Providing food for the nanny

[Anonymous]

My employers tell me to help myself to anything in the fridge and are always telling me to try X or Y that they think is really good. I generally eat what I prepare for my charge for her lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a first time mom and we will hire our first nanny soon. If she is with our child all day, should we provide lunch for her, or lunch ingredients like lunch meat and bread for sandwiches? Or do nanny’s usually provide their own lunch? Our baby doesn’t eat solid foods yet and we generally eat breakfast and lunch at work, so there would not usually be a lot of food options in our fridge unless we specifically provide them for the nanny. Want to make her feel at home so wondering what most people do! Maybe ask her what she likes to eat for breakfast and lunch and make sure to always have that on hand?

I wouldn't worry about breakfast, but yes - ask her what she likes to eat for lunch. We always have frozen dinners in the freezer and soup if we forget or run out of what nanny likes. And we always have fruit on hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a nanny and my employers have always provided lunch for me. It is commonly done because it is not like a nanny can run out and grab lunch - she is stuck at your house.

LOL you are perfectly capable of bringing a lunch from home, like everyone else who has a job does. Eating out has only become common in the last few years. Before that, people brought food from home...and were healthier for it.

And if you forget your lunch? It has nothing to do with capability. If you cannot leave the work place, the meal is generally provided in most good positions - I know it is true in my office. And in DH's hospital (the cafeteria) when they are on call.

Are you a teen kid that needs to eat constantly or you are starving? You never go out on walks or drive and can grab a quick snack and there is nothing to eat in the house? You may be special but grow up already. I can't believe you don't know most people atleast here in US can go about just fine without lunch for a day!

Calm down, PP. So your vote is no, you do not provide lunch for your nanny. Thanks for sharing.

Now go take your meds and get off the internet.

Stooping low with insults huh? No, nanny is competent and prepares and eats healthy lunch with the kids and there is also plenty of snacks and fruits in the house.

[Anonymous]

My nannies have always brought their own lunches and drinks. It just never came up even though I have plenty of food in my frig.

[Anonymous]

My nanny family has made it clear that I’m always welcome to food in their house, but I would feel bad eating their food every day so I bring lunch from home. On the rare occasions that I might forget it, I would ask and have something of theirs.

[Anonymous]

I always offer to buy things they want for lunch to have in the house. All but one person (nannies, housekeepers, and mother's helpers over the last 8 years) has declined. So I just say they're welcome to anything they can find, and if I find out there are drinks they like, I try to have those in stock.

I've had only one issue in all these years, and I wouldn't have been able to predict it ahead of time: One nanny would bring ingredients and make full-on, stove & oven meals, sometimes involving baking. Then she would leave it half cleaned up or not cleaned up. I finally told her that if it wasn't an activity with the kids, please keep the cooking to a minimum, and that I needed her to clean up after herself.

[Anonymous]

9:33- I had this same issue as well with our first nanny! She cleaned up after herself ( which took a long time , basically neglecting my child) but I also had to tell her to cook her meals at home. I’m not understanding why any nanny would think this is appropriate and I was told it was a cultural thing most likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a nanny and my employers have always provided lunch for me. It is commonly done because it is not like a nanny can run out and grab lunch - she is stuck at your house.

LOL you are perfectly capable of bringing a lunch from home, like everyone else who has a job does. Eating out has only become common in the last few years. Before that, people brought food from home...and were healthier for it.

And if you forget your lunch? It has nothing to do with capability. If you cannot leave the work place, the meal is generally provided in most good positions - I know it is true in my office. And in DH's hospital (the cafeteria) when they are on call.

Are you a teen kid that needs to eat constantly or you are starving? You never go out on walks or drive and can grab a quick snack and there is nothing to eat in the house? You may be special but grow up already. I can't believe you don't know most people atleast here in US can go about just fine without lunch for a day!

