious choices while on vacation at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Foods that receive the Mickey Check meet Disney Nutrition Guidelines that promote nutritious foods and limit calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugar. Kids' complete meals must include at least three of the following food groups: fruits and vegetables; lowfat dairy; whole grains; or lean protein, beans, eggs and nuts.

xiv. Q2 - Parents' Report

xv. Q8 - Parents' Report

xvi. Q2 - Parents' Report

SOURCE Walt Disney World Resort Florida