Anonymous wrote:Long time host mom here. I’ve never made an issue about what food my au pair buys with 2 exceptions: 1. If they are buying lots of junk food that we don’t normally keep in the house like I tell them to keep it away from the kids and 2. If they are buying lots of food that they don’t use I say something. But I’d never object to a specific food like salmon. Vitamins I’d say you’re on your own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We deliberately match with APs who are vegetarian/pescatarian. We buy what they ask for except junk food. If we buy something special we don’t eat (e.g., okra), we make a point of saying it’s on them to finish it. If they don’t - we don’t buy again unless they can articulate a meal they are going to make within the week.

Fried okra! (The only fried food I eat anymore, and since it’s only twice per year...)

Okra is the one vegetable I just cannot stomach. I think with APs, you want them to take ownership over a food that isn't typical for your family, so that there isn't food waste. Like, OK, I am gonna buy this giant thing of blueberries at Costco for you, but the kids do not like blueberries, and we do not normally blueberries, so you gotta eat or freeze these puppies for smoothies during the week, otherwise they are going to go to waste, and they're like $8.00, so it's not a casual purchase for us. If she asks for something that other people like (strawberries, avocados, bananas), it's a no-brainer. We try to avoid "aspirational" shopping -if we are buying stuff nobody eats, we do not buy it again (have thrown away too many artichokes, wild mushrooms, and fennel bulbs to count because nobody feels like cleaning and prepping).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We deliberately match with APs who are vegetarian/pescatarian. We buy what they ask for except junk food. If we buy something special we don’t eat (e.g., okra), we make a point of saying it’s on them to finish it. If they don’t - we don’t buy again unless they can articulate a meal they are going to make within the week.

Fried okra! (The only fried food I eat anymore, and since it’s only twice per year...)

Okra is the one vegetable I just cannot stomach. I think with APs, you want them to take ownership over a food that isn't typical for your family, so that there isn't food waste. Like, OK, I am gonna buy this giant thing of blueberries at Costco for you, but the kids do not like blueberries, and we do not normally blueberries, so you gotta eat or freeze these puppies for smoothies during the week, otherwise they are going to go to waste, and they're like $8.00, so it's not a casual purchase for us. If she asks for something that other people like (strawberries, avocados, bananas), it's a no-brainer. We try to avoid "aspirational" shopping -if we are buying stuff nobody eats, we do not buy it again (have thrown away too many artichokes, wild mushrooms, and fennel bulbs to count because nobody feels like cleaning and prepping).

Why would you buy a Costco sized blueberries and then make a huge stink if they don't eat it all? Get a normal sized container.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We deliberately match with APs who are vegetarian/pescatarian. We buy what they ask for except junk food. If we buy something special we don’t eat (e.g., okra), we make a point of saying it’s on them to finish it. If they don’t - we don’t buy again unless they can articulate a meal they are going to make within the week.

Fried okra! (The only fried food I eat anymore, and since it’s only twice per year...)

Okra is the one vegetable I just cannot stomach. I think with APs, you want them to take ownership over a food that isn't typical for your family, so that there isn't food waste. Like, OK, I am gonna buy this giant thing of blueberries at Costco for you, but the kids do not like blueberries, and we do not normally blueberries, so you gotta eat or freeze these puppies for smoothies during the week, otherwise they are going to go to waste, and they're like $8.00, so it's not a casual purchase for us. If she asks for something that other people like (strawberries, avocados, bananas), it's a no-brainer. We try to avoid "aspirational" shopping -if we are buying stuff nobody eats, we do not buy it again (have thrown away too many artichokes, wild mushrooms, and fennel bulbs to count because nobody feels like cleaning and prepping).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We deliberately match with APs who are vegetarian/pescatarian. We buy what they ask for except junk food. If we buy something special we don’t eat (e.g., okra), we make a point of saying it’s on them to finish it. If they don’t - we don’t buy again unless they can articulate a meal they are going to make within the week.

Fried okra! (The only fried food I eat anymore, and since it’s only twice per year...)