My ds is 4 1/2 and he definitely has a say in picking the meals.

I shop to a list and a menu plan, it's actually easier for me if dh and ds choose 1 meal each for the week that they like. Dh is usually shepherds pie but ds changes his quite often. Sometimes it's oven fish and home made chips, or home made pizza but lately he's chosen zucchini slice or chicken pie. He's branching out in helping me cook and I think he likes how much grating and egg cracking he gets to do with zucchini slice!

I think it's great that he's involved in what we eat, he understands that treat foods are just that, treat foods, and usually reserved for birthday parties or special occasions and he'll quite often take a piece of fruit over a piece of cake. The more exposure to different foods kids have from young ages the better I think!

I don't cut his food up, haven't for almost a year now, unless he asks for help. We try sit together for most dinners and he does his best to hold his knife and fork the right way and cut his own dinner. We were at my Aunty's place for Easter and a family friend was still cutting up her daughters meals.... she was 6!!! Surely by 6 they should be able to cut up roast veges and turkey????

Oh..... and there's no harm in having them help with the dishes after either!!!!