Do you let your kids snack on fruit between meals?

[ShabbyAbby]

I don't let my kids snack freely on fruit. They like fruit and could eat mountains of it, but I'm happier when they have something with protein and/or healthy fats.

Do you have a blanket rule like "you can only have fruit between meals" or are snacks a mix of the food groups?

Tia x

My kids have free access to the fruit bowl (except right before a meal). I only limit biscuits and other junk.

Yep like many fruit is unlimited unless close to to a meal or bed (as she will be brushing teeth soon). I check with the dentist who we see every 3 months to make sure the sugars aren't a problem and he seems happy.

@BertrandRussell Thank god I’m not the only one who hates the word entirely disproportionately. I especially hate it used like “I have an apple for s——”. Hitherto known as the S- word.

I let ds have whatever within reason,wouldn't let him snack half hour before a meal for example but if hes hungry he can eat.

I have one grazer and one that would eat 24/7 if I let her. I let them snack in between meals as long as the timings are right for attempting mealtimes i.e a snack in the morning and afternoon. We have fresh and dried fruits available, as well as yogurts, cheese, cereals and nuts. Even sometimes the shock! The horror!! cake and biscuits at weekends. I work very hard to make sure they have a balanced diet across their meals, that they take plenty of fluids and are active. So I’m not worried at all. We also talk a lot about nutrition and my eldest has a really good undeatanding of what a healthy diet is, so no restrictions necessary and therefore hopefully no bad relationships with food in future years.

By something with protein or fats I mean like a hard boiled egg, a piece of cheese, a yoghurt or some peanut butter. I am certainly no carb counter, but my kids are of the unfillable so fruit doesn't seem to touch the sides. They could easily eat a whole Punnet of grapes, each, if left to their own devices.

Fruit and veg were available for snacking not grapes though when she was little .Real hunger treated with bread and jam.
I always found the hour before a meal trying but we had a game where she could 'steal' veg as Iprepared them,she still does that now.
She is15 and going through a bottomless pit stage,fruit is eaten but also anything else she can lay her hands on in the fridge.

I just don't see how fruit fills you up. If I eat any piece of fruit it's more like having a drink rather than a food. It doesn't take away hunger for me at all. The only "substantial" fruit I can think of is bananas but it would still take a few to satisfy me if I was hungry! So when my DC were little snacks could be many things but fruit would be more an "extra" rather than the only snack.

Yes, of course! Fruit doesn’t last long in this house - costs me a small fortune.

They can snack on other things too - I try not to buy too many crisps, or biscuits and once they are gone, that’s it.

Cheese, toast, crackers etc - as long as it’s not too close to a mealtime.

We’re all slim - DD2 is a skinny rake who’d happily graze all day and DD1 is 13 and does that teenage thing of demolishing lots of food (she doesn’t like breakfast so makes up for it later).

I don’t want anything to be forbidden and they largely eat healthily - lots of veg and salad, yoghurt for pudding etc. They’re used to seeds and nuts too.

I like balance - nothing is bad in moderation. We are also currently eating vegetarian meals Mon-Thurs as I wanted to cut down on meat.

Mine have no restrictions on fruit, they can also have toast, cereal and cheese and crackers as long as they check that dinner isn’t just about to be served.
They are 14 and 12 and they are bottomless pits some days.

I hate the word "snack".

I happily allow them to eat when they get home from school, but I don't call it a snack.

They don't have something every day - maybe once or twice a week. They always ask, it's not a free for all, but I would be unlikely to say no.

They usually have a piece of fruit, or a slice of cheese, occasionally muesli; or very occasionally I will buy something like hot cross buns or malt loaf. In hot weather, they might have an ice cream or fruit juice lolly.

My kids are 4& just 2. DC1 tends to have a good sized breakfast, an early lunch and a later dinner, so needs a reasonably substantial 'snack' (a goûter) to get her through to dinner. Fruit wouldn't be enough. DC2 has smaller breakfasts, so also has a morning snack which often features a banana. But otherwise fruit is served as part of meals.

They can have fruit, cheese and crackers, or a biscuit or two as long as it's not to close to dinner.

Fruit is unlimited here. Ds is almost 3 and a bit of a grazer. Like others have said I hate the word snack. If he’s hungry he can have something to eat. He eats yougrt, rice cakes, fruit, a biscuit, whatever!

Only warning about unlimited fruit-my eldest is 23 and in a quite low paid job- when she comes home for a weekend it’s as if someone has attached a hoover to the fruit bowl......

I don't think snacks are necessary at all,though I did allow my kids to help themselves to fruit and raw carrots etc. But they never gorged-I guess because they ate enough at meal times,

I have a pre teen and a teen, both raid the larder between meals. They have biscuits, savoury & sweet, they have bread & butter, they have milk and they have crisps. Pretty much anything they want within reason and not too close to the actual meal.

They do however eat very balanced and full meals and never leave the ‘good stuff’, and are very lean and athletic so I’m not too worried.

Fruit they have for breakfast along with cereal/or pancakes at the weekend.

I feel sorry for the kids not allowed snacks. I can't imagine being in my own home and not allowed something to eat because it's not a meal time.

Mine are allowed fruit, cheese, crackers, carrots, hummous, anything sugar free because i don't want them getting holes in their teeth. Don't mind them eating carrots, even if it's close to a meal!

Mine vary. Usually when they get in from school and are ravenous they have a cup of milky tea and some biscuits or a piece of cake/malt loaf. Sometimes they have fruit (I keep a big bowl on the kitchen table and they help themselves whenever).

Fruit is unrestricted - the more they eat of the good stuff the better. Luckily everyone is keen on a wide variety of fruit.

I let mine have peas

Basically abuse.

no snacks in this house either. its just not part of our way of life, my children eat a substantial breakfast eg porridge/boiled egg & toast/cereal, cooked lunch at school and then dinner at about 5pm. there really isnt time between , 3.30 to 5pm to eat a snack without disrupting dinner.

occasionally at the weekend we might have popcorn and a film or a piece of cake.

God, I'd love my kids to snack on fruit and empty the fruit bowl in a day like some kids. They're just not fruity people although we don't eat a huge amount so I guess they get it from us.

They can have fruit as long as it's not too close to dinner, and they have to have different options throughout the day - they can't have 7 bananas in one day.