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I say help yourself. Our babysitter usually raids the pantry while my kids are sleeping!

We just had this first "milestone" a month ago! I told her to help herself to any snacks, ice cream, etc. Earlier this week I knew she came directly from work, so I also told her to help herself to some dinner leftovers we had, and I was very happy when she did.

As a former babysitter, good snack houses were my fave!

@Andrea: same! My MIL doesn't hold back when she watches the kids.

We had a babysitter for most of the afternoon and evening once. She is one of her teachers (sssh, don't tell we aren't supposed to do that) and I asked her what she wanted for dinner. So I had that, then told her to help herself to anything else.

I've never left food out specifically for our sitter (she usually brings fast food over) but I've told her to help herself. She never has. I would never just help myself to a client's pantry

I was always told to help myself but still felt weird doing so.

I felt a lot more comfortable with wording such as, "I bought you a frozen pizza - I also picked up some chips (or whatever) for you if you would like them!"

I always felt weird when I was told "just help yourself". It was much better when the parents would say "This specific food item is yours".

We never actually specified to our Nanny what is and is not okay for her to eat, but we give her $ to buy her own lunch and told her it's fine to keep her food in our fridge. I think she eats a canned soup here or there but for the most part she'll go out for lunch.

Where I babysat, I was always told to help myself!

I told our babysitter that, too, but she's gluten free. Now I pick up pre-approved snacks for her!!

When I babysat I usually brought my own snack but if they left me food I preferred if they pointed out "there are granola bars in the cupboard" or "candy in the drawer." I would never feel comfortable just helping myself to "something" in the pantry.