When it has gone, it has gone. This is ok isn't it?

[NoNoNoMYDoIt]

Am probably not going to explain this very well but ...

Food. And kids. My kids sometimes go through phases of eating loads of something. Recently it has been fruit. They want fruit salads every day. This is obviously fab news. I make them salads. They eat it all up. And then by about Tuesday all the fruit has gone and they are tantrumming because there is none left.

I can spend 10 quid a week or more on fruit and it has all gone in a few days.

Is it ok to say - when it has gone it has gone. There is always apples and dried / tinned fruit left.

I had an eating disorder as a kid and am paranoid about confrontation over food.

AIBU not to buy more?

Id say....what would you rather they were nagging you for - cakes and crisps? Toast? Biscuits?

Fruit sounds great, and I would go with it while it lasts.

god, no, I think it is fine to say When it is gone it is gone, you cannot be a never ending source of food, whatever it is -though I may have to eat my words > when I do another shop!

Yes I think it's fine, but could you spread it out a bit more?

Is it possible for you to buy smaller amounts 2 or 3 times a week instead?

I ration the fruit you can have X amount per day to ensure it lasts the whole week. Unlimited fruit to fast can have a really bad effect on teeth which we unfortunately know. Though we have set meal and snack times. You eat at that time and not I between.

Low cost fruit? Apples are expensive, bananas are v cheap. Asda had bags of 5 oranges for 50p last week - that's a lot of oranges for £10.

Thanks. I would clearly rather they ate fruit than crap. But I shop once a week. Getting to the shops during the week to buy more is hard because of work. I am single parent. I am also budgeting. But ... I am worried about saying 'no' when it comes to good healthy food. Easy to say no to crap!

they should make it last op. and it sounds like it isn't easy for you to pop to the shop regularly,
you cannot store vitamin C, so any extra fruit all in one sitting isn't better, it is better to have it every day then all in one sitting.

How old are they? It's great they like the fruit salad but maybe you should give them a little bit less each day so that you have enough for the week?

have you tried tinned fruit?

They are 7 and 4. 4yr old doesn't like bananas.

Part of the trouble is they like the expensive soft fruit and berries. Not so much of an issue in the summer but they are getting more expensive now. And there is only so much fridge space for the fruit too. And it goes off quickly - especially if bought from aldi!

I have started buying tinned fruit to use later in the week.

DD takes 2 or 3 pieces of fruit for snack everyday. She is rubbish at breakfast so I have to send her in with lots of fruit for snack or she won't make it through till lunch. She is 4. Has always been the same. So what with that and the fruit salad after tea it is a LOT of fruit!!

They aren't allowed anything other than fruit or veg at snack time. So I don't have the choice to give her something else filling.

I work from home most of the week. There is a green grocer in the village but the produce is awful in there.

I have stocked up today from aldi. They are at their dad's. they will tuck into a load of it tonight when they get back, then two days at school with snacks and tea and it will be all gone!

I've been buying packs with fresh fruit, granola and Greek yoghurt that are really nice. Could you do something like that in little ramekin dishes?

can they take raisins and other dried fruit to school?

My kids are similar - they love all the pricey berries etc but are a bit meh about cheaper 'staples' type fruit. We would have the same problem as you if I didn't ration the berries/grapes through the week. We also do fruit salad every night (putting yoghurt on top is a particular fav) I put apple/pear/banana - whatever is on offer as the base and sprinkle a small handful 2 types of berries on top. That way 1 box of grapes plus one box strawberries/blueberries lasts the whole 7 days and the bowl is bulked out with cheaper options.

and carrots are also Vitamin, something, , but good for school treats I think

Thanks.

Part of my worry about this - seriously why am I worrying about fruit?!? - is to do with my own food anxieties. I was on a v restricted diet as a kid due to food intolerances which may have been exaggerated by my mother. The last thing I can deal with is confrontation about food! It is fine when it is rubbish they want. But they want good stuff - even in excess - it triggers something for me. No idea why. I feel guilty I think.

Having visited a dietician this week snacks at school no longer contain fruit. Pepper, cucumber and carrot sticks are the order of the day.
Also a single parent once it's gone it has gone, have a carrot instead.

there are bags of frozen raspberries and fruits of the forest etc in lidl v reasonably. might they be helpful to have as backup?

not forgetting tomatoes, good source of vitamin C,

There is nothing at all wrong with saying 'when its gone, its gone'. They also don't need to have pudding every night and when they do one helping is enough (and it should only be as much as one of their own hands). Don't feel guilty op

I buy frozen berries* except when they're in season in my own garden. A bit squishier and take time to defrost, but they're much cheaper and if you pour a portion each into a bowl in the morning and put in the fridge to defrost by the afternoon (may need 3-4 different types mixed or a "mixed" bag) then they can't have more because it takes hours to defrost.

• I actually do this for my own breakfast, but it can work fine for children

And ASDA does boxes of frozen berries for £2 I think.