One of the nicest food items we e been left was on our very first sit - a gorgeous basket of local produce. Cheese, jam, biscuits etc all made in the local area. Usually though I am happy with some room in a clean fridge
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I’m a sitter and I find an empty fridge unwelcoming too. If I was a home owner I’d leave at least some bread, milk, tea bags, coffee etc. Anything else would feel mean and unkind. Some sitters seem to prefer this though, according to this thread, which surprises me. We are all different… I agree with the OP though. If I arrived to a totally empty fridge I’d feel upset and unappreciated.
During one sit the owners sent me a PDF document with remarks in bold - do not eat! Do not drink! It reflected their whole attitude, which was dismissive and uncaring.
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We never expect it. But we like it when people do!
Leftovers: we wouldn’t welcome an anonymous tupperware of something covered in cling-film - that would wait for its owners! But when there’s half a cake, or various veg/fruit, an avocado, half a bottle of fruit juice (or wine)or half a cheese etc, bring it on - as Colin says, it’s part of the fun!
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Our first sit was similar, and I’ve been managing my expectations ever since! 
The Crews ,We think its a show of consideration to stock the fridge for at least a few days and certainly a welcome pack of local specialities’, some of us have driven hundreds of miles and don’t want to shop the very next day and want to settle in unpack etc.
Edited to stay on topic
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When there’s an invitation to finish perishables, we always take it as ‘stuff that will be out of date by the time we come back’. If it’s not, we don’t touch it.
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Yikes yeah sounds like that person got a bit carried away 
Something similar happened to us but not to that level, but they ate some leftovers that I had left for when I got back, nothing big just some macaroni and cheese, but they were gone when I got back so had to order some food. We just have to be very clear with people, so agreed that communication is key!
I also think sometimes there’s a language barrier. Or I felt like they only read my dogs habits/schedule but not the rest of the house rules or instructions of where to throw away garbage, and no shoes rule (this benefits everyone as they wouldn’t need to do much cleaning before they leave). Even things I explained in person felt like they went from one ear to the other, and again possibly a language barrier or maybe just not listening. 
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Hi Lassie, that is truly kind of you to leave a gift and that’s the kind of person I am. May I ask what types of gifts you leave? Thank you.
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Hi Marian, if I had a sitter I think offering them a gift card would be ideal. Not sure if I would trust anyone’s food, you never know.
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I usually sit cats and discovered a toy called “Cat Dancer” that is popular with almost all cats. I have also left cute dishtowels with animal themes.
When I’m sitting, I don’t mind if the fridge is empty when I arrive. I assume that I’ll get food or bring food if I’m driving to a sit. I just want the fridge to be clean. I also have certain dietary preferences than the standard person, so if they left me milk, I most likely can’t have it anyway! Though, I haven’t experienced an empty fridge just yet. When I receive sitters, I am super conscious about what I leave in the fridge. I try to make sure that it’s bare so they have space for their own food, but I also tell them “whatever they see is fair game, just let me know if something’s out so I can replace it when I get home.” That goes for staples, and frozen items too.
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I don’t expect food, but a HO who’d spend a bunch of time marking a list food off limits and such seems really petty. I’d avoid that kind of sit if I knew, even though I don’t actually eat HOs’ food.
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Exactly this. And I believe that maybe there’s a few people misunderstanding about what “perishables” means.
I thought most people consider that word to refer to fruit & veg, liquid milk, fresh bread… foods that would not stay fresh or desirable after a week.
Now, that said don’t leave your leftovers to rot and get moldy! Plenty of occasions the food had already perished, and was now coming to haunt me!
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As said we feel its a common courtesy to leave a few things in the fridge for an easy first meal and breakfast, + a welcome basket .Many like us have taken a ferry and drive a few hundred miles arriving travel worn and the last thing we want to do is shop. As said this is our holiday . House owners we feel come out of this very well a well cared for home garden pool and importantly that their pets are well cared for for the house sitter travel costs in the hundreds etc. Feel there needs to me more of a balance towards appreciating the sitters.
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I think it depends on the house sit. Some sits are incredibly easy, with maybe a low-maintenance cat, no pool or yard, and a clean house. In that case, I think the exchange is equal or even tipped in the sitter’s favor if it is a very popular location.
I wouldn’t factor travel costs into the analysis, because sitters have chosen to travel. If the HO wants the sitter to drive the dogs 100 miles a day to a dog park, that’s different, but the sitter’s travel to the home location is their choice, not requested by the HO.
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I’m still fairly new but for both sits I bought my own groceries! Didn’t even cross my mind that the owners may provide food. I was just under the assumption that’s something I would need to be responsible for my daughter and I.
Either way, I think if an owner doesn’t leave me groceries I wouldn’t feel not valued. I’m literally in their house using their amenities for free. That alone I think is value enough. For someone to trust a stranger in their space (yes we have backgrounds) but still that takes a lot of trust especially in the times we live in.
Agree with every who said as long as there is room in the fridge and a clean house that’s accommodating enough in my opinion!
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I’m very happy with a clean fridge -even if it’s empty . I’d much prefer a clean empty fridge to one that’s full of mouldy out of date food. 
We’ve had a homeowner say the THS e-Mail says we should throw this away but I didn’t want to throw these ( veggies/ cheese ) away - they are still fresh / in date - help yourself but it won’t last til I get back so if you don’t want it you can throw it away .
Another HO said help yourself to anything in this particular cupboard ( reiterated several times verbally and in a written note when we arrived ) It was full of dry cupboard items biscuits, crisps, crackers etc … and bottled drinks ….more than we could have ever consumed during our sit … we did enjoy a few and marvelled at their generosity … that is until we noticed the best before dates were for a couple of years prior 
we had enjoyed what we’d eaten up to that point ( ignorance is bliss )
Homeowners please, please do not leave already opened half eaten box of chocolates on the side … so tempting yet ….I know if I succumb…I’ll replace with full box and have to go searching for the exact brand … please don’t do that to me …
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We expect nothing and then are pleasantly surprised if there is something. We leave a roasy chicken in the fridge, we wanted our sitters to make our pet the priority not grocery shopping. We gave and expect bathroom supplies. There is no obligation to feed you, it’s a courtesy if it happens and of course they will be rated higher .
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@Lassie Agree with you 1000%!
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But you are getting free accommodation… It’s not like you are not getting anything in return for taking care of the pets