Is there a nice way to bring this up?

[Anonymous]

Let me start by saying we love our nanny, so maybe I just need to keep my mouth shut. She has only been with us for 3 months and is a very healthy eater (hope it rubs off on my kids). They problem is that she brings a piece of fish that she pan fries for lunch every single day and it really stinks up the whole house. DH and I are working from home and both really can’t stand the smell. I used to just open the windows in the kitchen since it helped a bit, but now that it’s cold that doesn’t work.

Is there any nice way to bring this up?

[Anonymous]

If you love her, I wouldn't make an issue of this.

I'd ask her to turn on the stove vent and open a window while she's cooking. After that, light a smelly candle right next to the stove. This is by far the best use for those smelly things!

[Anonymous]

Omg, I’d probably say something. Can she cook it at home and eat it at room temperature? She will see all the things you are doing to cover up the smell.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying we love our nanny, so maybe I just need to keep my mouth shut. She has only been with us for 3 months and is a very healthy eater (hope it rubs off on my kids). They problem is that she brings a piece of fish that she pan fries for lunch every single day and it really stinks up the whole house. DH and I are working from home and both really can’t stand the smell. I used to just open the windows in the kitchen since it helped a bit, but now that it’s cold that doesn’t work.

Is there any nice way to bring this up?

No. There isn't. And if I was the nanny I would be really self conscious about it and not eat.

[Anonymous]

I truly feel for you, OP, I can't stand stinky food smells either, but for a good nanny I'd just dab some perfume under my nose every day at lunchtime and hope for an early spring. Maybe try one of those small air purifiers you can keep at your desk or something?

[Anonymous]

Is she from the Philippines? If so, I know exactly that smell and it's horrid. Ask her if she can bring something else or offer to buy her something to cook. The filipinas know that fish has a terrible smell and she probably won't be offended.

[Anonymous]

For a good nanny, I would totally let that go

[Anonymous]

So neither one of you have a door to your office or room when she eats it?

[Anonymous]

Is there any chance she'll let you buy her lunch occasionally? Then you can have something on hand for her that doesn't stink

[Anonymous]

Set up an outdoor cooking station for her to use. My sister’s family is Filipino and that’s where they cook stinky fish.

[Anonymous]

For a good nanny, I would do other things first before talk to her. Why don't you go on the home improvement forum and ask about ventilation in the kitchen? What kind of setup do you currently have - recirculating scrubber or vent to the outside? Maybe you need a better model, or you need to maintain the one you have.

What does she do with the oil when she is done? Topping off the trash with kitty litter can help.

A good nanny is worth her weight in gold.

[Anonymous]

No, there's not. Price of admission.

[Anonymous]

Realize it's cold, but cracking the kitchen window for 30 minutes while she cooks is still possible. If there are remnants that end up in the trash, sprinkle in some baking soda, a little vinegar, or some coffee grounds, which will absorb the smell a bit.

(I give all of this advice as someone who used to employ a nanny who cooked delicious but stinky food. She was also worth her weight in gold. You are really, really lucky.)

[Anonymous]

Crack the window. Put in a HEPA room air filter. Light a candle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying we love our nanny, so maybe I just need to keep my mouth shut. She has only been with us for 3 months and is a very healthy eater (hope it rubs off on my kids). They problem is that she brings a piece of fish that she pan fries for lunch every single day and it really stinks up the whole house. DH and I are working from home and both really can’t stand the smell. I used to just open the windows in the kitchen since it helped a bit, but now that it’s cold that doesn’t work.

Is there any nice way to bring this up?

Why does she bring her own lunch? Of it's because you're too cheap to feed her, which you should as she can't leave house to get her lunch, then you can't ask her not to eat fish.