For the love of God, stop it with the special diets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Canadian here/ I was an au pair in the US and Europe, and to be honest I’d probably make those dietary requirements as well, because you would not believe how a lot of Americans eat! We may sure a border but we do not share food and lifestyle choices. I won’t/can’t drink American milk because it tastes weird unless it’s organic. I think a lot of Europeans feel the same way, we eat healthier outside the US.

Then don't drink milk. My kids don't drink organic milk or think nonorganic milk "tastes weird." If you have this specific of a preference, then you likely have a dozen more that make living with you difficult.

[Anonymous]

Then tell her to buy her own food and cook for herself. Easy fix. That is what I would do. Just sayin

[Anonymous]

I currently have a vegetarian, and probably will avoid them in the future.

She doesn't eat any meals with us. Like NONE. I've offered to make her salads and cook veggies and rice and she turns us down. Often, she will cook later or eat a big lunch while we are at school/work and not eat with us. One time I remember making our dinner of rice, chicken and veggies. I asked if she wanted to eat with us or have some of the veggies/rice. She said no. Then, she proceeds to make her OWN PORTION of the same veggies from scratch (they were frozen). I was stumped. Was it because I prepared it?

She'll buy special vegetarian items or an avocado and then either eat 1/2 of it and leave the rest to rot (I don't like avocados, or I'd eat them up). We even bought VEGAN marshmallows because my son likes to make rice krispy treats. In the store I asked her if she would like to eat/make them with my son, and she said sure. Fast forward to last night, when we were making them, and she said, um no, I don't want them.

I have had au pairs with weird eating habits (one AP would eat the meat but didn't like any veggies). This has been the worst and makes me sad, since sharing a meal is so fun in our house and the best bonding time. Her absence is quite noted by my kids regularly....

[Anonymous]

PP here...

Not even the big sunday breakfasts of pancakes or french toast (no MEAT at all).

[Anonymous]

A lot of au pair avoid family dinners because then they’re expected to clean it all up. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anyone face the problem of their au pairs’ feeding the children unripened fruit such as hard pears and peaches? I will put them out to ripen and they will choose a hard one from the refrigerator and try to cut it up. It has been consistent across countries ( Europe and Latin America) despite me demonstrating. Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

We had one vegetarian - never again.

There are plenty of vegetarian host families they can match with.

[Anonymous]

I had kind of the opposite issue. I have been a vegetarian since college (animal rights) and i raised my daughter vegetarian, of course. My Brazilian au pairs loved their meats. I had not allowed meat in my house since i was about 21. But i knew this was going to be a great au pair so at age 41 with a brand new child I let her cook meat in the house. I had to explain to her not to let my daughter have any and she agreed and was so careful. Worked with both my meat-obsessed Brazilian au pairs.

[Anonymous]

My AP was great but picky with food (although she said during the interview that she eats everything). Long story short I tried very hard to please her and always ended up frustrated. Now my new AP will eat what we eat or make something for herself. I am not going to go out my way for picky eater. I do ask about it during the interview. We buy lot of stuffs in bulk so they can always make something on the side if they want to, but I wont be going out of my way again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Canadian here/ I was an au pair in the US and Europe, and to be honest I’d probably make those dietary requirements as well, because you would not believe how a lot of Americans eat! We may sure a border but we do not share food and lifestyle choices. I won’t/can’t drink American milk because it tastes weird unless it’s organic. I think a lot of Europeans feel the same way, we eat healthier outside the US.

Nobody really cares what your dietary requirements are if you don't expect other people to fit the bill for you, you could eat caviar everyday if you wanted to but don't ask me to pay for it. I lived in Europe for a long time and prefer European bread but I don't expect to find it here, I eat american bread and move on.

[Anonymous]

So many Americans sensitive about their food choices. Truth hurts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many Americans sensitive about their food choices. Truth hurts?

I am the PP and I am not even American but I do live here now, your comment is the insensitive one. Food is a subjective matter, you think your food is so great and some people would not even give to their dog!

[Anonymous]

I would never suggest that a lot of Americans food is "so great" but I would suggest that when you live with a family you don't call the shots on how they feed themselves and their family. If special diets are that important, I would just suggest staying home and eating how you like. Cultural exchange should include trying different diets, good or bad...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of au pair avoid family dinners because then they’re expected to clean it all up. No thanks.

Ours eats with us but manages to runaway before anything is put away. We wouldn’t expect her to clean it all up but pitching in would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

We’ve had aps who’d pretend to be a hundred percent healthy eaters—and ask for all of this organic food and then we’d find McDonald’s and Wendy’s bags in our trash can in the garage. We don’t eat there so clearly the organic thing was a facade