What food do you keep on hand for nanny?

[Anonymous]

Hello! Very new to the nanny thing and I am wondering if any employers have staples that they keep on hand for their nanny's lunches/ snacks? (Or, nannies, tell me what you'd appreciate!) DH and I tend to eat a lot of dinner leftovers for lunches and I suspect that's unappetizing for a nanny? I always encourage her to help herself to anything and everything but when I return home at the end of the day, the most I can tell she's had is a banana and maybe some mixed greens. I always keep staples on hand: bananas, mixed greens and fresh veggies for salads, little prepackaged grab-n-go containers of cheese & meat/nuts, yogurt cups, pretzels, cheese and crackers... I sometimes buy heat & go items at Costco (burritos, etc) and have those in the fridge. I've asked her what she likes so I can get it for her but she didnt give me much of an answer. Any suggestions?

Is there anything else I should be doing to make her feel comfortable? Like giving her a shelf in our coat closet so she can keep a few items at our house? I keep all types of things in my office so I wonder if she'd like her own space?

Any guidance from nannies or bosses is welcome. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Ask her what she wants. Ours would add food to our grocery list. Or let her know there's room in the fridge/pantry if she wants to bring her own (if she has something she likes that's expensive she may feel weird about asking you to buy it). Then when our kids were older and ours did grocery shopping we just had her buy what she wanted for herself.

[Anonymous]

I always bring most of my own food. Like your nanny I might help myself to a banana or something for a snack. When the kids are older I shop, cook and eat with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always bring most of my own food. Like your nanny I might help myself to a banana or something for a snack. When the kids are older I shop, cook and eat with them.

This. As with most other jobs, I bring my own lunch and snacks. I will occasionally have a small snack of theirs, as well as share some of my food with the children, but I find it unprofessional to expect your employers to supply your food – unless you don’t pay her a proper wage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always bring most of my own food. Like your nanny I might help myself to a banana or something for a snack. When the kids are older I shop, cook and eat with them.

This. As with most other jobs, I bring my own lunch and snacks. I will occasionally have a small snack of theirs, as well as share some of my food with the children, but I find it unprofessional to expect your employers to supply your food – unless you don’t pay her a proper wage.

OP. I'm not sure how you define "proper," but we asked her for her hourly rate and said yes. Two weeks paid vacation of her choosing, plus 2 weeks paid at Christmas and whenever we take off during the year. No housekeeping, cooking, driving. One baby less than 1 yr. When I come home early from work, I always let her know she can go and pay her as if she stayed. Curious how you define proper, PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always bring most of my own food. Like your nanny I might help myself to a banana or something for a snack. When the kids are older I shop, cook and eat with them.

This. As with most other jobs, I bring my own lunch and snacks. I will occasionally have a small snack of theirs, as well as share some of my food with the children, but I find it unprofessional to expect your employers to supply your food – unless you don’t pay her a proper wage.

OP. I'm not sure how you define "proper," but we asked her for her hourly rate and said yes. Two weeks paid vacation of her choosing, plus 2 weeks paid at Christmas and whenever we take off during the year. No housekeeping, cooking, driving. One baby less than 1 yr. When I come home early from work, I always let her know she can go and pay her as if she stayed. Curious how you define proper, PP?

It depends on the cost of living in your area, I’m sure you can look it up. I’m not implying that you don’t pay well; but it appears to be a common benefit for nannies who do not make good wages. I only know of one nanny (though I do not know a ton of nannies) that is paid well and is fed at work. Is your nanny bringing her own food, or just not eating much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always bring most of my own food. Like your nanny I might help myself to a banana or something for a snack. When the kids are older I shop, cook and eat with them.

This. As with most other jobs, I bring my own lunch and snacks. I will occasionally have a small snack of theirs, as well as share some of my food with the children, but I find it unprofessional to expect your employers to supply your food – unless you don’t pay her a proper wage.

OP. I'm not sure how you define "proper," but we asked her for her hourly rate and said yes. Two weeks paid vacation of her choosing, plus 2 weeks paid at Christmas and whenever we take off during the year. No housekeeping, cooking, driving. One baby less than 1 yr. When I come home early from work, I always let her know she can go and pay her as if she stayed. Curious how you define proper, PP?

Not the pp, but I would say as long as it is a living wage you are fine. In Alexandria, where I live rent is at least $600 per month, plus utilities, phone etc. if your nanny is working full time and is bringing home at least $500 per week after taxes then your pay is at least reasonable. Obviously you may need to pay more for many nannies, but shockingly there ate families out there offering $200 per week under the table for 50 hrs per week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always bring most of my own food. Like your nanny I might help myself to a banana or something for a snack. When the kids are older I shop, cook and eat with them.

