Food · By our family trip planners in Marrakech · 2 min read

Moroccan Food for Kids: What Children Love to Eat

Moroccan food children love: pancakes, bread, chicken tagine, couscous, harira, fresh juice, and tips for picky eaters and allergies.

Quick answer

Moroccan food is fresh, slow-cooked and rarely spicy: most children find something they love.
Favourites: bread, chicken tagine, couscous, kefta skewers, omelettes, msemen, baghrir and orange juice.
Riads happily cook pasta, rice or plain chicken for fussy eaters.
Tell us about allergies: nuts, sesame and gluten are common in Moroccan cooking.

Will my children like Moroccan food?

Most do. Moroccan cooking uses mild spices like cumin, cinnamon and ginger, not chilli. Food is cooked slowly, so meat is soft and vegetables are sweet. And there is bread with everything.

Dishes children usually love

Khobz: round Moroccan bread, warm from the oven
Chicken tagine with potatoes, olives or lemon
Kefta: small grilled meatballs or skewers
Couscous with vegetables, traditionally on Fridays
Msemen: flaky square pancakes, with honey or cheese
Baghrir: soft "thousand-hole" pancakes with butter and honey
Omelettes, often cooked in a small tagine
Harira soup, mild and filling

Sweet treats

Fresh orange juice, dates, almond pastries (careful with nut allergies), chebakia sesame cookies, and seasonal fruit like oranges, figs, pomegranates and melons. Mint tea is very sweet: give children small glasses.

Fussy eaters

Riads and many restaurants will make pasta, rice, plain chicken, chips or omelettes on request. Supermarkets in cities sell familiar cereals, yogurts and snacks.

Tip: Try a family cooking class. Children who have made their own bread or tagine usually want to eat it.

Allergies

Almonds, peanuts, sesame, gluten and dairy are common. Tell us before the trip and we inform every riad and camp. Bring a card in French and Arabic explaining the allergy.