At what age does food in the fridge become everyone’s?

[Fettuccinecarbonara]

I have two young(ish) children, and if they want a yoghurt from the fridge, a packet of crisps, or a can of fizzy they’ll ask me if they can have it. I generally say yes, but obviously I limit the amount they’re allowed, or how often.

As an adult however, if I want a can of Coke, I’ll have one whenever I want. Hell, maybe two if I want two.

At what age do you just allow your children free reign to the fridge? And would you put limits on them? Eg only one can of coke?

Naturally I’m talking about ‘treat’ food. My children can help them self to toast, cereal, fruit etc whenever they want.

My 13yr old can help himself has. Done for a few yrs. But I do occasionally have to keep an eye that he doesn't go ott with the treats. As he would definitely if I didn't watch it. But generally he knows what's acceptable

My 18 year old still asks me if she can have this or that. I find it quite sweet 😂

My 14 year old still asks! I keep telling her she doesn’t have to.
I think when they can make sensible decisions (like not have a bowl of cereal just before dinner) then it’s fine. But it’s usually just an apple or a drink. 10 or 11?
My son had been cooking for himself since he was 13.

I'm in my mid 30s and I still ask my mum if I can have something from the fridge 😂

Never.

Touch my deli items and I will disown you.

When they are old enough to write it on the blackboard so I buy some more.

My teens still ask if it's cans of cokes/crisps etc but I don't require them to.

I do expect them to not take the last of something or at least let me know if they have so I can replace it.

My dh ate my M&S cheese scone today. I nearly wept.

In all seriousness though I grew up in a foodie but poor household where the only food in the fridge was for family meals and snacks just didn't exist. It was common for us even as teenagers to treat ourselves to a few slices of salami or a small slither of nice cheese. If anyone bought something special and put it in the fridge it was unspoken and understood that no one else touched it unless invited to.

We are all excellent and resourceful cooks as adults. Unsurprisingly.

When they start paying for it. Until then there will be limits! Although they are free to make and eat as much porridge as they like for breakfast, also apples and other cheap fruit are available for them any time.

DS will freely take pop, water and crisps, but anything in the fridge, he checks I don't need it for cooking with. He's 19.

We’ve got a ‘lunch shelf’ in the fridge that people can use to make sandwiches etc. And there is an area in the kitchen where they can help themselves to biscuits, popcorn etc. But they can’t justnhave anything they want.

I still ask my mum! I'm 35! She doesn't expect it though, I think.

I'm approaching 50. I still ask my parents before taking something from the fridge/larder, and always have. I also ask before I switch the TV on. Don't know if it's because they still live in the house I was born in... (NB they're quite odd, but they don't require me to ask for their permission for anything, so no idea why I do )

My 9yo will ask, generally the answer is yes. Unless it's something I've planned to cook with (rare), or 20 minutes until tea time.

12.5yo dd1 helps herself & generally tells me something needs adding to my online shop, or is sensible enough not to eat a second lunch when she gets in from school but before tea time.

Mine are 6 and 10. They can help themselves to drinks. They could have fruit/ carrot sticks etc as they wish but they rarely do. After school they go straight to get a snack and can have pretty much whatever they want. Other than that I don't let them help themselves without asking because the youngest would eat just before dinner is ready, and the oldest would eat every treat food in the house in one go.

My 18 year old nearly always asks, the mantra is that the answer will nearly always be yes, but some times I have plans for that food.

So best to check.

I would have had a clip round the ear if I had taken something from the fridge without asking.. right up until I was 21 and bought our own house.

My house is always stocked with healthy treats and sweet treats. We never had ice cream at home, mum never bought them. So now I have mini milks, nobbly bobblys and fabs! So whenever my niece comes round with DB and SIL I can offer am ice cream. I have a selection of pop and.fizzy to offer too!

Mine all ask and are rarely told no

They are 8, 12 and 14

Oh and the fruit bowl is always open.

11 year old always asks. He can have unlimited squash/water but still asks. He would stuff his face half an hour before tea and then not eat his tea so he isn't given free rein. He can have a small snack of his choosing after school.

@roomR0613 likewise. When I was growing up my mum never bought snack food. Our treat was to share some coke and a galaxy bar on a Saturday night! (I do realise that my post sounds like that Monty Python sketch).

Dd is 17, she'll ask if it's something that might be a meal, or the last one of something but of course milk/fruit/yoghurt/cheese are fine to eat whenever.

They help themselves to drinks but only have milk and water. We don't have fizzy drinks in the house.

I'm pretty easy going with food and I let them have free reign....as long as they're not eating an entire packet of biscuits or multiple bags of crisps or eating lots right before a meal.

They're 8 and 11.