An Apple a Day-And The Moral
An Apple a Day-And The Moral
An apple a day,
Keeps the doctor away.
An apple in the morning,
Doctor’s warning!
Roast apple at night,
Starves the doctor outright.
Eat an apple going to bed,
Knock the doctor on the head.
Three each day, seven days a week,
Ruddy apple, ruddy cheek!
Apple- We all know, it has been a very healthy and popular fruit for ages. But what made this poem so popular? Well, I cannot agree more. I will say that yes, the use of the powerful word DOCTOR made this rhyme so powerful and impactful in our lives. Even the kids listen very carefully when the doctor says something. Since childhood, we were always reminded, ” An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Following the tradition 🙂 I also kept saying this to Ani, and the best part is that he happily eats apples. It’s not just that the rhyme is impactful, but the lessons that I found from this rhyme are also equally powerful. Explaining the lessons to Ani, I believe, turned his love for Apple more intense.
What you all say? 🙂 🙂 🙂
The rhyme “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is actually a traditional English proverb, not written by a single known author, as Google says. It also says that it evolved from oral folk sayings and appeared in 19th-century Britain and Wales, where people used such rhymes to teach children about healthy eating.
Check Out the lessons I decoded from the poem
Lesson 1. Apples Keep You Healthy
The poem teaches that eating apples helps us stay strong, fit, and healthy. Apples are full of vitamins that protect us from getting sick — that’s why “an apple a day keeps the doctor away!”
Lesson 2. Right Time Matters
It shows that when you eat the apple also matters:
Morning: Eat fresh apples to start your day with energy.
Night: A roasted or cooked apple helps your tummy rest well.
The poem uses these lines in a playful way to remind us that food affects our body differently at different times.
In short there are specific time of eating Apples to get the best results for your health. For the parents too a lesson. Apples are not just for kids but for you too. Like your child have it at the right time and with time yours kids will follow you correctly.
Lesson 3. Prevention is Better Than Cure
By eating healthy foods like apples every day, we can prevent illness instead of visiting the doctor later. It’s a simple way to stay well without medicine.
Lesson 4. Healthy Eating is a Habit
The poem encourages children to make eating fruits a daily habit — not just sometimes!
Eating three apples a day or fruits regularly keeps our skin glowing and our cheeks rosy (“ruddy apple, ruddy cheek!”).
Lesson 5. Nature Gives Us the Best Medicine
The poem gently reminds us that natural foods like fruits are the best medicines. Instead of junk food, eating fresh, natural foods keeps our body happy and strong.
I was able to bring the habit of eating apples to Ani. It is a powerful fruit for health. And you can do that too. To make the lessons of the rhyme even more impactful, follow the lessons in your life too, and you will witness your kids following your footsteps for a healthy and wealthy tomorrow.
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
It’s funny how something we grew up reciting without much thought can carry such layered meaning when looked at through an adult lens.
I didn’t even know the entire poem. I loved it. Yes, these playful rhymes are such good educators and your son is truly going to remember all this when he grows up.
The isiom was often repeated by the nuns in school, but I never heard the whole poem.It’s great that you are getting your son to eat apples. Sadly, when I was a kid, we were 8 of us in the family, and apples rarely made their way to our kitchen. I remember eating bananas and guavas. Now, even if I try, I do not like eating apples.
Really enjoyed your piece, the way you unpack “An Apple a Day and the Moral” turned a simple metaphor into something thoughtful about choices and change.
It reminded me that small habits often carry the deepest meanings.
You bring out such meanings to what we thought mindless nursery rhymes. It needs to be put together in a book. Will be useful for parents and children alike.
Such a clever unpacking of a childhood rhyme. You made a simple saying feel deeply meaningful.
I didn’t know there were lines after the first two! This is something we’ve been taught as kids and then filtered down to our kids too. Great way to insist on good habits lead to good health.
Learning the full rhymes for the first time. Your explanation revolving around the health benefits of apples is delicious.
As a Mom I love this rhyme, it is a great way to teach children to start eating healthy, and it is a medical fact that Apples do reduce acidity, improve metabolism and reduce LDL levels. As a doctor the line – starves the doctor , does make me a bit uncomfortable;)
At last! You’ve shared a rhyme that I knew, along with the meaning! Enjoying this unique series and learning from it.
Such a sweet, nostalgic read! Loved how you turned a simple rhyme into life lessons for kids and parents. Ani’s apple love is adorable — and your reflections make it even more meaningful.
Your post is sweetly insightful — I love how you unpack the nursery rhyme’s familiar line and draw out its deeper moral significance. Your reflections on health, wisdom, and everyday meaning make the old proverb feel fresh and thought-provoking.
I didn’t know this line was part of such a huge poem. When we decode nursery rhymes, powerful lessons come to the fore. Thanks for bringing these lessons to light through your posts.
I only knew this as a poem but this is really interesting to know that this holds much more meaning
Love the way you give the microscopic layers of these rhymes. Such powerful words!!