Not with new Power Cutlery. The toughest steak yields before the blade of the Powerknife. Just press the switch on the handle and the reciprocating blade slashes through the steak like a... well, a hot knife through butter, which is what switch no 2 is about; a heating element in the blade, to cut through butter.

The powerfork rotates, to wind up spaghetti. The tines work individually, to stab peas. A switch allows the tines to extend, so that stabbing a chunk of meat, a wedge of potato and a baby tomato just involve the press of a button.

The powerspoon has a bowl that can extend into a hollow sphere, to scoop up a lot more soup or cerel, without it spilling. Just put it in your mouth, release the switch and it empties into your mouth, releasing its contents.

Power is provided in the same way as done for electric toothbrushes. Getting kids to eat their dinner will never be a problem again.

Note: Fork and knife switches will not work if they detect certain chemicals in human breath, so you can't stab yourself in the tongue with a rotating fork.