Anonymous
01/15/2016 00:28
Subject: Re:Nanny eating our food.
Live-in nanny here. I understand how this would annoy MB/DB, especially with a live-out nanny who is supposed to bring her own lunch.
Let me offer a different perspective. Part of my compensation is room and board, and I'm willing to sign a contract that states that it's "reasonable" costs for board. The last family for whom I did a trial showed me where my food was stored when I arrived: on the floor in the pantry. I was allowed 7 cubes of ramen, 2 boxes of corn flakes and 4 boxes of cheap mac and cheese per week. I wasn't supposed to touch anything in the freezer or refrigerator, nor anything else in the pantry, and if I bought anything, it would have to be stored in the pantry as no food was allowed out of the kitchen. (From the way the kids descended on everything in the pantry while I was standing there aghast, I assume that anything decent that the nanny got might have ended up being eaten by the voracious horde.) That was their idea of reasonable. I walked right back out the door and called the cab back because there was no way I was going to stay with a family who considered me living with them and eating with them such a huge inconvenience and expense. Unfortunately, I've had other trials in which the family decided that they wanted to dictate my food choices (usually crap), but nothing else to that extreme. I eat healthy food, and I'm there to reinforce manners and nutrition, so I eat with my charges 2-3 meals per day; I'm not going to make cauliflower/potato mash, grilled salmon and asparagus spears for my charges then sit and eat boxed junk while they eat whatever healthy options I made.
There are a lot of ways to approach this issue without making it a big deal. Once it becomes a big issue, there's no going back.
Let me offer a different perspective. Part of my compensation is room and board, and I'm willing to sign a contract that states that it's "reasonable" costs for board. The last family for whom I did a trial showed me where my food was stored when I arrived: on the floor in the pantry. I was allowed 7 cubes of ramen, 2 boxes of corn flakes and 4 boxes of cheap mac and cheese per week. I wasn't supposed to touch anything in the freezer or refrigerator, nor anything else in the pantry, and if I bought anything, it would have to be stored in the pantry as no food was allowed out of the kitchen. (From the way the kids descended on everything in the pantry while I was standing there aghast, I assume that anything decent that the nanny got might have ended up being eaten by the voracious horde.) That was their idea of reasonable. I walked right back out the door and called the cab back because there was no way I was going to stay with a family who considered me living with them and eating with them such a huge inconvenience and expense. Unfortunately, I've had other trials in which the family decided that they wanted to dictate my food choices (usually crap), but nothing else to that extreme. I eat healthy food, and I'm there to reinforce manners and nutrition, so I eat with my charges 2-3 meals per day; I'm not going to make cauliflower/potato mash, grilled salmon and asparagus spears for my charges then sit and eat boxed junk while they eat whatever healthy options I made.
There are a lot of ways to approach this issue without making it a big deal. Once it becomes a big issue, there's no going back.
Anonymous
01/14/2016 23:32
Subject: Nanny eating our food.
I'm a nanny, and the family I work for continuously eat my food because I cook and they don't. It's gets very annoying because I plan and calculate my meals, but they also gave me a credit card so I can replenish without using my funds. It does sound petty but it's annoying when you're expecting some ice cream or to finish leftovers without cooking and it's gone! I finally started asking the dad if he want me to buy extra food since he's so fond of mine.
Anonymous
01/14/2016 22:01
Subject: Re:Nanny eating our food.
Is she fat?
Why does that matter? No, not really.
