PP here. I do think there is a general expectation that dinner will be provided when a babysitter will be cooking and feeding that meal to her charges.

I have had several nannies over the years. Not one of them expected me to provide lunch.

Early on I thought I was supposed to provide lunch because of what the nannies on this board say. I got tired of buying bread, cheese and lunch meats every week only to throw them away because the nanny had other preferences. When we replaced her because of a need to move from part-time care to full time, I stopped providing lunch and instead offered coffee and other beverages. No one seemed at all put off by that.

The fact that a nanny cannot get out for a sit-down lunch break doesn't obligate the employer to provide lunch. In a prior life, I worked at schools and in other youth development jobs where I could not leave for lunch. I was always expected to bring my lunch from home.

What's the big deal? Have some bread and a couple of "fillers" (tuna, cheese, sliced turkey, peanut butter, etc) available or a couple of frozen dinners. I honestly don't understand why this question comes up or why it is such a big deal to provide lunch for your nanny. We always have some sort of bread in the freezer, soup, frozen dinners and peanut butter at the least.

A nanny cannot leave to go out to lunch so it is generally expected that you will provide lunch.

No.

But you can if you wish to. Or you might if your kids are older and your nanny will be preparing their lunches.

I have always explicitly stated that meals are not included, so everyone is clear. And then that softens over time as I naturally include some of the nanny's preferred things when I shop, make plenty of extra for all of them to have together when I have leftovers, tell the nanny to include herself in recipes I suggest she try, etc...
But especially when my kids were infants the answer was no.

This is so mean. You get what you pay.

The point is that a nanny never gets a "lunch hour" where she can leave your house and go get something to eat. In my industry, when we are on location or have to work through lunch - lunch is always provided.

So silly to assume that a nanny could eat you out of house and home! Most humans have a sandwich for lunch, maybe a few snacks or piece of fruit, and call it a day.

Should offer at least something to the nanny

I am a Nanny , The family offer me food or what ever i want to eat but, I always bring my food an snacks I don't like to get anything from them.

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. I advise you not to offer lunch.
Because some people will eat a regular meal, some others will eat A LOT, and honestly you're not there to feed someone who eats a lot.
Some others will start asking for fancy stuff as well.
You don't want to deal with that.

What is nice though is to offer some snacks and some drinks. It's cheap and pleasant for the nanny.

I didnt say I'd give her meals, but I offered our fridge without thinking it through. She is slim and doesn't eat a lot, but we do have to buy extra everything and grocery shop more often and pay more. She also requests specific stuff that I don't eat. I have also had prepped lunches or meals or last night's restaurant leftovers I wanted to eat disappear, since it was kept in the fridge and of course she had no idea I wanted to eat it later that day. I hate possible confrontation or conflict so I work around it, but I kinda wish I had limited our offerings to beverages and snacks instead of anything in the fridge and pantry.

Anonymous wrote:Do you have to provide lunch for your nanny?
If so why?

no

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have to provide lunch for your nanny?
If so why?

Yes. Because she cannot leave the house to go out to lunch and doesn't get a free lunch hour. Simple.

This.

Yes, this is the only sensible response.

Yeah, I always make sure that the fridge is stocked with food she likes to eat for lunch but she certainly welcome to bring her lunch or order delivery if she wants to.

Anonymous wrote:When we had small babies, lunch for nanny was more difficult since we didn't regularly stock the kitchen for lunch, and the pickings were slim.

Now that there are kids who eat lunch, it's easy and natural for her to eat here, too, although she often prefers to bring her own.

+1 My nannies have always preferred to bring their own lunches, including drinks and snacks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have to provide lunch for your nanny?
If so why?

Yes. Because she cannot leave the house to go out to lunch and doesn't get a free lunch hour. Simple.

This.

Yes, this is the only sensible response.

When we had small babies, lunch for nanny was more difficult since we didn't regularly stock the kitchen for lunch, and the pickings were slim.

Now that there are kids who eat lunch, it's easy and natural for her to eat here, too, although she often prefers to bring her own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. I advise you not to offer lunch.
Because some people will eat a regular meal, some others will eat A LOT, and honestly you're not there to feed someone who eats a lot.
Some others will start asking for fancy stuff as well.
You don't want to deal with that.

What is nice though is to offer some snacks and some drinks. It's cheap and pleasant for the nanny.

You sound selfish, if that's how you think.

I am not selfish at all. I'm trying to think from a MB's point of view.
There's no way I'd want to feed someone who empties my fridge.

What do you mean "empties my fridge"?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. I advise you not to offer lunch.
Because some people will eat a regular meal, some others will eat A LOT, and honestly you're not there to feed someone who eats a lot.
Some others will start asking for fancy stuff as well.
You don't want to deal with that.

What is nice though is to offer some snacks and some drinks. It's cheap and pleasant for the nanny.

You sound selfish, if that's how you think.

I am not selfish at all. I'm trying to think from a MB's point of view.
There's no way I'd want to feed someone who empties my fridge.