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?

Dh mum still cuts up his fruit when we go over to Italy once a year, she cuts up ours too . She likes looking after everyone.

I knew someone would come on here and tell you that you are raising entitled lazy children or that fruit is full of "bad" sugars, blah, blah, blah!

I say, it's a small gesture that takes seconds out of your day and it's absolutely fine.

Classic I too fill up a glass of squash/water/juice and leave them on the counter/side of bath/desk so DD will drink as she's a devil for forgetting to drink fluids otherwise.

I agree Classic if it's the difference between DS2 eating or not eating fruit I will do it.
He does know how to cut it up but he's always too busy doing other stuff to bother.

My DM used to cut up fruit for us every evening after our evening meal. Meant we could have a quarter or a half of larger fruit when we wouldn't have eaten the whole. Entirely reasonable and we still eat fruit and aren't too lazy to peel an orange.

Oh, I think I love you, Anne!! I'm in need of chipping boards which have little spikes on them too to hold the veg/fruit in place because he can't do that. Any ideas? He panics when he has to make himself a drink as he can never remember how much squash to put in the cup. I tell him (over and over again) but hey ho.

Oranges... try these www.lakeland.co.uk/6792/Orange-Peelers

My mum still cuts up fruit and serves me when I go over!
I do it for my kids too and will probably keep doing it. As long as they're not generally lazy and pandered to, I don't think it's an issue.

Why do you think they don't get up and get drinks/fruit? Would you bother if someone was going to offer you waitress service?

I think it's a lovely thing to do.

I keep a giant bowl of chopped fruit in the fridge, and make a fresh lot every couple of days.

Hell would freeze over before anyone else in the house would attempt to cut up a pineapple

There's a box full of crudités in there too. Its easier for me or their father to prep it all in one go than have stuff sitting around being thought about but not used.

Yanbu OP

Ynbu simply because when my DD was little she had me peeling grapes I kid you not.

Best kitchen tool is this

You sound like a lovely caring mum!

Not unreasonable at all.

Cos they're not that bothered about it Fairy.

There are plenty of things they do have to do for themselves and others.

YANBU

Yanbu. I quite often do this. If I'm making a sandwich for them, I'll chop up some carrots and apples and put them on the plate as well to make it look nice. They probably wouldn't have had that fruit/veg otherwise. They are 14 and 16

Lazy? Perhaps, but who cares?

Dh cuts up my fruit for this very reason

I think if you are happy to do it, then do it. My dc are a bit younger, but it wouldn't bother me at all to chop up some fruit for them when they get to that age, as long as they are not generally entitled and bratty. I'd definitely eat more fruit if someone chopped it up for me, and I'm in my 30s

I do it too, mine are 9 and 11. The 11yo has dyspraxia and isn't too good with a sharp knife yet but has a definite preference for cut up fruit, he helps himself to smaller stuff readily (berries, grapes etc). The 9yo eats it either way, but we have a tradition of retiring to the sofa with some bowls of chopped up fruit to share after we have cleared up from dinner and it's just a nice thing to do as a family. They are quite independent in other ways.

Years ago, adults carried little fruit knives with them for cutting up apples and pears as they ate them. They wouldn't bite into them but always cut them.

I love the super competitive "who can be the toughest mum" these threads attract. I like being secure enough to do lovely little things for dd without being terrified I'm raising a spoilt monster!

Same here. DS1 used to munch into apples quite happily, then he got braces and couldn't, so cutting up fruit was the best way of getting him to eat it. DS2 is too flippin' lazy and would otherwise just eat biscuits.

Quite thornrose. it's all very well raising Dc who can look after themselves, but how about teaching them that sometimes it's good to do something nice for someone you love, just because you can.

It also makes me laugh when people are so judgemental about late cutting up of fruit, tying shoe laces, wiping bottoms etc, when the DC don't actually lift a finger as far as household chores are concerned.

Me too thorn. I made Ds1's bed today. He's 15, don't tell anyone, he does know how to make a bed but I thought it would be nice to do it for him for once. I have ruined him I know.

Yep it's utterly stupid.

And when there's fruit to use up I do it too.

It's a right faff and the biggest reason why I don't eat fruit, I can't be fucked to cut it up for myself.