I would not think of bringing my own food, unless I was extremely particular.

We weren't sure so when she showed up for the first day without bringing lunch we assumed she wanted to eat food from our house. So, we told her to have whatever from our fridge/pantry.

I buy the groceries, I plan the kids meals, I make the food (from scratch), and I eat with the kids.

When caring for only an infant who is not eating table food, I will bring my own food, and every employer has told me to purchase drinks/snacks for myself when at the store doing their shopping.

MB always tells me to put on her shopping list whatever I want.

Unless a family says it is ok, nanny should bring her own food and snacks.

When our daughter was a baby the nanny brought her own food but when DD started eating sandwiches etc and now that we have two kids, the nanny makes lunch for herself and the kids. She knows she is free to consume any food or drink in the house. It helps that I post a meal plan (breakfast, lunch and dinner) on the fridge every Monday (though she is free to switch/change lunch meals if she wants). I would suggest you talk to your nanny about the situation and find out her preference.

If there is something nice left over that we know the nanny likes, we will mention it in case she would prefer that to what the kids are having ... but the kids really like to eat the same food as the adults at the table, so recently they discovered Thai food! Also some days if my husband is home, he will go out and get sushi for me and the nanny (I work from home), and occasionally the nanny takes the kids out for lunch and obviously we pay for the whole bill.

I eat breakfast, lunch, snacks, and sometimes dinner at my job. (9:00AM - 7:00PM).

The fridge and pantry are completely stocked. The parents order groceries about twice a week, which I unpack and organize in the fridge. Part of their list includes specific items for me since I'm a vegetarian and they're not (e.g. tofu, veggie burgers, vegetarian frozen entrées and deli meats, salads, soy milk, etc.)

I mean the family keeps throwing food at me. They offer me leftovers from their dinner too (e.g. pasta, soup, salad, pizza, etc.)

I can even cook meals from scratch, provided I give them a list of ingredients in advance, and take the leftovers home with me.

There's often so much of the food items they buy me/offer me that I end up taking a frozen entrée or salad home for dinner so that it doesn't go to waste, even though I'm not lacking food at my place.

I appreciate the family's kindness, but they can definitely go a little overboard at times, lol.

At any rate, I believe it's a nice gesture to allow a nanny to welcome herself to reasonable items in your fridge/pantry, but it's certainly not your obligation to do so, especially if you can't afford to cater towards this perk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny brings her own food (she has designated cupboard and fridge space so she can keep things stocked as she wishes).

But i fairly routinely cook in large batches and will make sure she knows to help herself if I've cooked something. She's also welcome to help herself to things if she likes. We don't police consumption, and she's never taken advanatage. A year and a half into the relationship now we've both (nanny and I) taken to restocking items we've noticed the other, or the kids, particularly like.

But if I were starting over w/ a new nanny I'd set it up the same way - bring anything you like, here's space, etc... I don't want to worry about regularly feeding someone else and concerning myself w/ their preferences.

I always pack a lunch and don't really care if the family has food for me or not. That being said, the bolded indicates a self-centered attitude that I try to avoid when choosing a family to work with. I put a lot of effort into caring for the children and families I work with, always trying to anticipate a need, being there when needed, etc. and I appreciate that effort to go both ways. If you can't be bothered to concern yours

elf with something so simple but kind, you are not someone I'd bust my hump for, hence I would not work with you.

Very well said. Period.

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny brings her own food (she has designated cupboard and fridge space so she can keep things stocked as she wishes).

But i fairly routinely cook in large batches and will make sure she knows to help herself if I've cooked something. She's also welcome to help herself to things if she likes. We don't police consumption, and she's never taken advanatage. A year and a half into the relationship now we've both (nanny and I) taken to restocking items we've noticed the other, or the kids, particularly like.

But if I were starting over w/ a new nanny I'd set it up the same way - bring anything you like, here's space, etc... I don't want to worry about regularly feeding someone else and concerning myself w/ their preferences.

I always pack a lunch and don't really care if the family has food for me or not. That being said, the bolded indicates a self-centered attitude that I try to avoid when choosing a family to work with. I put a lot of effort into caring for the children and families I work with, always trying to anticipate a need, being there when needed, etc. and I appreciate that effort to go both ways. If you can't be bothered to concern yourself with something so simple but kind, you are not someone I'd bust my hump for, hence I would not work with you.

I've worked for both situations. The biggest problem of bringing my own stuff was the commute. I started leaving stuff and they were eating it.

I prefer to do both. Bring and eat what they have. My best employers do this.

Our nanny brings her own food (she has designated cupboard and fridge space so she can keep things stocked as she wishes).

But i fairly routinely cook in large batches and will make sure she knows to help herself if I've cooked something. She's also welcome to help herself to things if she likes. We don't police consumption, and she's never taken advanatage. A year and a half into the relationship now we've both (nanny and I) taken to restocking items we've noticed the other, or the kids, particularly like.

But if I were starting over w/ a new nanny I'd set it up the same way - bring anything you like, here's space, etc... I don't want to worry about regularly feeding someone else and concerning myself w/ their preferences.