Do you let your nanny eat the food at your house?

[Anonymous]

I would like your answers as parents and nannies out there
The family that I work got mad(dad) because I used a lot of honey
I used for the child smoothie,And to be honest I was
Making toast bread with honey once in a while but it will be done anyway
So the father of the child got mad saying why the honey was gone so soon?
That honey was so expensive to be gone so soon($18 jar)
So I was surprise I been with them for almost 3 years and I always share my stuff
With the child when he wants so I said well I used for his amoothie and I usually get
When I am hungry,he did not say anything she oviously noticed
I was in shock,I google the honey store and order not one 3 jars of honey
That's why I know how much it cost,but I feel
Really bad,they get mad about food,since that even if is something that is gonna be bad
I never eat or touch anythingI bring my food I always do but sometimes we forget
What is your experience as family or as a nanny if you were in this position?

[Anonymous]

I’m really sorry that happened to you, OP, but are you sure the employer was accusing you or even directing the comment at you? Perhaps he thinks his kids are eating too much honey or was just in a grumpy mood.

Yes, of course, our nanny is welcome to anything in the kitchen. We were more than willing to provide her lunch but she prefers to bring her own. I grew up with a nanny and housekeeper and my mother taught me that if your employee cannot leave for lunch then you should provide lunch.

[Anonymous]

Yes our nanny is welcome to eat anything in our house.

[Anonymous]

I’m a nanny and have always been told and encouraged to eat anything I want.

Please don’t be upset by this, OP. You did nothing wrong. The guy’s just a jerk.

[Anonymous]

No,its was not because the child was eating to much honey
He clearly said that was expensive honey
I was so sad and feel terrible,the honey actually is good
And I wrote an amazing review to the store when I order
And why I ended to be a costumer,she said one time
That he was a little generous after they got married
But I am very confused he is a profesional and being like that
For a honey to be done before or finish
When I do babysiters in another families they always offer me
Food and say you are welcome to eat anything
From the fridge but this one never did I was not xpecting to eat
But sometimes when I al running late or I am starving I like to get a banana
Or an apple but surely won't anymore

[Anonymous]

Sorry about what happened to you. I guess you must felt terrible about it. I'm also a nanny and I have always preferred bring my own lunch; to avoid any issue w/food in the future. I have worked for families and tell me I'm free to grab anything; which I know it's very nice of them; but anything I don't feel comfortable eatting their food. Probably sometime I will grab just a banana. Also I have worked for other families who have not offered anything to eat at their house. If I'm lucky some day; I was offered only water or a cup of coffe; that's all. You did the right thing; to buy not only 1 jar; even better you got 3. Lesson learned. Bring your own lunch and no take anything from them. You feel better knowing that what you are eatting It's your own food.

[Anonymous]

It's not good to expect families provide you with food. Even though it is a nice perk of them. At my work I will only take a banana or an apple. (Sometimes), nothing else. But I totally understand your point and the way that you felt. Next time; bring your own breakfast and lunch to work.

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry he made you feel bad. He’s a rude jerk. My employers not only insist I help myself to whatever I want to eat no matter how expensive, they also made foods special knowing I like them. Like making me a homemade pumpkin pie last month because I once mentioned that I can’t wait for the holidays when the bakeries start making pumpkin pie again.

I really hate cheap aholes.

[Anonymous]

Why in the world are you putting a lot of honey in a child's smoothie?! And why are you eating enough honey toast (using bread and honey that you were not offered!!!) that the parent had to ask what was happening?!

[Anonymous]

Maybe it was manuka honey, those are expensive. I am a nanny and I have enough social sense to understand that when families says you are welcome to their food they don't really mean it, so anyone who takes them literally is, excuse me, a fool. You could use a little in your tea just to get a taste and then if you really liked it then you should have bought your own jar. However with things as they are, I would quit on them. i get hundreds of dollars worth gift certificates for christmas and my employer would never ever show anger if by some reason I consumed a whole jar of honey, haha. Maybe just a little surprise but not anger. Maybe he wanted this honey badly too and was just disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Nanny knows our fridge and pantry is open to her unless we specify. Pre-Covid we hosted a ton of get togethers and would buy things that were only meant to be consumed then.

But she is pretty conscious of what she consumes. She doesn't eat the last of anything or barely leave anything left. I like to buy exotic fruits and she doesn't touch those either. Probably the only thing that she really indulges is in cheese! Something we have in common so we are always well stocked with lots of cheese to nibble on.

[Anonymous]

Yes, our nanny is welcome to eat our food. But we don't expect our nanny to finish something there's very little of (unless it's a food specifically for the kids) or to eat the very expensive things we have.

You finished an $18 jar of honey, which is not a filling food to eat when you're hungry. A banana is 19 cents (at Trader Joe's). If you're hungry, grab an apple or banana. Not half a jar of honey.

The fact that you left the honey company a nice review means nothing in this context.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny is welcomed to anything and I try to buy things she likes - expensive nuts and other treats. So I assume that fruit, honey, peanut butter will all be used.

But your post also makes it sound like the honey was going to the kid? You made smoothies and honey toast for the child and then you had some too. That is totally within the scope of things, even for families who don't let nannies have food.

Maybe ask the parents if there is anything they don't want the kid to have and just avoid those foods for you too.

[Anonymous]

Very simple. Turn on the page. Bring your own food, honey and treat you like from home.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny can eat anything she wants. As long as its not what i prepped for dinner. She sometimes has smoked salmon, fancy cheese, honey etc. i don't care. I ask her to tell me if we are running out if anything and Ill get more.