This. As with most other jobs, I bring my own lunch and snacks. I will occasionally have a small snack of theirs, as well as share some of my food with the children, but I find it unprofessional to expect your employers to supply your food – unless you don’t pay her a proper wage.

OP. I'm not sure how you define "proper," but we asked her for her hourly rate and said yes. Two weeks paid vacation of her choosing, plus 2 weeks paid at Christmas and whenever we take off during the year. No housekeeping, cooking, driving. One baby less than 1 yr. When I come home early from work, I always let her know she can go and pay her as if she stayed. Curious how you define proper, PP?

Not the pp, but I would say as long as it is a living wage you are fine. In Alexandria, where I live rent is at least $600 per month, plus utilities, phone etc. if your nanny is working full time and is bringing home at least $500 per week after taxes then your pay is at least reasonable. Obviously you may need to pay more for many nannies, but shockingly there ate families out there offering $200 per week under the table for 50 hrs per week.

What sort of shithole is only $600/month? $500/week is far from acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always bring most of my own food. Like your nanny I might help myself to a banana or something for a snack. When the kids are older I shop, cook and eat with them.

This. As with most other jobs, I bring my own lunch and snacks. I will occasionally have a small snack of theirs, as well as share some of my food with the children, but I find it unprofessional to expect your employers to supply your food – unless you don’t pay her a proper wage.

OP. I'm not sure how you define "proper," but we asked her for her hourly rate and said yes. Two weeks paid vacation of her choosing, plus 2 weeks paid at Christmas and whenever we take off during the year. No housekeeping, cooking, driving. One baby less than 1 yr. When I come home early from work, I always let her know she can go and pay her as if she stayed. Curious how you define proper, PP?

Not the pp, but I would say as long as it is a living wage you are fine. In Alexandria, where I live rent is at least $600 per month, plus utilities, phone etc. if your nanny is working full time and is bringing home at least $500 per week after taxes then your pay is at least reasonable. Obviously you may need to pay more for many nannies, but shockingly there ate families out there offering $200 per week under the table for 50 hrs per week.

OP. Thank you, PP -- this is helpful! We are in DC and meet this test for reasonableness.

[Anonymous]

Just ask her. I always bring my own lunch but am free to eat anything in the kitchen. Luckily my employers always have healthful foods available for both my charge and myself.

[Anonymous]

I do the grocery shopping so I buy and eat what I want. I eat most meals at work with the kids. It’s a job perk. My employers don’t care!

[Anonymous]

I eat fruit and veggies and chicken at work. Whatever I cook for the kids, I eat. I’m lucky the kids are older so we eat real food, not kid food!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always bring most of my own food. Like your nanny I might help myself to a banana or something for a snack. When the kids are older I shop, cook and eat with them.

This. As with most other jobs, I bring my own lunch and snacks. I will occasionally have a small snack of theirs, as well as share some of my food with the children, but I find it unprofessional to expect your employers to supply your food – unless you don’t pay her a proper wage.

I agree with this 100%. I don't expect my CEO to provide me with lunch. I agree with offering/sharing a few things and maybe purchasing something that I know she would enjoy. But putting items on the grocery list is taking it a little to far (unless the person is a live-in nanny)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do the grocery shopping so I buy and eat what I want. I eat most meals at work with the kids. It’s a job perk. My employers don’t care!

You all so so damn entitled and annoying. It bothers us, we just don't want to discuss it and upset you all. You all are getting paid. Provide your own meals and snacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always bring most of my own food. Like your nanny I might help myself to a banana or something for a snack. When the kids are older I shop, cook and eat with them.

This. As with most other jobs, I bring my own lunch and snacks. I will occasionally have a small snack of theirs, as well as share some of my food with the children, but I find it unprofessional to expect your employers to supply your food – unless you don’t pay her a proper wage.

OP. I'm not sure how you define "proper," but we asked her for her hourly rate and said yes. Two weeks paid vacation of her choosing, plus 2 weeks paid at Christmas and whenever we take off during the year. No housekeeping, cooking, driving. One baby less than 1 yr. When I come home early from work, I always let her know she can go and pay her as if she stayed. Curious how you define proper, PP?

Not the pp, but I would say as long as it is a living wage you are fine. In Alexandria, where I live rent is at least $600 per month, plus utilities, phone etc. if your nanny is working full time and is bringing home at least $500 per week after taxes then your pay is at least reasonable. Obviously you may need to pay more for many nannies, but shockingly there ate families out there offering $200 per week under the table for 50 hrs per week.

What sort of shithole is only $600/month? $500/week is far from acceptable.

Shared housing (roommates or living with parents or a spouse) is $500-600 for a room in a shared home. Again, this is on the lower end. $500 is half what I make as a nanny now, but for someone young and inexperienced or someone who doesn’t drive or have any education or speak English... it’s never going to be a great wage, but it is not an immoral wage, discussing.