How do you deal with food arrangements for your au pair?

[MGMidget]

I am currently recruiting for our next au pair and want to look again at how best to organise the food arrangements. I wondered if anyone who has or has had an au pair could let me know what you agree regarding food arrangements with your au pair?

Previously our au pairs have eaten with us (adults) in the evening, sharing the same meal unless we or they have plans to go out (in which case I tell them what they can help themselves to from a selection that hasn't been earmarked for a meal later in the week). For lunch the au pair chose from a selection of stuff from the fridge (again I advised what they could have and what they should leave). Unfortunately our latest au pair rebelled against this half way through her time with us and has become a bit of a faddy, unpredictable eater who wants to cook separately for herself and wants her own food which has thrown my food ordering and meal planning into chaos! This, particularly because she often doesn't eat the food she's asked me to get her and helps herself to our other food instead.

I'm therefore thinking about how best to agree the food arrangements with our next au pair and would like to keep things reasonable on both sides. What does everyone else do and what rules/restrictions do you set? Thanks!

I would ask her if she has any dietary requirements, food she doesnt eat, etc.

I usually think of things we would eat during a week, let her know and if there's anything she doesnt eat (in our case she doesnt eat fish) I ask her what to buy instead (but she would prepare it herself, I am not cooking 2 separate meals).

Fo lunches, I ask her specifically what to buy her and buy that as I dont want to waste money buying food she may fancy :-)

Your previous arrangement sounds sensible, and very similar to ours. I would stick to a version of that, but perhaps take verap's points into account as well.

I think your old AP was rather unreasonable. Isn't the point that they are part of the family...and no child of mine would get away with that....

Our ap has her main cooked meal at lunch, so she cooks it herself (something simple) and I only make sure that there are enough food for her to use. I ask her before shopping what does she like and need and based on that I do the shopping. For dinner she would have a sandwich or yogurt with cereal. This is her preference so we are fine with that.

Thanks, all good suggestions. We have been asking au pairs what they would like me to get them but the current one hasn't been eating what she's asked for and helping herself to other things instead. I think I'll be more prescriptive with the next one so we don't have chaos in the fridge!