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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask our nanny to not take the children to Greggs for lunch once a week?

167 replies

headfairy · 13/02/2012 23:27

Dh thinks I'm being precious, the first time it happened I thought "oh we'll, it's just once, it's a treat" (apparently they LOVED it - nanny's capitals, not mine) but she went again today, the third week in a row. The other meal they had today was beans on toast so not exactly bad but hardly the peak of nutrition heights.

Dcs are 2 and 4 btw.

OP posts:

LineRunner · 14/02/2012 21:14

Sorry the thread was originally about very young children, so it should probably stick with that.

But my children were the future of great nutrition once ...

No organic avocado and mango were safe from my ministrations. Sigh.

silverfrog · 14/02/2012 21:15

coffee - dd2 had a visit to Pizza Express last week, as part of 'healthy nutrition'

particularly pointless for her, as she cannot eat most of what is offered by pizza express anyway

but she does have pizzas at home, before anyone jumps on me for depriving her

Original poster

headfairy · 14/02/2012 21:17

coffee did you see the amount of salt in the Greggs pizza? Where does that put it on the nutrition wheel? In life there's pizza and then there's pizza stuffed chock full o' crap.

linerunner if you did all those things why do you appear to be supporting someone who gives junk food to toddlers on a weekly basis? Or did I misread your stance?

OP posts:

iFailedTheTuringTest · 14/02/2012 21:23

Pie sandwich (steak pie) with HP is food of the gods
Must try pasty sandwich

marriedinwhite · 14/02/2012 21:43

When dc get a teeny bit older there's nanny and au-pair gestapo and firm, fair and sometimes fun nanny and au-pair. Our dc did about 6 years of it and they were much much happier with nice, fun nanny and au-pair who occasionally took them for treats at McD's, Krispy Kreme outlet, etc., took them out at mum's expense than with the miserable sort who were not beyond "I haff to give you this, it is vot your mutter vants" variety. Just saying - much happier all round if the dc are happy with their carer once they are old enough to articulate. Of course nothing is better than a lovely, happy, balanced girl who loves children and who is good at cooking but if you have to compromise happ ychildren come near the top

Original poster

headfairy · 14/02/2012 21:50

I don't think my children were particularly deprived before the nanny took them to Greggs, and of course it's a vicious circle because now she's introduced them to it, theyll want it more, which means either I or the nanny has to be the evil cow who makes them eat broccoli and doesn't let them eat junk regularly. If they didn't know they existed, they wouldn't feel deprived (for a few more years at least)

OP posts:

LineRunner · 15/02/2012 01:05

OP, I think it's that 'for a few more years at least!' that's spot on. You can probably have your DCs in food nirvana for only so long ... eventually someone breaks the spell.

And sorry about before, to anyone who took the grump with me - I had had a very very bad day at work.

ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 15/02/2012 01:51

Headfairy - the cheese & tomato one is a bit lower in salt, maybe they have that. Also - do they have one each or one between them? I've never had one simply because I didn't know they did them, I don't get past the veg pasties but they look quite big for kids the age of yours - so maybe they're only getting .8g of salt not 2?

Anyway, you can still ask her not to go so often if that's what you want.

Other people posting things like - she only works 3 days she should grow her own corn, have you considered that if she work 2 days somewhere else she might have the be growing her own corn for the full week - never eating out/on the run?

Also, the people saying 'make the nanny do the Food Police job, you give the treats' - do you even stop to think that it's actually important the nanny gives treats (doesn't have to be food) and isn't the one always doing the boring stuff, making them do things they don't want to do - if you want your children to have a good relationship with them and be happy?

choceyes · 15/02/2012 09:51

Is it not possible for them to have a good relationship with their nanny and be happy without the nanny giving them "treat" food?

Blondeshavemorefun · 15/02/2012 11:52

i still think if your nanny works 3 days a week, she doesnt need to go out for lunch once a week at your expense

nothing wrong with going out for a meal as i said before it teaches children nice manners and how to behave in public etc but maybe going somewhere that serves healthier food should be talked about

exaspomum · 15/02/2012 12:28

Headfairy. If YOU don't stick up for what's best for your children...... Greggs' pizza probably has a load of salt in it. Of course your (tiny) DC will love it. We're programmed to like fatty food and the more heavily processed food we eat the more we develop an appetite for it. They're your children.

Bogeyface · 15/02/2012 13:01

Chipping, the fact that the nanny may work somewhere else is not the OPs concern. Working 3 days a week is a short week and doesnt necessitate going out of lunch at least once imo. And saying that the kids wont be happy if nanny doesnt give them treats is ridiculous. They didnt know about Greggs pizza til the nanny introduced them to it, so they didnt know that they were missing anything.

As Blonde says, going out for meals is good in that it teaches them how to behave in public, manners etc but eating a slice of pizza in a shopping centre is hardly "eating out" is it?! I would have a bigger problem with my child sat in a buggy in some shopping mall eating his lunch than the actual lunch itself tbh!

pranma · 15/02/2012 13:37

YANBU they are too young to have that every week-home made pizza is much better and you can control salt etc.The nanny could make a game of 'assemble your own pizza' I often do that when I mind dgs [2 and 5].We roll out the dough and have little bowls of stuff for toppings.The pizza's are not beautiful to look at but they are healthyish and enjoyed.

coffeewhitenosugar · 15/02/2012 19:56

Headfairy, I didn't see the salt levels until now so apologise - I agree with you , maybe as an occasional treat but not once a week, I also agree that as you are paying her you can make the rules and she should follow them.

Cherriesarelovely · 15/02/2012 22:04

Meant to post here earlier today OP. I agree with you. I know it isn't a "world crisis" as one person wrote but I wouldn't like it for my DC. I think once a week is too much and I also think it is lazy of the nanny to take them to a cafe once a week when she is only looking after them for 3 days, that ought to be your perogative. I'm not being rude about your Nanny, I was one myself when I was younger and I'm sure she's lovely, it's just that I there are some things that are very important to us as parents, nutrition being one. I would have absolutely NOT liked it if someone had taken DD to McDonalds once a week for instance. I'm not posh and I know that like Linerunner says she will make her own decisions when she is older but while she is young I want to do the best for her that I can.

aquashiv · 15/02/2012 22:06

My Nanny takes ours to bloody M&S I have said millions of times I dont give a rats arse give them a bit of bloody fat please they are vegi to boot they need stoodge fat and a wee bit of shit food to appreciate the wonderful creations I feel compelled to create if I really have to.

LineRunner · 16/02/2012 01:04

cherries, I think I went a bit mad with disillusionment yesterday.

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