The Official Nanny Food Arrangement Guide

Should I Provide Food For My Nanny?

One of the questions that are very common but is not being discussed often between a nanny and her employer is whether or not the employer should provide food for her. In most cases, no; but it is one of the things that should be discussed during the hiring or on-boarding process. If you are planning to employ the nanny full-time and are living outside the family home, then you would expect them to pack and bring their own meal. Just like you would not be expected to provide food for your landscaper or the staff from your child’s school, you do not really have to provide food for your nanny. If this is the first time you are hiring a nanny, you may be unsure if you are expected to provide food for them or not. We will answer that question in this article.

There is really no norm on whether to provide food for the nanny or not. Some people would provide food because it is the polite thing to do. Generally, the etiquette surrounding this varies by family. If this is your first time getting a nanny’s help, you might be curious about this and ask your mommy friends. The responses you might have gotten from them are different. This is because people do different things. Some provide meals or tell the nanny to help themselves to anything in the fridge or pantry. Some would encourage their nannies to make her own lunch using their groceries. But let’s face it, when you are tired taking care of children, you would not have time to make your own lunch from scratch. The same goes for the nannies. Just to be clear, here are some guidelines you can follow:

• You can offer your nanny a portion of the fridge to store whatever she wants to eat. 

• If ever you provide food for your nanny, be clear on what she can eat and do not settle on the common phrase: “help yourself to anything in the fridge or cupboards!”.

• To avoid having any miscommunication, set aside a dedicated food for your nanny. This can be a basket of snacks or fruits on the kitchen counter or a meal labeled for them in the fridge.

• You can add on the contract if you would like them to have one or two meals at work or if you would like to include a meal allowance for your nanny.

• If your nanny is working late unexpectedly, it is good and very considerate to provide dinner for her and the kids.

Most of professional nannies like to bring their own meals because they feel uncomfortable rummaging through your cupboards and they would not have time to make their own meals while on the job. Some may have dietary restrictions so it will be easier for them to have their own meals. Several nannies just like to have their own meals and eat their own food. Nannies who work with toddlers and school-aged children would probably have a peanut butter and jelly with your kids or eat whatever your kids eat. Ultimately, it varies on the nanny’s preference whether she would eat the food you provide or not. It is also dependent on the nanny’s position.

A full-time, live-out nanny would usually pack her own lunch and would occasionally eat dinner in the family home if you have a last-minute schedule change. A part-time nanny would also bring her own food for lunch or may eat with your kids if she is in charge of the meal preparation. A night nanny usually has eaten their dinner already prior to coming into your home to take care of your newborn so you would not need to provide food for her though it would not hurt to leave her snack to keep her energy through the night. Daytime newborn nannies are usually in charge of preparing meals for the recuperating mother so she would most likely eat with the mother. After all, it would probably be best for the mother to have some human interaction over lunch. It is during the post-partum period when a mom would need a strong social support system to make them less vulnerable to stress and anxiety. Shared nannies who are employed or shared by two families would either eat their own lunch or eat the meal she prepared for the children. A live-in nanny is provided with her own room and usually food. They usually eat with the family they care for and it is very rare that they pay for their own meals. Live-in nannies, especially those tasked with household management, shop for the family’s food and is responsible for meal preparation too so they are expected to eat the same food the family she’s working for eat. A live-in nanny is treated like a family member and therefore eats like a family member too. Families who hire a summer nanny would provide accommodations as well as food if part of their summer plan is to travel with the nanny. In situations where you will be eating out with the nanny, the proper thing to do is to pay for her meal too.

No matter what your food arrangement is with your nanny, make sure that she encourages healthy eating with your children. It is also best if she sits with them and share the mealtime with your children. Having an adult, such as a nanny,  to share mealtime with your kids provides many psychological and social benefits to your children. Regular mealtimes that are shared provide a sense of rhythm and regularity to your children’s lives. This offers a sense of containment and familiarity, and can also evoke feelings of contentment security. Sharing meals also help children to develop their social skills. They learn from behavior modeled by their parents, older siblings, and nannies. Most importantly, your nanny sharing mealtimes with your children will make them feel connected to them, creating a sense of trust. Mealtimes are social times, and it would be a great benefit for the children to see someone enjoying the meal as them, and modeling good table manners too.

Whether or not to provide for your nanny is a discussion point between you and your partner. You may have differing opinions on this matter so it is important to talk about it, especially if this arrangement will be included in your nanny’s contract. Karen’s Nanny Agency will ensure that both you and your nanny have a clear agreement on this matter to prevent future miscommunications in the future. At Karen’s Nanny Agency, we make sure that both parties will have a positive and fair experience within the duration of the employment.

Is it your first time to hire a nanny and unsure of how to start? Call our customer care team and we’ll be happy to answer your questions!