Princess Lilibet has to follow Meghan Markle’s surprising rule when she asks for dessert

Meghan Markle has a simple rule when Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet ask for dessert, and it sends the children straight to the garden.

During an appearance on “MasterChef Australia,” the Duchess of Sussex opened up about mealtimes at home and revealed the phrase she uses when her children want something sweet after a meal.

“If they say, ‘Mama, can I have dessert?’ We say, ‘If you can pick it, you can have it,'” Meghan shared.

The rule naturally prompted a question from judge Sofia Levin. What about chocolate?

Meghan laughed, acknowledging that chocolate doesn’t qualify. “No, you can’t pick chocolate, but you can pick a nice piece of fruit,” she said.

A California twist on the traditional ‘pud’

Despite living in California, the Sussex household has held onto at least one distinctly British term when it comes to mealtimes.

“We always have a nice, as my husband would say, ‘pud,'” Meghan shared, referring to Prince Harry’s preferred term for the dessert course.

© Getty Images for TIME

Gardening has become a significant part of family life for Meghan, Harry and their two children at their Montecito home. The Duchess has spoken about using their vegetable garden as a way for Archie and Lilibet to learn more about the food they eat and where it comes from.

That homegrown approach extends beyond simply eating fruit straight from the garden. Meghan has also shared how her children get involved with seasonal fruit and preserves, which the family enjoys on toast.

© @meghan

And vegetables apparently aren’t a hard sell in the Sussex household either. During her “MasterChef Australia” appearance, Meghan described Archie and Lilibet as “great eaters,” revealing that they even enjoy Brussels sprouts.

Meghan keeps breakfast playful

While fresh produce plays a big role in the family’s meals, Meghan has previously revealed that she also likes to make breakfast fun for Archie and Lilibet.

The Duchess has shared that she sometimes surprises her children with pancakes featuring hidden smiley faces, using ingredients such as blueberries, rainbow sprinkles or chocolate chips.

© Meghan Markle/IG

Her use of chocolate chips also shows that the family’s garden rule shouldn’t necessarily be interpreted as a blanket ban on chocolate or processed sweets. Instead, Meghan described it specifically in the context of what Archie and Lilibet can have when they ask for dessert.

The Duchess has also made it clear that she doesn’t aim for perfection when feeding her family. While fresh produce and homemade meals are important at home, Meghan has previously acknowledged turning to convenient freezer staples when life gets busy, including waffles, tater tots and chicken nuggets.

© Meghan Markle/IG

It’s a balance that reflects the California lifestyle Meghan and Prince Harry have embraced while raising their children in Montecito.

Gardening, in particular, has become part of Archie and Lilibet’s everyday lives, allowing the children to participate in growing and harvesting some of the food they eat.

For Archie and Lilibet, however, dessert may be the course that requires the most effort. If they want something sweet after dinner, they might have to pick it first.