Au pair problem...I feel ridiculous posting this but

We always ask 'what food do you like?' and this AP answered 'everything except offal'...but failed to mention that she is on a perpetual diet and thus will not eat the same meal as everyone else (although she 'likes it'), and will 'request' mangoes, papaya, fresh pineapple and berries whilst the rest of us have boring (cheap) banana and apples all week.
I think it is so tough though, because the agreement is that the host provides the food..and you don't want to be seen as being a bad host (particularly when they are looking after your kids).

Start meal planning and put post-its on things that are earmarked for meal plans. Is there any way that you can have a cupboard for 'her' food?

Some people do just have exceptional quick metabolisms and do eat a lot. Others are like me and are very cheap to keep! Maybe include it as a question in your next recruitment cycle - what foods do you like?!

People saying their au pairs have no "off limits" food - do they know certain food is off limits? Have you told them not to eat certain things and they do anyway?

If it's impacting on your finances, can't you tell her that? I would just explain how expensive things are - ask her to lay off the meat, and have pasta or toast for her extra meals.

I was very relieved to read this thread-our last AP was exactly the same.Would polish off two punnets of blueberries (bought only for DD)as a "snack" and also had 4 meals a day.She added "red meat" to the shopping list and despite stuff being available in the freezer,only used what was visible in the fridge.it was hugely expensive and also annoying.Fortunately she had to leave due to family problems and I have to say,despite the juggling,have enjoyed being AP-free for the last 12 weeks.
Hope the next 7 weeks fly by for you and your next AP isn't as greedy hungry.

Good Lord I would have thought she was Obese putting away that amount. Astounded she is not overweight!

Her stomach will be busted - so bad to overeat like that, frying food at 10pm

Ours eats small amounts of very expensive food (ie. not big bowls of pasta, or cereal but lots of exotic fruit, piles of veg and bagged salad..) I think she is no/low carb all the time so is costing us at least £50 a week in food alone, maybe more (I'm scared to add it up) and I know prices have risen this year but it feels crazy. She also does the 'no food is off limits' thing, to the extent of 'helping' me unpack the shopping and racing off with the treat that I have bought (whether it was bought with her, me, dh or the kids in mind). She also thinks nothing of eating all the veg in the house during the day so I have nothing in to feed the kids when I get home. Although, for the first time, this week she noticed we were low on bread and bought a small loaf - and that's not for her because she doesn 't eat carbs. (Obviously I re-imbursed her).

So, yes, it is a problem that other families have

We only have a few weeks to go with this AP so are just biting the bullet for now and hoping the next one is not similar (our first was very normal, ate similar to us, bought herself little treats if she wanted them).

I do get the feeling from our AP that she feels that we can afford to give her whatever she wants (from other things she does as well, eg. if we have a (rare) take away and ask what she wants it will always be the most expensive thing on the menu). So I would guess we have a combination of not understanding how much stuff adds up to, plus thinking that there is an unlimited budget plus an obsession with healthy eating.

One thing I have tried is putting up a weekly menu plan for the kids evening meal - which meant she left the food I need for them..but then she ate a few bits and pieces that dh had bought for himself (dh hadn't been affected much before but is now baying for her to leave as soon as she finishes her english course - that's what happens when you eat a man's stilton )

I would worry about bulimia if ours had the same eating pattern as yours though! (Unless she's a bodybuilder or spends all day at the gym!).

I know that I would find it difficult asking an AP to eat less (because as you said, if they are hungry they should eat) but might find the courage to point out that most people have 3 meals a day , not 4 and that if she continues to be so expensive you might need to find an alternative to an AP, and point out some cheaper filling up type foods/offer to get her some own-brand cereals or something.

Could she be bulimic?

My sister is facing the same thing with her au pair. I must first point out that we grew up in a household where food was never an issue and my mother was the kind of person who would feed the entire street if she could. So we are not stingy about food by any means.
My dsis's au pair eats like there is no tommorow and it is costing my sister a small fortune. She too has resorted to hiding food in her room. My sister is particularly annoyed because on the very rare occasions that the au pair buys food she does not like anyone to eat it. My sister now buys cheaper food from lidl, but it can get quite expensive. The au pair is also getting 150 pounds for a three days a week, so she is getting paid well.
OP i would politely ask your au pair to clear up after herself.

She could be doing some form of comfort eating?! This isn't unusual when people ar homesick (although I guess she's been with you for a while) or stressed for some reason. Does she seem otherwise okay?

My aupair was like this. It sounds awful but I used to hide food in my bedroom. I bought her food/juice from Lidl for the stuff she used to eat/drink loads of (eg. she used to drink 4 large cartons of juice a day!! In the end I bought squash). Sorry I can't think of an answer for you but I it's strange that we'e experienced the same thing.

I would suggest menu planning for the dcs meals - and writing this down, and then telling the ap that this food is off limits.

and then just fill the rest of the fridge with cheap crap!

luckily you only have 7 weeks left

There have been threads like this before!

Young adults eat an awful lot - a lot more than small children and older adults.

That does sound like an awful lot! If she's still quite young though some teenagers do just seem to get through an amazing quantity of food. If you have said she is welcome to whatever food is in the house then that might be a learning experience for next time - or even now, if you have bought something especially for a weekend meal then just say "hey - we're saving this for X so please bear that in mind".

For the last few weeks I suggest getting in a big bag of porridge oats (or instant porridge if she can't manage that), weetabix, jacket potatoes, etc... filling quick and cheap carbs!

Hmm...I was a nanny for a long time and I never "expected" to have anything prepared for me, but then again I didn't live with the family.

I'm not sure about the food, but as far as making a mess goes, you could just say "Oh, we're going to need you to make sure you put your dishes away and wipe up. Thanks!" As long as you say it with a smile there's no need for her to take offense.

Is she overweight? Not that it matters, but I'm genuinely curious about this.

Have you talked to her about this? She may have not realised yet how her eating habits may be affecting the family.

She may have a quick metabolism, so providing plenty of carbs will help (and also keep your bills reasonable). Providing meat for her everyday is reasonable.... if you do the same for your family.

Just buy a load of cheap crap and see if she does the same thing. It will cost you less money! Then teach her how to use the dishwasher.