Nanny food

[BellaTata]

Hello everyone,

I started a new job about 3 months ago, Tuesday - Friday 40 hours.

I try to eat healthily and I've recently put on weight so I making a conscious effort to eat right.

At work the mum sets a menu and makes the children food at the weekend then gets them out of the freezer each day.. Which I'm happy with. However for my meals I'm getting a bit fed up of eating eggs, cheese and bread most days. Would it be acceptable for me to use the kitty money to buy a tin of tuna of a piece of chicken or something small each week? I don't mean steaks or anything fancy, just something to put with a salad or on a potato. The children also like tuna but even when I put it on the shopping list it rarely gets bought.

Any suggestions?

Yes but why are they not adding such things to regular shopping list? Are meals part of your agreement?

Ideally I would say you should try to eat with the children and eat the same as them. Do the parents not let you cook for the children?

Can you not just bring some of your own bits with you? Eg tins of tuna, cooked chicken in a tupperware.

Yes I do eat at the same time as the children and with them, but not often the same unless it's scrambled egg or occasionally pasta.

I cook once a week but the mum tells me to give 'a' a portion then freeze the rest. Should I just help myself to a portion? It's usually fish pie, spay Bol, etc.

They have chicken and mince etc in the fridge but I'm assuming that's for the parents evening meals so I don't just want to help myself.

I often finish at 5 so I'll just eat after I've been to the gym. But at lunchtime I would like a bit more variety, especially with the cold months coming up.

I will read over my contract tonight, but nothing was said about meals so I assumed it would be like all the other jobs I have and they provide my meals when I'm working.

I should add that I don't eat large meals or a lot throughout the day, I'd just like a bit of variety.

I often bring bits I have left over from my evening meal for lunch, but I'm not on much more than a basic wage so I'd rather not be spending it providing my own lunch.

I have to say if I want something different to what is provided, I bring my own food. However I only ever have lunch at work.

Why don't you just talk to them?

If you really don't feel comfortable discussing it, leave them a note.

Just say that you are feeling sluggish because you are eating too much bread and would prefer salad/soup/tuna whatever for your lunch but are wary of using what's in the fridge in case it's for their evening meal. Ask if it's OK to use anything that's there or if the would prefer to get some stuff for you for lunch with their shopping if you put it on the list, or if they would prefer you got it out of the kitty.

It is normal for a nanny to have lunch 'out of the fridge' (& breakfast/dinner if there at that time). You shouldn't need to take your own unless you are wanting steak & caviar - which you aren't.

It's normal for nannies to eat at work.

I would make some soup, baked potatoes with fillings etc. But charges usually eat the same also.

Are the freezer meals for lunch or children's dinner?

Can you suggest you make more meals for children to save parents time? Ask if they can leave recipe if it's something particular, or just say you will add a list of ingredients each week on side that you have noticed they are low in, so you can cook and bake with the children the following week

Are you their first nanny in which case they may not know that it is normal to provide light meals for the nanny, you could say to them that you have realised you should of bought it up at interview but is it ok for them to provide you with lunch/ you to have lunch the same as the child or if not can you buy a few bits each week from the kitty give examples of what things you are talking about.

Ok, I think first you need to talk to them to find out if they expect to provide your lunch (and don't be shy about saying this is normal practice/has been the case in all your previous jobs, as they may not know the ropes as eeyore says). You need to get this agreed in principle really before you can talk about it any further.

Then, assuming they are happy to provide your lunch, have a discussion about how best to go about that - eg should you add your lunch items to the shopping list or use kitty or eat a portion of what you cook for the kids etc.

If you don't overdo it then the employers won't mind.

Our first nanny did take it too far, we had to buy fresh mango, fruit, smoked salmon and expensive foods, etc for her. She also ate food that was labelled glutenfree (I am severely allergic) and I only realise in hindsight that she was really a bit odd in her attitude.

Current nanny just takes what she fancies out of our fridge or cupboard and she can literally take what she likes (she never takes my glutenfree food by the way): tomatos, potatos, tuna tins, corn tins, frozen fish, fresh veg and fruit. She also buys herself little things, like a latte or nice tea, sweetner etc (little creature comforts) from the kitty and I have absolutely no problem with that as an employer; actually think that is quite nice and shows she feels at home.

I also ask her to feel free to just do top up buys when she needs something for herself or our child; she also leaves me notes as to what I should include in the weekly shopping. That is up to her discretion and I happily do as I am told for her because she is very nice, normal and relaxed about it.

Nanny work long hours and need to be well looked after. So, I can't see that your employers will object.

I am with previous posters.
If you aren't happy with what is on offer for lunch you should bring your own.
Even if lunch is included in your contract it will probably say that you are expected to have whatever they provide.

A salad, sandwich, wrap, etc is easy and cheap, or you could batch cook more substantial meals such as lasagne, chilli, shepherds pie, casserole, curry, etc, then divide into tupperware and freeze them, if you make it from scratch an make it go a long way it wont cost too much.

I am a daily nanny who eats her main meal when she goes home. I sometimes bring bits of food from home (tin of sardines, fruits etc.) looking after a baby at the moment.
I would talk to the mum and see what she expects. It should be part of the contract. That employer provides tea, coffee, light snacks etc.
If the children are old enough it helps if you all eat the same to be honest.
Have had a family in the past where the mum always left food for them. The children would want what I was eating. Also I find children usually more like
To eat freshly prepared food.

Chislemum you sound lovely :) It is the way it should be.

WeAreEternal

If you aren't happy with what is on offer for lunch you should bring your own

No, what is 'on offer' for lunch should be reasonable & up for discussion. It is part of her 'deal'. If it is reasonable but the nanny wants caviar & lobster then she should take her own.

If I had a nanny I would anticipate that he or she would have something along the lines of sandwiches, soup, pasta or salad for lunch and make those items freely available in the fridge. My child would be having similar and it is what I eat myself on a day at home.

If they wanted something particular on top of that I would expect them to bring it with them eg if they were on a particular diet. I would be a bit to start providing chicken breasts for lunch.

Half the problem seems that you don't cook for the children so you feel guilty about using stuff in freezer

Maybe suggest to mum you are happy to cook their meals - tbh must be boring for you to get a frozen meal out every day

Are you tier first nanny or did they go to a cm
Before? Seems weird parents cook all meals and would be nice to have fresh food sometimes

I have always had in my contracts that I can eat 3 meals a day - work till 7isj - tho I rarely eat tea as have that at home - but it's nice to know I can iyswim

I eat what I give the children - whether jackets pasta Sandwich meat fish veg fruit etc

Or start a shopping list and put oN Fridge