NP here. I planned to stop by the store this morning to grab lunch. There was an accident and I didn’t have time. I will either eat a sandwich of my employer’s food or pick something up when out with the children. Typically I bring my lunch and provide all of my own food and beverages, but I cannot imagine working for a family that wouldn’t allow me to grab a snack or sandwich if needed. I also happily share some of my food with the kids. But no, I wouldn’t go all day without food.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny is always welcome to eat whatever we have and since she does the shopping for DD, she knows she can buy herself whatever she wants. I think its is important as children get to toddler age to sit down and eat with someone so I am happy she always has lunch with DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny is always welcome to eat whatever we have and since she does the shopping for DD, she knows she can buy herself whatever she wants. I think its is important as children get to toddler age to sit down and eat with someone so I am happy she always has lunch with DD.

+1. When our older child had eating issues, the specialist told us to always eat with him. Nanny agreed to eat with him and it did make all the difference. I always welcomed her to eat whatever she wanted in the house but she preferred to bring her own lunch until she agreed to start eating with DS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a nanny and my employers have always provided lunch for me. It is commonly done because it is not like a nanny can run out and grab lunch - she is stuck at your house.

LOL you are perfectly capable of bringing a lunch from home, like everyone else who has a job does. Eating out has only become common in the last few years. Before that, people brought food from home...and were healthier for it.

And if you forget your lunch? It has nothing to do with capability. If you cannot leave the work place, the meal is generally provided in most good positions - I know it is true in my office. And in DH's hospital (the cafeteria) when they are on call.

Are you a teen kid that needs to eat constantly or you are starving? You never go out on walks or drive and can grab a quick snack and there is nothing to eat in the house? You may be special but grow up already. I can't believe you don't know most people atleast here in US can go about just fine without lunch for a day!

NP here. I planned to stop by the store this morning to grab lunch. There was an accident and I didn’t have time. I will either eat a sandwich of my employer’s food or pick something up when out with the children. Typically I bring my lunch and provide all of my own food and beverages, but I cannot imagine working for a family that wouldn’t allow me to grab a snack or sandwich if needed. I also happily share some of my food with the kids. But no, I wouldn’t go all day without food.

There are a slew of health conditions that are easily managed by eating a balanced diet on a regular schedule. There’s no way I would go all day without food! My day today started before 8, and I wasn’t done until 10.30 tonight!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a first time mom and we will hire our first nanny soon. If she is with our child all day, should we provide lunch for her, or lunch ingredients like lunch meat and bread for sandwiches? Or do nanny’s usually provide their own lunch? Our baby doesn’t eat solid foods yet and we generally eat breakfast and lunch at work, so there would not usually be a lot of food options in our fridge unless we specifically provide them for the nanny. Want to make her feel at home so wondering what most people do! Maybe ask her what she likes to eat for breakfast and lunch and make sure to always have that on hand?

Our two nannies - one 4 years and one 3 years - brought their own lunches. It's the professional thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a first time mom and we will hire our first nanny soon. If she is with our child all day, should we provide lunch for her, or lunch ingredients like lunch meat and bread for sandwiches? Or do nanny’s usually provide their own lunch? Our baby doesn’t eat solid foods yet and we generally eat breakfast and lunch at work, so there would not usually be a lot of food options in our fridge unless we specifically provide them for the nanny. Want to make her feel at home so wondering what most people do! Maybe ask her what she likes to eat for breakfast and lunch and make sure to always have that on hand?

Our two nannies - one 4 years and one 3 years - brought their own lunches. It's the professional thing to do.

Nonsense. Some do and some don’t - being professional has nothing to do with it. Stop being such a twit.

[Anonymous]

Why would you not provide food for someone caring for your children? Otherwise, nanny should get a paid lunch half-hour to leave your kid while she goes out to get lunch and you hire someone for her lunch break
Stupid, isn't it? Provide food for your nanny!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Why would you not provide food for someone caring for your children? Otherwise, nanny should get a paid lunch half-hour to leave your kid while she goes out to get lunch and you hire someone for her lunch break
Stupid, isn't it? Provide food for your nanny!

I don’t expect my employers to let me eat their food, but if they do say I can I usually don’t. I always like to eat my own food. Occasionally I’ll eat certain things that expire soon and need to be thrown out