What Moroccan food will kids eat?

I reassure nervous parents constantly: Moroccan food is one of the most kid-friendly cuisines in the region, because at its heart it's mild, slow-cooked and comforting rather than fiery. Moroccans don't generally eat hot, chilli-laden food — the spices (cumin, cinnamon, saffron, ginger) are aromatic, not burning — so a standard chicken or beef tagine is gentle, a little sweet sometimes, and very easy for children to enjoy. The harissa chilli paste is served on the side, so heat is always optional. A simple "pas piquant" or "not spicy" covers you anywhere.

The dishes that win over almost every child: chicken tagine (especially with potatoes and carrots, or the classic chicken-with-preserved-lemon), beef or lamb tagine with prunes, and above all couscous — fluffy semolina with tender vegetables and meat that kids tuck into happily. Brochettes (grilled meat skewers) are a guaranteed hit, basically Moroccan kebabs. Kefta (seasoned minced-meat skewers or meatballs in tomato sauce) is another favourite. And there's good bread with every meal, plus French fries (frites) are everywhere — useful for the fussiest eater.

Breakfast is a particular joy for kids here. Moroccan breakfasts pile the table with msemen (flaky, buttery square pancakes) and baghrir (spongy "thousand-hole" pancakes) drizzled with honey, amlou (an almond-argan-honey spread a bit like nutty caramel), jams, fresh bread, eggs and pastries. Most children would happily eat this every day. Fresh fruit is abundant and excellent — oranges, melon, dates, figs in season — and yoghurt and plain omelettes are easy fallbacks. The famous fresh orange juice, squeezed in front of you, is a treat kids ask for again and again.

A few honest, practical tips. Stick to busy, freshly cooked places — high turnover means fresh food, your best safeguard against upset tummies for little stomachs. For drinks, choose bottled water and the squeezed-to-order juices, and ask for drinks without ice if you're being cautious. Mint tea is very sweet, so kids usually love it (maybe dilute it). Portion sizes are generous and easy to share. And if you have a truly picky eater, you're never far from plain bread, fries, eggs, fruit and yoghurt, so no child goes hungry.

My genuine view as someone who feeds families across Morocco: kids eat well here, and a hands-on cooking class where they roll their own couscous or shape bread often turns a fussy eater into an adventurous one. Lean on tagine, couscous, brochettes, the wonderful breakfasts and the fruit and juice, ask for mild, and you'll find Moroccan food is a pleasure for the whole family rather than a battle.