Does the MB know that there will be a playdate? As the kids get older, it is helpful to have something in the house as a snack. It doesn't have to be goldfish, and it can be what the child in the house eats. My DD recently went to a playdate and the mom served a large salad with all sorts of greens, beans, and grains. My DD loved it. (Of course, I can't get her to eat it in our house). But I'm not suggesting that your MB change your DD's eating habits. Rather, have something around. It can be raisins, carrots, etc. as other posters have suggested.

I just find it strange that there is literally nothing in the house. Right now, we have one box of crackers in our house, but we have apples, carrots, cheese, raisins, hummus, any of which would be perfectly fine for a snack.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not OP but my employers also don't keep any food in the house. Their son eats only whole foods from the fridge so we would have no crackers or fruit pouches or anything similar to offer, so the best I would be able to do in OP's position would be a bowl of raisins and some milk or water (unless the visiting child wanted bean paste or curried chicken for a snack?). It is unusual to be sure, but it isn't so strange as to assume she's exaggerating or lying about it.

But raisins and milk would be fine for this situation so in your hypothetical, that wouldn't be an issue. Also do your employers not give your charge fruit? Could you not slice up an apple or two to offer. Just to understand.

Never mind - I saw your later post and that makes more sense.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not OP but my employers also don't keep any food in the house. Their son eats only whole foods from the fridge so we would have no crackers or fruit pouches or anything similar to offer, so the best I would be able to do in OP's position would be a bowl of raisins and some milk or water (unless the visiting child wanted bean paste or curried chicken for a snack?). It is unusual to be sure, but it isn't so strange as to assume she's exaggerating or lying about it.

But raisins and milk would be fine for this situation so in your hypothetical, that wouldn't be an issue. Also do your employers not give your charge fruit? Could you not slice up an apple or two to offer. Just to understand.

MB here: I say do not offer a snack unless the other mom/nanny said something ahead of time. We would bring our own snack at that age if necessary, and it can be a problem if the kids hear about a snack too close to their own lunch time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just still not Even sure why there was question in the first place. It's pretty standard etiquette in ANY situation to offer guests food/beverage, play dates included (heck, I offer the cleaning lady coffee on the mornings she is here). The kids might not want it but how difficult is it to have some fruit or cheese and water available? What does your charge snack on throughout the day OP? You can't possibly tell me there isn't enough of that for two small children at one time. It's kind of a sad state of affairs when basic courtesies have to be debated.

It's for an hour and 15 minutes!! Children can go that long without eating. This is why America is so fat. Snack snack snack....

Exactly. I would offer a snack for 2+ hours because little ones do need to eat frequently but an hour is just enough time to play and that's it

Anonymous wrote:I'm just still not Even sure why there was question in the first place. It's pretty standard etiquette in ANY situation to offer guests food/beverage, play dates included (heck, I offer the cleaning lady coffee on the mornings she is here). The kids might not want it but how difficult is it to have some fruit or cheese and water available? What does your charge snack on throughout the day OP? You can't possibly tell me there isn't enough of that for two small children at one time. It's kind of a sad state of affairs when basic courtesies have to be debated.

OP here: if don't have to offer food I won't, because I don't what kind of food I'm going to find in their fridge when I arrive that day. There might be enough food for everyone or there might not.

Anonymous wrote:I'm just still not Even sure why there was question in the first place. It's pretty standard etiquette in ANY situation to offer guests food/beverage, play dates included (heck, I offer the cleaning lady coffee on the mornings she is here). The kids might not want it but how difficult is it to have some fruit or cheese and water available? What does your charge snack on throughout the day OP? You can't possibly tell me there isn't enough of that for two small children at one time. It's kind of a sad state of affairs when basic courtesies have to be debated.

It's for an hour and 15 minutes!! Children can go that long without eating. This is why America is so fat. Snack snack snack....

Anonymous wrote:I'm just still not Even sure why there was question in the first place. It's pretty standard etiquette in ANY situation to offer guests food/beverage, play dates included (heck, I offer the cleaning lady coffee on the mornings she is here). The kids might not want it but how difficult is it to have some fruit or cheese and water available? What does your charge snack on throughout the day OP? You can't possibly tell me there isn't enough of that for two small children at one time. It's kind of a sad state of affairs when basic courtesies have to be debated.

Not OP but the PP who also works for people without food in the house.

My charge snacks on quinoa with acorn squash, bean paste, curried chicken, tofu with green beans, yogurt with raisins, and sometimes mango - all snacks are eaten at the table, in a full bib, so there isn't anything neat enough he can snack on while playing and literally nothing that could be set on the coffee table for visiting toddlers. Yes, I could offer water (or milk!) but there isn't even any fruit in the house.

Luckily all of my charge's friends' nannies know this and bring snacks for their little ones (while drinks are provided).