Anonymous
01/14/2016 21:20
Subject: Re:Nanny eating our food.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm having similar issues. We have a part-time nanny who works 4 hours AFTER lunch. She eats a lot of our food. We definitely noticed full on snacks, bags of chocolates, half a banana loaf going down in one afternoon quite early on, and didn't really think it was that big of an issue. But then it became our meals -- for example, half a lasagne (enough for our family of 4) would disappear in one day -- so yeah, we had no dinner and had to scramble to find something else. We never said the nanny could help herself to our food, except for the occasional baked good I made and as much coffee as she likes (she begins after lunch after all!). Neither of our other nannies ever did this. It's awkward and weird, and we know it would create major tension if we mentioned it. I get the impression that some nannies think that just because you have hired them, you must be rich and can afford to give away all these extras, but that is not the case with our family...it's more of a "childcare costs as much as quitting, but at least if I don't quit, I'll have a job when I no longer need childcare" kinda deal. Anyhoo...more of a rant in a place where people have shared the same problem. I don't think there is an easy solution.
....and to add more...we have a kid with food allergies, so we have to cook most of our stuff from scratch so we know what we are feeding her. Be nice if we didn't have to cook EVERYTHING from scratch EVERY single day, especially when we had had made extra with a plan on using leftovers for dinner. My husband and I both work full days and often have to bring work home...busy, busy, busy.
Is she fat?
Anonymous
01/14/2016 21:17
Subject: Re:Nanny eating our food.
Anonymous wrote:I'm having similar issues. We have a part-time nanny who works 4 hours AFTER lunch. She eats a lot of our food. We definitely noticed full on snacks, bags of chocolates, half a banana loaf going down in one afternoon quite early on, and didn't really think it was that big of an issue. But then it became our meals -- for example, half a lasagne (enough for our family of 4) would disappear in one day -- so yeah, we had no dinner and had to scramble to find something else. We never said the nanny could help herself to our food, except for the occasional baked good I made and as much coffee as she likes (she begins after lunch after all!). Neither of our other nannies ever did this. It's awkward and weird, and we know it would create major tension if we mentioned it. I get the impression that some nannies think that just because you have hired them, you must be rich and can afford to give away all these extras, but that is not the case with our family...it's more of a "childcare costs as much as quitting, but at least if I don't quit, I'll have a job when I no longer need childcare" kinda deal. Anyhoo...more of a rant in a place where people have shared the same problem. I don't think there is an easy solution.
....and to add more...we have a kid with food allergies, so we have to cook most of our stuff from scratch so we know what we are feeding her. Be nice if we didn't have to cook EVERYTHING from scratch EVERY single day, especially when we had had made extra with a plan on using leftovers for dinner. My husband and I both work full days and often have to bring work home...busy, busy, busy.
Anonymous
01/14/2016 21:08
Subject: Re:Nanny eating our food.
I'm having similar issues. We have a part-time nanny who works 4 hours AFTER lunch. She eats a lot of our food. We definitely noticed full on snacks, bags of chocolates, half a banana loaf going down in one afternoon quite early on, and didn't really think it was that big of an issue. But then it became our meals -- for example, half a lasagne (enough for our family of 4) would disappear in one day -- so yeah, we had no dinner and had to scramble to find something else. We never said the nanny could help herself to our food, except for the occasional baked good I made and as much coffee as she likes (she begins after lunch after all!). Neither of our other nannies ever did this. It's awkward and weird, and we know it would create major tension if we mentioned it. I get the impression that some nannies think that just because you have hired them, you must be rich and can afford to give away all these extras, but that is not the case with our family...it's more of a "childcare costs as much as quitting, but at least if I don't quit, I'll have a job when I no longer need childcare" kinda deal. Anyhoo...more of a rant in a place where people have shared the same problem. I don't think there is an easy solution.
Anonymous
08/11/2015 11:34
Subject: Nanny eating our food.
I would honestly hate if my nanny ate our food, and it is something I was actually thought about before she started (fortunately, it was never an issue because she brings her own food). My feeling is that I work full time and only have time to go food shopping on the weekends, and even then I only get enough food for me and my husband to eat. I am already paying her enough and I dont think I need to pay for her to eat lunch (my employer doesnt pay for my lunch!). Its not really about being cheap, but if you want a true employment relationship (as do many on this board (i mean there is even a thread about offering your nanny maternity leave!)), then dont eat my food.
