Hello Carpediem16,
Thanks for your note. That sounds about right to me. One thing I appreciated recently was a homeowner saying to read whatever books I liked from her library. She recommended the one had just read. I finished it during the sit and we messaged about it and other books. Delightful!
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We have learnt to tell people in advance that we don’t drink alcohol, as hosts often leave wine for us or offer wine or beer if we’re having dinner with them 
They’re always a little shocked/curious why we don’t drink. Just not interested, is all. Neither of us like the taste and just have no interest in it. Give me coffee anytime though and I’m a happy girl 
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@carpediem16 and @Mary_Poppins I’m the same. I’m a vegetarian and really don’t want a home cooked meal left for me. I’m also extremely picky about my produce and I don’t want to eat the host’s leftover produce. It’s typically past when I would eat it and it gets tossed. I enjoy grocery shopping and prefer to choose my own food.
I have had a few hosts leave me grocery store gift cards which I love! And of course, I’d never say no to a bottle of wine. I’m enjoying the bottle of prosecco that my current host left for me. 
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I rarely eat hosts’ food, even when there’s a stocked fridge and pantry and I’m invited to. If I find produce, cheeses, etc., that will spoil before my hosts’ return, I’ll put it in the freezer. That way they can make smoothies, sauces, etc., after they return. Or they can toss it then.
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We haven’t experienced that, but we did have one sit where the fridge was so full, we had to go to the grocery store daily because there was not enough room in the fridge to accommodate more than one day’s worth of food. I gave the host feedback about that after the sit.
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Same, @Nagy26 . 
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We all have to accept there are many personality types in every human interaction: some of those will irk us, some we’ll find funny, some we will identify with.
No Home/Pet Owner is obliged to provide food for the sitter.
HOWEVER a lot depends on the convenience of food shopping at the Sit!
IF your home is not near markets vs in a town where a short walk means lots of options, leaving a little more stocked will be helpful.
Consider that in most cases the Sitter is arriving to an unfamiliar place, responsible for the care pets, the safety of a home: thoughtfulness begets thoughtfulness!
As Home Owners we did a welcome lunch or dinner, left enough for at least a morning meal, and left notes for Sitters to use whatever they liked in the kitchen cupboard (drygoods, canned goods, spices) and anything in the fridge (veg, fruit, condiments, dairy) but not the freezer or pantry.
Now as Sitters with loads of experience, our observations:
Should go without saying
(1) Basics for prep (oil, vinegar, spices, tea or coffee, butter/margarine, condiments)
(2) Clear notes about what the Sitter can use freely usually including fresh veg & fruits, baked goods, etc that wouldn’t last for the HO return
(3) Room in kitchen cabinets & fridge for the Sitters groceries
Quite often
(1) Enough for at least the Sitter’s first meal (this takes many forms - some HO make a welcome meal, some invite Sitters out for a meal, some ask ahead for dietary preferences and simply leave things)
(2) A “thank you” treat is often left - could be a bottle of wine, basket of baked goods, etc. Nothing big but something welcoming.
(3) AND along the lines of what you’re saying, some HO ask, “Would you like us to leave you some milk, eggs, bread, fruit, salad things?”
On the flip side, as Sitters we do the same for the returning hosts.
Enough for a meal when they first get home, things for breakfast in the morning!
Small thoughtfulnesses can make a big difference to both sides!
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Agree 100%. Both sides should feel they’ve had a good experience, neither side should feel taken advantage of - and when a host is generous, it’s lovely - but also lovely for a Sitter to show consideration to that host!
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I always leave items for my sitters and I say this: I always like to leave a few staples and snacks for our sitters. Would you please share any likes, dislikes or dietary restrictions?
Some of my sitters eat it all but a lot don’t touch it. But it still makes me feel better to leave them something.
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@Maggie8K
“For context, TJ’s is popular among many Americans and foreign visitors.”
To add a bit to the TJ’s info. TJ’s is owned by Aldi Nord - which is not the same as Aldi in the US which is part of Aldi Sud. The 2 Aldis split in the 1960s, reportedly over a rift between the Albrecht brothers over whether to sell cigarettes. And the disagreement reportedly was not about the health issues but because selling cigarettes would make for more shoplifting in the stores.
There is some common sourcing of product lines and there were talks about merging Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud in the early 2020s. But that didn’t happen.
A bit more - Aldi Sud acquired Winn-Dixie, a mainly southern US chain of supermarkets in 2024. A year later Aldi Sud sold Winn-Dixie to a grocery distribution company.
Which is more that anyone might want to know. And this all started with a discussion of grocery gift cards for sitters.
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In addition to TJ’s, Sprouts or many of the independent natural grocers are great for house sitters or Airbnb guests because the bulk item sections allow you to purchase only the quantity you need. This is especially valuable when buying seasoning, and having the ability to purchase by the tablespoon or individual bay leaves
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Yup. There are various stores that offer buying that way — some local stores, as well as chains. There also are ethnic shops where spices are sold for a fraction of the price vs. at normal supermarkets.
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Randomly saw this today, about the ever expanding obsession with Trader Joe’s:
Maybe bring some as gifts for hosts, if you’re a sitter who’s into that?
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Tangentially, on my last sit, I bought Trader Joe’s treats for my sit dog and asked his humans whether it was OK to give them to him. They said sure. He ended up obsessed with them. I’d shake the bag and he’d come rushing in from the backyard, where he often liked to hang out. Made me laugh.
When I got home, I got some for my own dog, to see whether he might like them, too. Turns out he’s obsessed as well. For instance, I give him one when he returns home from a walk. He leaps up to the couch and instantly jumps on me when he sees and hears the container I’ve got them in.
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Thank you so much for this tip! I love cooking and was losing a lot of money buying new spices for sits - I am not comfortable using those of the host unless specifically invited, and when traveling internationally undeclared spices can get you into trouble (often you CAN bring them, you just have to declare them, but I don’t want to travel with oils, vinegar, etc). I didn’t know some stores will let you buy just enough for a recipe - I will definitely try this out on my next sit!
It would be cool to have a thread called “Cooking while Sitting”. Maybe I’ll go start that now…
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It is really thoughtful of you to ask. I have many intolerances recently diagnosed and I would provide a list if asked just to make sure there is nothing going to waste. That doesn’t mean I expect to get every single item. None of my THS have asked and honestly I found it really rude to come to an empty fridge and a pantry full of expired items that I cant make one meal with. In England a pet-walker charges 50gbp or more for pick up, walk of 3 hours and drop off per day!! So a welcome meal is not going to break the bank and will make the person caring for one of the most important beings in your life very welcome.
While I cant comment on the reasoning behind the extensive, detailed list of your sitter, chances are they are just providing guidance for you to choose from. In any case, you are doing the right thing to ask and offer something. Sitters are not employees. Despite getting “free” accommodation, caring for pets with a specific routine a 3rd party has designed is HARD work. Some people show they are appreciative while others really need a reality check.
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