Bistro Blu is a place that children can play, parents can shop and, above all, families can enjoy cuisine that can be classed as gourmet. [Photo by Dong Fangyu / China Daily]

The restaurant, which specializes in German and Italian cuisine, offers different dishes catering for babies, toddlers and older children, with a focus on using fresh ingredients and incorporating nutritious elements.

"Kids love ice creams and french fries," Van Doorn says. "They have a tendency to go for unhealthy food. This is a universal pattern regardless of nationality, and what we are trying to do is to raise the level of the food they are eating. For example, to use frozen yogurt to replace ice cream because it has the same great taste but with a lot fewer calories and sugar."

Pastas are all fresh, house-made, using Italian equipment, Van Doorn says. "Chicken nuggets are homemade out of fresh chicken instead of the usual KFC ones."

Not content to keep young palates satisfied, Bistro Blu also offers cooking classes for children every weekend at its three outlets, in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, the aim being to show them that you can have a lot more fun cooking at home than in spending time in fast-food restaurants.

"These are little steps. If you try to change kids all at once you will fail. It just builds up resistance. If you try to go step by step, though slower, you will make an impact."

We tried some baby pasta, tiny pieces in the shape of letters of the alphabet, with tomato sauce, suitable for babies about 7 or 8 months old. It should not be assumed that all baby food are bland; in fact this one was slightly aromatic, perhaps due to the fact that the pasta is fresh, made with barley flour, oil, eggs and water.

The dish is salt free because the kidneys of a baby this age cannot take salt.