Nanny preparing food

[JuneShowers24]

Now forgive me for a stupid questions, but I am hiring a Nanny for after school pick ups and a few hours after that a few times a week. I’m meeting someone later who will hopefully be suitable.

What sort of thing do you expect them to prepare the kids for tea? Pasta and sauce? Obviously I don’t want them to be so preoccupied with food prep that the kids aren’t getting any attention, they are 3 and 5 and I manage to make meals. Or do I leave batch cooking like a frozen chilli out? (I am just thinking that puts another demand on me to prep extra food somewhere).

Also with their hours do you just give them a set number of hours? Ie I think I’d like 2.5 hours each evening, or do you play it by ear a bit? How do you usually do it?

We’re not within easy walking distance of the school so I’ve asked they let me know what they charge re mileage?

Anything else I’ve not considered?

Im a bit nervous they’ll have 5-7 hours a week work and it’s not very much to offer?

Hi, I'm a nanny who does a mix of full days and after school pick ups for families.

For my after school job which is 3 hours, I really just prepare a simple meal. Eg boil pasta when the mince/sauce is already prepared and I'm just reheating. It really isn't enough time to do full cooking, and as a nanny I spend the majority of my time doing activities with the children and having fun with them.

I only do meal prep when I have full days and can cook while the children entertain themselves for a bit.

Hope this helps!

Re the hours, it's really up to the individual.

I have one day a week only where I do after school, the rest of the week I'm in full-time employment for another family.

For me, a couple of hours over several days wouldn't work because it would mean I can't earn enough; very rarely would you be able to find other work that fits in. But there may be someone whose lifestyle a job like that would suit.

I assume if you've found someone to interview, they must be okay with the hours.

Yes they’ve said they’re ok - I’m worried they won’t last long as they’ll get something else but I guess that’s the risk you take.

It does help, thank you.

If you want her to do anything more than the most basic beans-on-toast type meals I would suggest you ask her working hours to start an hour before school pickup time so she can do all the chopping and peeling etc stuff, get any meal elements made that can be sirted ahead of time, and perhaps also set up some creative play activities or get a batch of laundry on if there's time.

That’s actually a good idea.

Im happy with basic meals, I just don’t want to make a job for myself by pre-prepping something. Hope that makes sense.

If you want her to meal prep having her start an hour earlier seems like a good idea.

In term of practicalities, our nanny does a meal plan for the following week and writes anything she needs us to get for it on our shopping list so we pick it up.

It depends on how engaged she is with the kids. My last after school nanny sat on the sofa glued to her phone whilst the kids watched tv. So I asked her to cook a proper meal.

The previous after school nanny was a bit more engaged, took them to the park, played games etc. So this nanny I asked them to prepare very basic food or I cooked and the nanny reheated.

I’d be so disappointed if that was the case - I’ve asked for someone who will take them to the park from school. My eldest really needs to let off steam after school.

Hi I’m a nanny. I cook a menu of healthy nutritious food. I also batch cook, an wean small babies.

Also most Nannie’s want set hours. I’m very strict about finishing on time and starting on time. If you ever need more hours try to give notice, obviously things come up and I’m fine to stay late in an emergency.

Thanks @SherbetDips for the advice.

If you are cooking later for you and your partner just save some of that for the next day for the kids (you know they only have a couple of spoons each so just cook a bit more of what you are doing) any day there is not leftovers its something on toast - boiled egg, beans, beans and sausages, scrambled eggs or something easily cooked such as pasta with a few bits mixed in - veg and bacon or chicken, what we call an orange tea ie something breadcrumbed (can be homemade) and chips/wedges and veg, maybe preprepared pizza base that is also an activity - spread tomato on, cheese and chopped whatever for their own pizza's. Basically get a list of ideas together that can be made with whatever is normally in, plus the leftover meals should be easy enough for both of you and varied enough for the kids. As kids we always loved a hot dog tea - with proper skinny sausages, fried onion and finger rolls, followed up with fruit and yoghurt. Are the kids on pack ups for lunch or meals? That can mean different meals if only hot food of the day is evening.

Weekdays I keep meals to 30 minutes prepare and cook if I can or 10 mins prep and then cook for a while e.g. casseroles