To spend £3 per meal per child?

[VaseofRoses]

My mum (an ex-nanny) is going to look after my 2 year old and my friend's 5 year old every Friday. This is obviously really nice of her and although she is insisting on not taking payment I want to make sure she is not out of pocket for meals. I have no idea what is fair but want to offer something and ask my friend for something too. I was thinking £3 per meal. This is in London and will be nice food.

Would like to canvas opinion! Can I ask, how much do you think you spend on food per meal for a child?

[BackforGood]

Does totally depend what you are expecting to cover. I mean, clearly you wouldn't spend £6 on ingredients for a meal just for a 2 yr old and 5 yr old, even if it were a cooked dinner. Presuming the 5 yr old would be in school for most of it, then it's going to depend how early you are dropping and how late collecting - is it a snack after school or is it a full cooked meal? Would your Mum be making something anyway for herself (and anyone else who lives in the house) or are you expecting her to cook stuff just for the dc? Are you expecting lots of milk, fruit, snacks etc ? If it's not a 'full cooked dinner' then stuff like eggs or beans on toast cost even less.
However - if you are both getting a day's free childcare (saving £70 ish??) then it would seem churlish to scrimp on what you offer for the meals.

[MarthaMonkeynuts]

You could send with a packed lunch

[Pinkheart5915]

I would give £3 per child per week.
Your mum will be able to cook a good meal for that for a 2 & 5 year old, I mean how much can they possibly eat for dinner or lunch?

Ask her to tell you if she plans to take them out any week, so you can give her more to cover the meal out.

I think it's lovely your mum offered to have them

[EveOnline2016]

Your mother is an adult and if she doesn't want payments she doesn't want payments.

How about getting her something really nice, for me it would be an iTunes gift card.

[OhSoGraceful]

I think it sounds about right, but make sure any extra outings, bus fares, etc are also covered. Might not be every week, so could be done on an ad hoc basis, but it would be nice if she didn't have to worry that extra activities would leave her out of pocket.

[WorraLiberty]

Seems like about £5 per meal per child might be better given the responses above

What?? They'll be mostly eating in and she's going to need £10 or £20 to feed them?

Are you sure they're kids and not horses?

[endofmytethertake100]

I'm assuming 5 year olds at school in which case she'd have just your child during the day. My mum has helped occasionally when DDs nursery or school had inset and despite offers she refused so I just used to treat her with flowers meals etc.

[endofmytethertake100]

I suppose it depends what you can afford. If she was going to park and doing picnic lunch £3 is fine if she's going out to play centre and dinner obviously more. If you can afford it just leave extra incase they do something more expensive.

[Spandexpants007]

I think £10 per child to cover snacks, meals, toddler groups, ice creams in the park. The money should cover the cost of your mum eating too

[VaseofRoses]

Thank you everyone. OP here. In response to questions

• This is just for the kids' food not mum's as well
  
• She will be taking them EVERY Friday. Mostly eating in I expect but not always
  
• She doesn't need to be a registered childminder, no
  
• Thank you to those who felt my mum was being taken advantage of. I will pass on your concerns :)
  

Seems like about £5 per meal per child might be better given the responses above.

[Peasandsweetcorn]

What is this supposed to cover? Your mum's food as well or just that of the children? Just the food element or elec/gas too? Will your friend's child be having lunch at school?
I wouldn't expect to spend £15 on food for a 5yo. Just thinking it through (based on what 6yo DD will be eating tomorrow)

Drinks
1 pint milk (during course of day) - 25p
Water - free

Breakfast
2 X weetabix - 25p
Banana - 20p

Lunch
Cheese & tomato sandwich - 60p
Apple - 20p
Yogurt - 40p
Chopped carrot, cucumber, pepper - 40p

Tea
Chicken casserole with peas & rice - £1.50
Kiwi & strawberries - 75p

Snacks
Hot cross bun - 40p
Pasta pesto - 50p
Satsuma - 30th

So about £5.50 all in and that is with an extra mini meal of pasta pesto as DD has sport after school on a Monday.

[strongswans]

I think £3 for home cooked meal would be fine, but theres snacks to, sometimes lunch/snack out I would guess. If she is looking after them for free then I agree with Jesabel a kitty per child per week would be a great idea. Gives your Mum the freedom to spend it on whatever she feels they need.

[Sgtmajormummy]

You CAN make a kid's meal for £3 but with basic ingredients and no room for treats or shortcuts. Do you really want your DM to scrimp and save to stick to a budget when she's already offering you and another mother free childcare???

I'd say £5 per day minimum including snacks and adjust if necessary.

[moralminority]

Why don't you and your friend just make a packed lunch for each child? I think if she is taking them out then you should cover her meal too tbh. Just a little thank you for having them both.

[Jesabel]

I'd be giving her a £10 per child "kitty" every week to cover food, softplay entrance etc.

[FreeButtonBee]

Seriously? £3 per meal home cooked is loads! And I worship at the altar of the Ginger Pig and Ocado.

Obviously it's nothing if you mean eating out. Although I can get fish and chips for 2 3yo for a fiver including a glass of milk and ice cream.

[Monica101]

That's per child btw, so £12 for both but I'd round up to £15.

[Monica101]

For a made at home lunch with nice food I'd offer a minimum of £6.

[Viviennemary]

I don't think your Mum should be looking after somebody else's child free on a regular basis. It 's taking advantage really. So the cost of the meal is neither here nor there IMHO.

[Boomingmarvellous]

If it's just lunch a cheese and tomato sandwich and a yoghurt and banana or Apple would be about £3 if at home.

[expatinscotland]

Too little, even if cooked at home.

[grumpysquash3]

How about leaving her with an envelope of cash which you keep topped up. If they are eating out, she can pay out of that (whatever it costs). You could agree on an amount if she caters (£3 per child sounds good. That should cover a small cooked dinner, yoghurt, piece of fruit, snacks)

[coffeeinaredmug]

I am assuming they will be eating in. I would say £10 per week for all food including snacks would be fair.

[StealthPolarBear]

But they won't be eating out, will they?

[Believeitornot]

Taking them out every Friday