Anonymous wrote:Am I supposed to provide lunch for the nanny, or generally does a nanny bring her own lunch?

Don't go there. It becomes a BIG mess and hassle.
Nannies should bring their lunch, especially if they are watching more than one child or children over the baby age.
Cooking oneself a "hot lunch" is quite the job perk. We found with our first nanny the "eat what you see" privilege got out of hand as she'd ignore the kids and cook herself veg, rice, and salmon, chicken or other things all the time and my grocery frequency and budget went up a lot. I did not have time for that.

Anonymous wrote:It's a toss-up.

I am a Nanny & most of my employers tell me I can help myself to anything in the kitchen.

And I sometimes do, but within reason.
Meaning perhaps a piece of fruit.
I would NEVER eat the last bit of something as is basic common sense.

I usually provide my own lunch just because I always have felt a little weird raiding a refrigerator that isn't my own.

If you prefer not to provide lunch to your Nanny, then you should discuss this w/her since she may take it as a given that she can eat your food while working.

This makes sense to me - basically follow common sense and don't eat the last of the good leftovers.

My nanny is welcome to anything in my kitchen (although even DH shouldn't eat my restaurant leftovers without permission) and I always point out leftovers I think she might like. Although she often brings her own food, it's probably about 50/50 our food vs. her food.

She's been with us 4+ years. It's never been an issue.

Anonymous wrote:I treat my nanny like a professional. You want guaranteed hours, bonuses, paid leave, etc. like me, then you bring your lunch JUST LIKE I DO!

My first nanny this never came up - she always brought her own food. Our new nanny was not only eating our food, but eating the food I had prepped for dinner or ate the last of something. She doesn't do any grocery shopping or make anything beyond mac n cheese - DD for the most part eats leftovers from what I've made the night before.

She doesn't sound like a good fit.

I treat my nanny like a professional. You want guaranteed hours, bonuses, paid leave, etc. like me, then you bring your lunch JUST LIKE I DO!

My first nanny this never came up - she always brought her own food. Our new nanny was not only eating our food, but eating the food I had prepped for dinner or ate the last of something. She doesn't do any grocery shopping or make anything beyond mac n cheese - DD for the most part eats leftovers from what I've made the night before.

I alway take my own lunch with me since I never feel comfortable eating their food and some times share my food with the children and I bring a containerful for whole family. My boss never offers or says help yourself. She wastes a lot food by not getting eaten though. I eat couple slices of apples if the kids don't eat, sometimes. I already have fruit smothies and eggs before going to work. All my nanny friends eat at work, 95% of the time since thier bosses are ok with it. I just don't feel comfortable since I know food is to my boss.... Like water is to a camel. I'm fine with it and doing it for 6 years.
She did mentioned to find things to eat during hiring process but after I learn about the family, I decided, no thank you. Everyone is happy this way. I don't eat much, I'm 115 lb lady and I don't mind packing my own food.

Every family is different and offering a light lunch makes nanny feel appreciated I guess. I wouldn't be ok with nanny cooking for an hour and half for her and baby instead of spending quality time with the child/children

Generally offering lunch to nanny will be the best thing because there here to look after our kid. So it's our responsibility to provide them their needs. Some nannies bring lunch with them.

My nannies have always preferred to bring their own meals because they are on a particular diet or prefer their own cooking or ethnic meals. I make sure I have meals and snacks ready for my children so the nanny rarely has to cook but only heat up the food if. The nanny is welcome to make herself juice, soda, milk, toast and eggs, fruit and yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and milk, etc. from my supplies. They rarely do.

I am a nanny and I provide my own food while supplementing, such as butter or mayo. I also charge more than most. I would prefer a decent wage and to provide my own foods.

No.

If my job requires cooking for the children, then I was always encouraged to eat with them and did 90% of the time, unless I was making them something I don't like. With younger kids or kids who I feed leftovers the parents cooked I tend to bring my own lunch and supplement with something from their fridge occasionally. I'm always welcome to tea/coffee/snacks/fruit and I don't think I've abused this invitation.

In my jobs, I do the grocery shopping, and I make all the food for the kid(s). So I eat what the kid(s) eat. I buy it, I prep and cook, darn tooting I am going to eat with my charges. Of course, before the babies are eating "real food" I bring my food, since I tend to work for people who don't grocery shop much and order take out every night.

I have found that if I bring my own meals with kids 9 months+, they want to eat my food. And the options of either constantly saying "No, this is my food!", or of sharing and therefore paying for a charge to eat out of my pocket are both distasteful to me.

So I make a serve meals I would also want to eat. And my charges generally are happy to try something new when I am also eating it. Grilled cheese, red peppers and hummus, spicy roasted cauliflower, and honey mango? They love that stuff!

Of course, I also have good manners. I don't ever eat the last of anything, I ask before considering eating any "adult meal" leftovers and graciously accept "no" as the answer, plus I always leave the parents with "ready to eat" foods for the kid(s) on the weekends.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the yes people - it is pretty classless not to offer your nanny lunch. To you no people - if your nanny forgets her lunch should she go hungry?

I don't think anyone is suggesting that, or barring the nanny from touching any food.

Exactly. Why does everything have to be so black and white? We don't provide lunch for our nanny, but the occasional time she doesn't bring lunch, she is welcome to eat whatever she wants in our house. And besides that, she is welcome to our drinks, snacks, etc. so long as it doesn't look like something that will get turned into dinner. If I happen to be around, I will buy her lunch while I'm buying mine. Just did it ten minutes ago. No one wants their child being cared for by someone fainting with hunger! Sheesh we're not stupid