Haha...How cute. Typical kid. Loves the novelty effect of it all. Lol.

Anyway, I am a nanny and my charge is the exact same way, he LOVES what I bring, even if it is similar to what his own refrigerator has inside. Go figure!!

His parents know that he ends up eating my lunch and snacks so what they tell me is that since he eats up my food that I am simply welcome to anything in their kitchen.

Problem solved. Easy peasy.

Anonymous wrote:My charge, 16 months, does this too. The little face goes into my lunch bag like, "what are we having today?" Very cute. And then he and I sit and eat "our" lunch. The same when I buy a muffin and juice for myself when we are out - I always have to get the little man his own straw!

I dont expect to be reimbursed for this at all - but it is kind of you to even ask about it, OP.

I like the way you describe your time with your charge, PP. It sounds like you really enjoy him!

MB here.

At first, I was going to say not to reimburse since she is choosing to share her lunch, in spite of you stocking similar foods for your DS that she could use. But then, thinking it through, I think giving the nanny a grocery gift card and telling her it is thanks for her generosity would be a great thing.

Another possible idea is maybe getting a special lunch box for both of them so they can prepare lunch, from the food in your house and pack it together like a daily picnic. It's potentially slightly more work for the nanny, but it might be a nice solution for a charge who wants to share "our lunch".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Instead of giving her money, maybe you should suggest she start eating her food on a plate preparing the same food for herself and your son from your fridge instead of bringing her lunchbag.

This is what we started doing when my charge only wanted to eat from my lunchbag. We didn't want bad habits to form.

Also, when my charge did eat some of my food I never would have dreamed of being reimbursed. Not every interaction is a chance for a money grab.

I would not look at is as a money grab as child probably eats minimal amounts but food costs have gone sky high especially for fruits, veggies and such,miso it is nice for op to be concerned.

I wasn't scolding the OP. I agree it's nice for her to be concerned. The first few responders were telling her she should pay which isn't true.
Nanny is choosing to do this and that is fine,but it's not the same as a nanny using her money to buy groceries for her charge.

Buy what she wants to eat and ask her to help herself. People ask me to put on their shopping list what I'd like.