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?

I cut fruit for my husband and he's nearly 40. It's just a little kindness...

Although my mum asked for an Apple the other day and was a bit when I handed it over peeled and chopped...completely on auto pilot!

I still cut up or peel fruit for my DC's if it's part of a meal or snack. Always do cheese on toast with apple slices, carrot and cucumber sticks but they also help themselves. I think fruit is overrated and prefer them to eat veggies.

I'd prefer them to eat veggies too, MinceSpy and they do, but I can't always get a day's requirements into one meal. Sometimes the "fruit" I cut up for them when they get home from school is carrots, peppers and cucumbers.

Apples cut up then put in a bowl of cold water in the fridge, try it on a hot summers day it's so refreshing and the water keeps the apple from going brown for ages

ClassicTron please don't think I was having a pop. I've just realised I do the same thing to try and ensure the DCs eat their five a day. The carrot, cucumber, celery sticks in the lunch box and the peeling satsumas to get rid of the 'yukky white bits, hangs head in utter shame.

No, I didn't MinceSpy. I used to put the fruit in their lunch boxes but now they're at secondary that's uncool and it just comes home unfit to eat. So I give it to them when they get home.

I love cut up fruit- don't stop doing this for dc.

Remember the poster who put toothpaste on her teenagers brushes?! That was pandering.

I can see why you'd do that too shake - at least you'd know toothpaste was being used!

I'd do that (I don't) before I'd do all the driving about some "tougher" parents do.

DH does this on a regular basis for himself, me and DS (18). It is a good way to snack in front of the tv at night and stop yourself resorting to a bag of crisps.
It is a good way of getting a variety of fruit as it can be shared 3 ways (rather than just eating a piece of fruit). We have each just eaten a bowl of kiwi, apple, grapes and blood orange.

I used to do this with my DDs when they were young teenagers. They were too lazy to think about doing it themselves.

They're in their 20s now and eats lots of fruit- so it worked.

Yanbu
Lovely, cute, nurturing thing to do

If someone did this for me I would eat more fruit! And that doesn't mean that I am lazy or pandered to. It would just be a nice thing for someone to do.

As long as they are independent and don't expect food to be fetched for them every time they're hungry then I think it's a great way to get a bit of healthy stuff into them!

It's fine! My 3 ds's are 2, 9 & 15 & I often do the same. A fruit plate is much more appealing than a boring old apple. If I'm cooking carrots I always hand them a raw carrot to munch on while I cook. X

Gives a whole new spin to "cutted-up pear..."

I think it's very sweet of you. They're only 11 and 13 – I don't think they'll be expecting someone else to do it for them forever. It's fostering a good habit and they'll probably remember it with fondness and go on to do it for their own children.

If it works for you, then go ahead .

Mine are much younger than yours (4, 2, and 16months) but I don't know if I could be bothered when they're older.

While I'll cut up pineapple, melon etc for mine just now, if they want apple, they get get handed an apple. I'll wash it and remove the stalk but that's it... Including the 16 month old

My mum cuts up fruit for me and I'm ancient! My DC are at uni and I sometimes cut fruit up for them - they love it - it's a real treat.

I used to cut it up when they lived at home too. They made their breakfasts and lunches and would make supper for everyone now and then but I still cut fruit up for them sometimes.

If I cut fruit up for everyone it means we all eat a wider variety of fruit and that none of it gets lost in the fridge.

They do help themselves to fruit too.

YAMBU - my mum still does this for me and my kids when I pop round and I'm 35!

I hate fesh fruit. Its one of those things that annoys the shit out of me. I like it "just" so, other than that its either too acidic or its gone off. The amount of fruit I throw away is ridiculous. I now buy tinned. DS loves lychies and pineapple. I like strawberries or prunes. Same nutritional value and money is not wasted.

fresh

I cut up fruit for DD's snacks and also for DH to take to work. One is 5, the other is 30. It's a tiny thing but both really appreciate it (especially DH as he has to eat at his desk) so I do it because I love them. I don't think Yabu at all.

I just remembered that my Dad, in his 70s still cuts up raw carrots for me when people are having cooked carrots; nasty, slimy, dirty things. I'm 21 in my 40s. Lovely thing to do.

I peel oranges and separate into segments for DH sometimes... he makes an awful mess otherwise (v short nails).
He has brought me tea in bed every morning for nearly 33 years though
Does that make us quits?

My mum did this for me even at 16/17. Looking back on it quite fondly now! I am perfectly capable of cutting up my own fruit now and all is well....
Is quite a mothering thing really, I think it's nice

I feel a bit sorry for the competitively, "I'd rather my kids got scurvy" crew on this thread.

I find exactly the same thing. As they've got older they very rarely reach for a whole piece of fruit and will usually reject it if it's offered.

But if I offer a bowl of chopped fruit salad it goes.

Weird.