To ask the nanny if she would like her own fridge / cuboard and seperate food

[mpje]

Hello,

We have had the same nanny for about two months. Its all going pretty well (third time lucky) and she is lovley and the our three children get on really well with her.

We eat a unprocessed / organic diet that is very healthy but I understand it is alien to most people who eat a "normal diet". I know that she has a normal diet and I don't judge her for that but she may be unconfortable with some of the food in our house and although we've said to just help herself to anything I dont think she realises that some of it is very expensive (she ate two packets of crackers that cost 8 pounds as a snack!).

Would it be offensive to get her her own fridge and cuboard space? She is not live in.

thanks

M

I agree with BoffinMum.

Who cares what she eats if she's a good nanny?

Arf to being "uncomfortable" with your food!

I think discussing crackers is taking it away from OP's intention. Mpje- just ignore the 'haters' - I totally understand your food choices.

With regards the nanny -where is she from - what is her cultural background? It depends entirely on family dynamics- whether she is live in and a 'part of the family' or merely hired help and whether the arrangement includes her food as well as board. If she eats the same meals as you then it doesn't make sense to create an 'us' and 'you' with snacks.

If you are worrying over expensive food being eaten - it is an odd one, you are rich enough to buy expensive food but not rich enough to be generous with it or share it? It make you look like you lack hospitality/generous spirit.

But I am sure you are not thinking of it in that way - I do believe you are genuinely thinking she doesn't enjoy eating this food. And I think that is the point- right?

Perhaps when you go food shopping with her you let her choose her own snacks/food - that way you get the message that there are some snacks for her and some for you. You can always blame DH !

We once had a lodger (child of family friend) and we made the mistake of telling him to help himself to anything . After one big mistake (eating some special chocolate biscuits DH was saving for himself) - we just made it clear that 'help yourself to everything - except this shelf - as this is DH's special 'indulgence shelf'. Problem was solved.

I personally think giving the nanny her own space for food and her own fridge is wonderfully generous - she may appreciate the freedom to put her own food in. You can always do it under the guise of not wanting the kids to eat certain kinds of food but realising she has every right to eat what she wants. But perhaps just ask her if she prefers.

Perhaps also ask yourselves what will DC think if she has her own fridge/cupboard space and how it will reflect on you as people. In the right circumstances - it is a kind act, in other circumstances it is unfriendly/inhospitable.

I suspect it is the hunger pangs from your diet that is making you B so U.

How about a box in the cupboard and another one in the fridge which you can say to nanny you are saving for special occasions. The steak and crackers can be put somewhere safe then. She probably had no idea they were expensive crackers and just had them as snacks, possibly even thinking they'd be cheaper than biscuits.

To soften your blow with the crackers, see these on sale.
www.planetorganic.com/planet-organic-cheezy-kale-cracker/22534/
£4.99 each, but BOGOF and 10% off if you buy 5 or more. Free delivery if you buy more than £50 in products.

And ask yourself if creating an us/them dynamic over food will lead to you quickly needing to seek nanny no4...

Why on earth would she be uncomfortable with the food being around the place?!?

You told her she could help herself. You made your own bed and you can't really change your mind now without looking rude.

If you don't want her to eat the crackers hide them away somewhere.

She doesn't sound that uncomfortable with it. She's tucking right in!

aspirational crackers :)

Oh darling you are so unreasonable..

£8 on crackers

We don't eat at all in this house AND we only breathe in pure oxygen from canisters so not to taint out lungs.

I wouldn't pinch kale crackers a second time. Bleurgh

I wouldn't pinch kale crackers a second time. Bleurgh

Probably why they are on sale.

Thanks for the link kitkat.
I never heard of Pink Himalanan Salt before but I'm sure it makes all the difference to crackers.
How the rich live!

And the kale crackers have that himalayan salt too!

Those almond based crackers don't just have any salt...pink Himalayan salt

OP, my comment still stands, ask her what she'd like you to buy for her, she will be pleased I'm sure, but yes like pp said, you can't tell her not to touch your 'special expensive foods' as this is rude/treating her as a second class member of your household. If you can't afford £8 crackers for all, buy cheaper crackers, or just bring them out when you are alone.

I would assume she's also letting the children eat the same thing. Most nannies eat with the children they care for don't they. A pack of crackers between 1 adult and 3 children wouldn't last long would it?

Do you have enough other food in the house? Or just loads of crackers? If there's not much else then maybe she feels crackers are he only food for lunch really? Fill the fruit bowl, avocados, Greek yogurt, fresh meat and fish, vegetables etc. What are your children eating for meals?

We also eat a very 'clean' diet in general. But we always have a large choice within that in the house, so anyone over has a selection of what to eat. Always have lots of Fruits and veg, fish, chicken, legumes, rice, various dairy products, nuts and seeds etc. Lots of options for meals and snacks for ourselves, guests or babysitter
( we also have ice cream!)

And I agree, either everyone eats the same, or everyone cheaper if it's unaffordable. You can't be selecting who eats what. And you will be wanting her to eat the healthy products available with your children surely

I took so long to type, I see I'm not the only one at the pink salt

If she doesn't live in, then I'm not sure why she would need her own cupboard - obviously a good idea if she did live in though. However, you could still have the conversation about you being aware that you are aware your 'diet' isn't to everyone's taste and would she like you to get anything in for her, or for you to leave a tenner every now and then for her to get some bits and bobs that are more to her taste?

It is very gracious of you op not to judge your nanny for her normal diet

DH bought some pink Himalayan salt in TKMax. I still don't really know how I feel about it. I think it's far saltier than the normal people salt.

PMSL at aspirational salt from TK Maxx!

"As a natural source of sodium, Himalayan salt provides an essential mineral for healthy bodily functions."

www.livestrong.com/article/26690-health-benefits-himalayan-salt/

Small print:
"Despite its high mineral content, Himalayan salt is primarily a source of sodium, and excess sodium consumption can lead to a host of health problems."

No kidding.

Also:
"In addition to sodium, Himalayan salt is relatively high in iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and chloride."

Who'd have thought that sodium chloride (NaCl) would have chloride? Relatively high too.
Or... 50-50 sodium and chloride?

It's all full of chemicals, I tell you.
Your organic food too.

Without getting distracted by the aspirational crackers...

On a purely practical point, we have two fridges because that's how the kitchen was set up when we moved in. The small fridge holds stuff like milk that you need all the time, and most of the kids food - yoghurts, cherry tomatoes, that kind of thing.

The bigger fridge holds all the drinks, salad, and generally all the stuff that DH and I eat, food for the whole family at weekends etc. It works really well because I meal plan a lot, so I can pop things into the small fridge on days the nanny is working (she's also live out), and know that I still have the ingredients for what i was planning to cook later. She also knows what is there for the kids without having to rummage.

We have a snack tin full of stuff the kids like, where I put biscuits and cakes that I don't want to be tempted by. Bread bin, fruit bowl etc is all fair game for whoever fancies it.