to cut up friut for my 11 & 13yos

[ClassicTron]

I still cut up fruit for my 13 & 11yos.

They eat well, but since going to secondary school where it seems to be the norm not to eat any fruit or veg at all, it's not always easy to make sure they their 5 in the 2 meals I still have control of. TBH, I'm not convinced about 5 a day anyway, all the research says it should be more...

If I ask them if they'd like some fruit they'll say no. I have a full fruit bowl but they don't touch it. If I slice up a couple of pieces and leave it next to whatever screen they're using, it soon disappears - I have to assume it's being eaten.

So, stupidly pandering and babying them, or sensible way to make sure they get what they need?

Yabu , you are encouraging very lazy behaviour.

I have to assume it's being eaten. Check behind the sofas

If it's part of a pattern, knock it on the head. If they are independent, autonomous individuals who do lots of stuff for themselves, carry on.

Wow, really?

So they are just too lazy to peel and cut it themselves?

Do they eat plenty of veg?

Too much fruit is bad for their teeth anyway.

I love fruit when it's cut up but won't particularly eat it if it's not. I will usually chop it up for myself but when I'm ill my dh always chops fruit up into bite size pieces for me (without getting asked) of that means I'm pandered to and spoilt then so be it I actually secretly like it
If it works for you and the enjoy it who cares what everyone else thinks !

I think I'd rather mine died of scurvy. I am a lazy fecker tho.

I don't think it's pandering, fruit is more appealing when cut up.

Do what you think is right.

Mt DH cuts up loads of vegetables for us to have in the fridge. I wouldn't eat it otherwise. Don't people do kind things for each other? As long as you're not their all-round skivvy.

That made me smile.
I used to do that too for the same reason.

My DCs were too 'busy' to cut up their own fruit.

They do most things themselves, better than most kids their age, I think. DS1 is in the garden cleaning his (filthy) school shoes as we speak. He's responsible for all the bins and recycling in the house, DS2 has to keep the front garden litter free, they clear table and wash up everyday, are completely responsible for their own rooms and laundry and both hoover, mop a floor or clean a bathroom when asked.

I really don't think I'm encouraging them to be lazy. I'm making sure they eat some fruit, which they wouldn't if I left them to sort themselves out.

My 11yo loves a platter of fruit as a snack. Nicely arranged plate with sliced and cut mixed fruits along perhaps with sultanas. He can get 3 or 4 of his 5 a day in that.

He does also help himself to the fruit bowl and do it himself though.

I always cut up my fruit - the thought of just biting into an apple doesn't interest me at all - and my teeth are probably past it anyway . I much prefer fruit to be cut up and part of a meal/salad than just 'an apple' or 'an orange'.

If you have the time/energy - who cares what you do?

Mine is younger, but I'm willing to bet I'm still cutting up fruit when she's gets to that age!

Yanbu. It's a nice thing to do for someone you care about, and it gets them eating fruit.

I'm 23 and that would make me eat more fruit.

I do this too! I always have bowls of fruit cut up for the kids when they get home from school. My kids aren't any lazier than any other kid, it's just a little way for me to care for them.

And, my eldest is 18!

Yanbu I cut up fruit for dsd's 10 and 13, they wouldn't eat it otherwise and I would rather they had a bit of goodness as a snack.

I keep bowls of cut up melon/strawberries in the fridge and wash grapes and put them back in their punnets so the DSs can help themselves and they do.

DS2 is 13 and prefers apples cored and peeled and I don't mind doing that for him if I am around.

I cut ds's fruit (and meat, pizza) up. He's dyspraxic and he struggles to use a knife without turning the kitchen into a scene from psycho. One they develop knives which cut fruit and not skin, I'll be in the queue.

Yep, I cut up fruit / peel oranges for DD as I prefer it too so I've always done it. She went through a phase when younger saying could she have an apple not cut up please but now she prefers it cut up (not peeled mind you). She's 10 and I'm prepared to carry on cutting up or peeling fruit (as she's a nail biter and finds oranges hard to peel otherwise).

She's independent in other ways. Bakes cakes unassisted, pairs the socks, lays the table, clears the table etc etc so not babied per se although I do prepare her lunchbox daily.

I thought I was weird but I do this too and my DC are 12 and 9. No way would they help themselves from the fruit bowl, but don't mind shovelling it in while on their screens or doing homework. Until they protest I feel better for doing it.

We have cut up fruit in the fridge. Not one of us, individually, is responsible for cutting it up, whoever wants it first does it.

I'm not about to start cutting up apples etc for my kids, I haven't done that for about 10 years. If they want it cut up they know where the knives are.

"If they want it cut up they know where the knives are." Well of course they do, but they don't want the fruit that badly. It's me who likes then to have fruit. I get them drinks for the same reason.

My DM does this for DGC.

It does get them to eat more apples/pears/melon than they otherwise would but at home they still eat plenty of bananas and oranges so I'm not about to copy her methods.

LadySybil I bought a Pampered Chef safety knife which doesn't cut skin and has a blunt point which DD would use to cut carrots when helping me prepare dinner.