It might take some time to get used to the way Americans eat. Just like your culture has its own traditions, eating habits in the USA are different from the rest of the world. Try to be open to new food and flexible to your host family’s lifestyle. A trip to the supermarket with your host parents during the first week might be a good way to start your experience.
But what is American food? Explore the culinary world of American Food: The 50 Greatest Dishes
Remember that the household you join might follow a different diet than what you are used to eating. A family might make different food choices based on personal preference, religion, health or something else.
Household diet can simply be a lifestyle choice. As an au pair you should honor this as part of your host family’s culture.
Some au pairs tell us that they are surprised by the food habits of their host families. For example, it can be common for an entire family, parents and kids, to follow a specific diet. Or, a family might have strict food rules. You might live with a very health-conscious family where children eat fruits and vegetables and no sugar or junk food. A family might only buy certain brands or types of foods and only shop at certain grocery stores. Another family might be less concerned with the ingredients or where the food came from. Your host family might do very little cooking at home and instead order takeout or go to a restaurant a few nights each week.
Some au pairs might be surprised to see the variety of foods made just for kids like macaroni and cheese, pizza or chicken nuggets. What type of food do children eat in your home country?
Breakfast is a daily duty for most au pairs. So no matter the age of your host children, be prepared to get involved in breakfast time. It might be cereal, toast, eggs, fruit or yogurt. You could even try a typical morning meal from your home country.
Preparing and packing lunches for the children are often an au pair’s responsibilities. You might notice that lunch in the USA is smaller than in your home country. A typical lunch for a school age child might be a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a treat. Kids of all ages will eat sandwiches and a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich could be a child’s daily request.
Meal time with your host children can be more than just feeding them. Eating together can be a chance to bond. It’s all about how you spend time together.
breakfast3Even though a snack is not a proper meal, growing children will probably want to snack during the day. Your host parents might say, “the kids always want an after school snack”. But they might also have rules on healthy snacking. Don’t forget to check out our Kids Corner for great snack ideas for kids.
Other cultures often eat their main meal at lunchtime. But in the USA many families come together to eat dinner each night. This makes dinner the largest meal of the day, not lunch as in other cultures. Dinnertime will mostly depend on your host family’s schedule. As an au pair, you might have some responsibility in helping prepare dinner for the children.
Melanie from Switzerland
I would prepare lunch every day because my host kids couldn’t buy food at school. And also I’d bring snacks for the car ride, even though it’s a 30 min drive from school to home the kids were always hungry.