I'm just still not Even sure why there was question in the first place. It's pretty standard etiquette in ANY situation to offer guests food/beverage, play dates included (heck, I offer the cleaning lady coffee on the mornings she is here). The kids might not want it but how difficult is it to have some fruit or cheese and water available? What does your charge snack on throughout the day OP? You can't possibly tell me there isn't enough of that for two small children at one time. It's kind of a sad state of affairs when basic courtesies have to be debated.

I'm not OP but my employers also don't keep any food in the house. Their son eats only whole foods from the fridge so we would have no crackers or fruit pouches or anything similar to offer, so the best I would be able to do in OP's position would be a bowl of raisins and some milk or water (unless the visiting child wanted bean paste or curried chicken for a snack?). It is unusual to be sure, but it isn't so strange as to assume she's exaggerating or lying about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ages of children?

+1

OP here: kids are 2 and 4. I'm the nanny so any food I would offer would be my employer's.

If it is not your food/money issue, then why not offer a small plate of crackers, fruit, veggies, cheese, etc. It doesn't have to be big.

Because as you said it, it's not my food. The most I could offer is a piece of fruit and even this would be a stretch for 4 people.

I don't understand this? Are you saying that your employer does not keep food in the house? Or does not offer enough food? Does the employer know about the playdate? I don't keep a ton of snackfood in our house (because I don't want to eat it), but there is certainly enough snack for an extra 2/4 year old. I always have a bag of goldfish lying around or a couple of apples.

If there really isn't enough food in the house, then you should ask your MB to buy an extra snack. If money is a concern, then you should tell the other nanny to please bring a snack for her charges in case they get hungry.

No, there isn't always snack food for more than 2 people in their house.

Do they grocery shop every day for snacks/meals for the next day? I'm really confused as to how there is nothing you could offer. I don't think you need to offer anything that close to lunch, but if they have two apples, slice them up, offer everyone water, and then done!

This doesn't make any sense. Like PP said do they go shopping every day? You don't need to provide a snack for the other nanny unless you plan to eat a snack too. Do your charges usually have a snack? If so I don't understand how there isn't enough for 1 more small child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ages of children?

+1

OP here: kids are 2 and 4. I'm the nanny so any food I would offer would be my employer's.

If it is not your food/money issue, then why not offer a small plate of crackers, fruit, veggies, cheese, etc. It doesn't have to be big.

Because as you said it, it's not my food. The most I could offer is a piece of fruit and even this would be a stretch for 4 people.

I don't understand this? Are you saying that your employer does not keep food in the house? Or does not offer enough food? Does the employer know about the playdate? I don't keep a ton of snackfood in our house (because I don't want to eat it), but there is certainly enough snack for an extra 2/4 year old. I always have a bag of goldfish lying around or a couple of apples.

If there really isn't enough food in the house, then you should ask your MB to buy an extra snack. If money is a concern, then you should tell the other nanny to please bring a snack for her charges in case they get hungry.

No, there isn't always snack food for more than 2 people in their house.

Do they grocery shop every day for snacks/meals for the next day? I'm really confused as to how there is nothing you could offer. I don't think you need to offer anything that close to lunch, but if they have two apples, slice them up, offer everyone water, and then done!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ages of children?

+1

OP here: kids are 2 and 4. I'm the nanny so any food I would offer would be my employer's.

If it is not your food/money issue, then why not offer a small plate of crackers, fruit, veggies, cheese, etc. It doesn't have to be big.

Because as you said it, it's not my food. The most I could offer is a piece of fruit and even this would be a stretch for 4 people.

I don't understand this? Are you saying that your employer does not keep food in the house? Or does not offer enough food? Does the employer know about the playdate? I don't keep a ton of snackfood in our house (because I don't want to eat it), but there is certainly enough snack for an extra 2/4 year old. I always have a bag of goldfish lying around or a couple of apples.

If there really isn't enough food in the house, then you should ask your MB to buy an extra snack. If money is a concern, then you should tell the other nanny to please bring a snack for her charges in case they get hungry.

No, there isn't always snack food for more than 2 people in their house.

For that short of time, I don't think it is necessary. If I am going to a playdate for that short of time and at those hours I would make sure the kid had snacked before arrival because a snack can take up a lot of time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ages of children?

+1

OP here: kids are 2 and 4. I'm the nanny so any food I would offer would be my employer's.

If it is not your food/money issue, then why not offer a small plate of crackers, fruit, veggies, cheese, etc. It doesn't have to be big.

Because as you said it, it's not my food. The most I could offer is a piece of fruit and even this would be a stretch for 4 people.

I don't understand this? Are you saying that your employer does not keep food in the house? Or does not offer enough food? Does the employer know about the playdate? I don't keep a ton of snackfood in our house (because I don't want to eat it), but there is certainly enough snack for an extra 2/4 year old. I always have a bag of goldfish lying around or a couple of apples.

If there really isn't enough food in the house, then you should ask your MB to buy an extra snack. If money is a concern, then you should tell the other nanny to please bring a snack for her charges in case they get hungry.