Anonymous
08/11/2015 00:48
Subject: Nanny eating our food.
Anonymous wrote:I've been a nanny for 15 years, and 99.9% of the time, I take my own lunch to work. I also wait to be told that I'm welcome to make a sandwich or snack, if I need to. This has always been the case, with all my positions. In my current position, the MB has not offered. In this situation, I tell myself I'm going to a country of famine, and even if I have to stay up late and cook, I do so. It's too expensive to spend $15 to order in, if I forget my lunch. On those days, I tell myself I'm fasting. I chalk it down to a cultural difference. Now, for the nanny who's eating leftovers (that grosses me out), as others have suggested, ask her what snacks she likes to eat.
Same poster here. I also wanted to add that I've had parents eat my food, when they've specifically stated that I could leave items in the freezer. It actually wasn't a problem. Was I a tad irritated?... Yes, but we were raised to never quarrel about food, so I just find or make something else to eat.
Anonymous
08/11/2015 00:37
Subject: Nanny eating our food.
I've been a nanny for 15 years, and 99.9% of the time, I take my own lunch to work. I also wait to be told that I'm welcome to make a sandwich or snack, if I need to. This has always been the case, with all my positions. In my current position, the MB has not offered. In this situation, I tell myself I'm going to a country of famine, and even if I have to stay up late and cook, I do so. It's too expensive to spend $15 to order in, if I forget my lunch. On those days, I tell myself I'm fasting. I chalk it down to a cultural difference. Now, for the nanny who's eating leftovers (that grosses me out), as others have suggested, ask her what snacks she likes to eat.
Anonymous
08/08/2015 19:20
Subject: Re:Nanny eating our food.
I never understand the nannies when it comes to these posts. I've been a nanny for 9 years now and I have NEVER gone to town on a families food or snacks and I would CERTAINLY never eat their leftovers. Sure, I've helped myself to some goldfish crackers or a cheese stick, etc. if the kids are having some but I've never raided their pantry or eaten a full on meal of the families. I always bring my own food with me. It's weird that some nannies think its okay to do this.....
Anonymous
08/08/2015 12:03
Subject: Nanny eating our food.
Let her know what she can have, or when you have specific plans. The leftovers are for another meal but you're welcome to this and this.
Anonymous
08/08/2015 10:20
Subject: Nanny eating our food.
Anonymous wrote:In other nanny board all the nannies complained abt their MB who only have organic foods in the fridge, who only have dry crackers in the cabinet etc etc. Now I know the reason why the MB do that.
Are they all overweight? Most healthy people I know appreciate organic options.
Anonymous
08/08/2015 01:55
Subject: Nanny eating our food.
Anonymous wrote:In other nanny board all the nannies complained abt their MB who only have organic foods in the fridge, who only have dry crackers in the cabinet etc etc. Now I know the reason why the MB do that.
How much snacking are these nannies doing?! My nanny brings her own lunch and eats a piece of fruit (of ours).
Anonymous
08/08/2015 01:32
Subject: Nanny eating our food.
Yuck, I have to agree.
Perhaps put your leftovers and other food you do not want your nanny to eat in a bottom drawer and/or bottom shelf, in the back.
Any food that you don't mind she eats you can put in a certain part of the fridge and tell her she is welcome to eat anything in that designated area.
Any normal person would get that hint.
Perhaps put your leftovers and other food you do not want your nanny to eat in a bottom drawer and/or bottom shelf, in the back.
Any food that you don't mind she eats you can put in a certain part of the fridge and tell her she is welcome to eat anything in that designated area.
Any normal person would get that hint.
Anonymous
08/07/2015 17:49
Subject: Nanny eating our food.
In other nanny board all the nannies complained abt their MB who only have organic foods in the fridge, who only have dry crackers in the cabinet etc etc. Now I know the reason why the MB do that.