Craving Comfort: When Little Travelers Just Want Familiar Food
After days of exploring new tastes—Grandma’s homemade Irish breakfast, seafood by the sea, and adventurous bites at every stop—our kids hit a wall.
It started with a quiet, honest request:
“Can we just have a hamburger and fries today?”
At first, I smiled. After all the brave bites and open-minded tasting, I completely understood the craving. And honestly? I felt it too. Sometimes, especially while traveling, your body and brain just want something familiar, simple, and comforting.
So that’s exactly what we did.
We found a cute little restaurant in Tralee- Der O’Sullivans restaurant is a must on Mall Street, ordered burgers and fries, and sat down to rest, reconnect, and just enjoy being still. The kids were thrilled, and I treated myself to a juicy burger and a hot cup of tea—the perfect combo of cozy and satisfying. The joy on their faces, the satisfied silence as they ate—it was one of those moments that reminded me: food is more than fuel. It’s comfort. It’s home. It’s connection.
A surprise win was when our son, who usually avoids onions, tried a fried one on his burger and loved it. Sometimes, the most unexpected bites are the best ones.
💬 Why This Matters
It’s easy to feel pressure to make every meal while traveling “special” or “authentic.” But kids (and adults!) need familiarity just as much as adventure. Cravings are a natural part of travel, and honoring them can actually make trying new things easier in the long run.
📝 Takeaway for Traveling Parents:
Don’t stress about a few “plain” meals—comfort food can be just as valuable as new food exposure.
Let your kids tell you what they need—you might be craving it too.
Travel doesn’t have to mean giving up routine; sometimes, a burger and a cup of tea are the reset everyone needs.
