Explore the culture of food while caring for your host children.
In this section we look at food in America and the impact it has on culture and family. There are major differences between the food you will eat in the USA and food you are used to at home. Your body will notice a change and it will take a while to adjust to a different diet and a new way of eating. For example, changes in diet and food can mean you feel tired. Almost everything about food is different in the USA. Give yourself some time to get used to things. Stay open to this change; experiencing new things is part of the fun.
Planning and preparing meals will be a major part of your responsibilities as an au pair, so you will need to understand healthy food options for kids. Your host family may have strict rules about what your host children should eat. And since thinking of new ideas for mealtime can be difficult, we also include some tips on how to stay creative.