Live-out nannies and their lunches

[bettina46]

I'm a live-out nanny and will start a job for a new family soon. I've been recently asked what I usually have for lunch. In my previous jobs I brought my own lunches from home although my contracts included lunches provided by employers. I simply didn't want to have a toast with marmite for lunch every day. This time I would like my new employers to provide my lunches as everything is getting more expensive and my wages are the same as they were 3 years ago. I will be looking after a baby so I will not have the same food as him. Can I buy my food and ask for a reimbursement?

Why is you buying some bagels and ham from Sainsuburys different from her buying some bagels and ham from Sainsburys? The cost to you is the same.

holy - If I've already got ham in the fridge then the cost is nothing extra, if the nanny buys extra ham then it costs more and it may not all get eaten.

I agree with Fraktal and Bonsoir. Nanny and baby should be eating pretty much the same thing.

Babies/toddlers shouldn't be having toast & marmite for lunch everyday, they need to experience lots of new tastes.

Did the mother in your last job tell you to feed the child marmite on toast every day or is that all you made of your own choice?

Karoleann If you already have something in the fridge the nanny wouldn't need to buy it would she?! I'm talking about things you don't have. The difference between her adding it to the list and you buying it or her buying it with money from the kitty....that's the difference I'm struggling to understand?

I have been a nanny for 25yrs now , no it is definatley not okkay to buy what you like and then ask for reimbursement!! would YOU like an unexpected extra taken away from your wages??
You eat at the house with the child,,yes you dont want the same marmite everyday. Give it a week or two to see what sort of food is lunchable!! if their fridge is truly bare most of the time (my family's is-I do love em tho!) ask if theres anything for lunch or should you pick something up? i often pick up hummous and a bag of carrots! This will prompt either..oh god sorry, yes of course, heres some change...
or, a look of total blankness! in which case you need to have a word, ask if they could add some tuna or whatever to the shopping list for your lunches.
They should feed you. But you dont expect smoked salmon everyday!
good luck