It鈥檚 11:30am on a chilly Tuesday, and the toddler room is buzzing. Children are washing their hands, finding their seats, and chatting about what鈥檚 for lunch. Over in the kitchen, today鈥檚 meal - minestrone soup with cheesy garlic bread - is being served with care, and one child proudly exclaims, 鈥淚 helped stir that!鈥
At Affinity Education, moments like this happen every day. And they鈥檙e a reflection of something deeper: our commitment to safety, wellbeing, and giving every child the best possible start in life. With the launch of our new Winter Menu, we鈥檙e proud to continue supporting healthy habits and warm, nourishing mealtimes in our centres across Australia.
Designed with Care, Backed by Evidence
Our Winter Menu has been created using - a world-leading nutritional education and preventive health initiative tailored for early childhood education and care providers. This powerful tool helps us align with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and ensures every meal we serve supports the healthy development of growing children.
Meals are planned to be colourful, comforting, and packed with seasonal produce. From salmon frittata with veggie sticks to Italian-style shepherd鈥檚 pie or fruit-filled oat clusters for morning tea, every dish is designed to give little learners the energy and nutrients they need to thrive - especially during the cooler months.
鉁 Did you know? Feed Australia helps childcare providers like ours deliver healthy, balanced menus while promoting a lifelong love of nutritious food.
Cooked Fresh Daily, with Love
At most of our centres, dedicated onsite cooks prepare meals fresh each day. These team members do more than follow recipes - they form an essential part of our education and care team, bringing passion, safety knowledge, and a deep understanding of children鈥檚 needs into every dish they serve.
鈥淚 love seeing the look on their faces when they try something new,鈥 says Maria, Centre Cook at Papilio. 鈥淔ood is such a big part of their learning journey.鈥
Our mealtimes are guided by care and inclusion. Children with allergies or special dietary needs have their meals clearly labelled with Food ID cards, while vegetarian, Halal, and cultural preferences are respected and catered for. You鈥檒l often see centre placemats noting individual dietary requirements - because every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and included at the table.
In some centres, families are asked to provide their own lunchboxes. Where this is the case, our teams work in partnership with families to support healthy choices and food safety practices, always aiming to maintain the same level of consistency, care, and education around nutrition.
Pur茅ed Options for Babies
For babies beginning their solids journey, freshly prepared pur茅e options are available daily. Made from seasonal vegetables and fruits, these soft textures and gentle flavours help little ones explore food at their own pace in a calm, familiar environment.
Educators follow each baby鈥檚 individual routine, offering warmth, patience, and connection during mealtimes. It鈥檚 about so much more than feeding - it鈥檚 about trust, security, and supporting those earliest moments of independence.
Food as Culture, Learning and Connection
Food is one of the most powerful ways to celebrate diversity. Some of our centres are Halal approved, and all work closely with families to cater for cultural and religious dietary requirements, such as no beef or vegetarian preferences.
We also see food as a rich learning experience. During meals, educators chat with children about the ingredients on their plate, where they come from, and how they help our bodies grow strong. Children are encouraged to serve themselves, try new things, and practise social skills like patience, turn-taking and saying thank you.
It鈥檚 these everyday experiences that help build confidence, independence, and healthy habits that last well beyond the early years.
Safety Comes First
Food safety is a non-negotiable part of our broader safety commitment. From hygiene protocols to staff training and allergy awareness, our approach goes above and beyond to keep every child safe during mealtimes.
Our educators and cooks follow strict processes and undergo regular checks and audits to ensure nothing is left to chance. This includes allergy management, kitchen hygiene, supervision during eating, and clear communication with families about what鈥檚 being served each day.
Explore the Sample Menu
Wondering what鈥檚 on offer this winter? Download our sample Winter Menu to see what a typical week could look like in one of our centres. Please note, menus may vary slightly between locations to reflect local preferences and centre facilities. Your Centre Manager can provide a personalised weekly menu if your child is already enrolled.
Looking for a centre near you? Use our Find a Centre tool to locate an Affinity Education service offering nutritious meals, a safe and inspiring environment, and Australia鈥檚 most advanced early learning curriculum.
Because Every Bite Matters
When children eat well, they learn well. And when families know their child is being nourished with care, intention, and love, they can feel confident in their choice of care.
We鈥檙e proud of our Winter Menu - and even prouder of the teams who bring it to life every day in our centres. Because at Affinity Education, we鈥檙e not just feeding children. We鈥檙e building healthy futures.
Want to join a team that cares deeply about children鈥檚 wellbeing? Explore careers at Affinity Education.