meet the menus.

Our customised menu packs provide long day care centres with everything they need to serve nutritious, balanced meals year round. Simply choose the pack that matches your season.

why services love our menu packs.

  • save time.

    No more hours spent planning, checking guidelines, searching for recipes and creating shopping lists.

  • feel confident.

    Menus are designed by dietitians to meet the Victorian Menu planning guidelines for long day care and Australian Dietary Guidelines.

  • cut food costs.

    Seasonal ingredients and smart planning help reduce waste and make budgets go further.

  • keep children happy.

    Recipes are simple, tasty and designed for real childcare kitchens.

  • stay consistent.

    Even if staff change, your service can keep serving nutritious, balanced meals every day.
Shop the menu packs

what's included?

  • 4 weeks of menus with 76 nutritious, dietitian-approved recipes
  • Standard and vegetarian menus scaled to the number of children in your service
  • Pre-planned shopping lists
  • Seasonal recipes to reduce costs
  • Nut-free, culturally diverse, and vegetarian options
  • Menus that meet the Menu Planning Guidelines for Long Day Care, align with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and support Quality Area 2 of the National Quality Standard accreditation

what services say about our menu packs.

  • "The children formed an advisory group to discuss the menu and gave it a thumbs up!"

    - Jessica Matthews, Educational Leader, Powlett Reserve Children's Centre and Kindergarten

  • "Yum, I want to tell my Mum to make this" (Falafels with cous cous and salad)

    - Sam, Powlett Reserve Children's Centre and Kindergarten

  • "Wow, I like this one. I wouldn't change anything" (Beef and veggie rissoles)

    Rohan, Powlett Reserve Children's Centre and Kindergarten

how it works

  • 1. choose your seasonal menu pack

    Pick the Summer/Autumn or Winter/Spring pack that suits your service.

  • 2. tell us your number of children

    Simply respond to the email we send you after purchase so we can customise all recipes and portions for the number of children requiring standard and vegetarian options.

  • 3. download your menus

    Download your customised 4 weeks of menus, recipes and shopping lists.

  • 4. shop, cook and serve

    Everything is ready to go — no planning, no stress. Healthy menu planning for long day care has never been this simple!
Shop the menu packs

frequently asked questions.

What’s the difference between the two Menu Packs?

The Summer/Autumn Pack includes fresh, lighter recipes using warm-weather produce. The Winter/Spring Pack includes warm, comforting meals for cooler months and spring favourites. Both packs meet the Victorian Menu planning guidelines for long day care, align with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, and include the same number of recipes and tools.

Can you customise the menu for my service? 

Yes. We adjust the portion sizes based on the number of children in your centre each day. After purchase, you will receive an email asking for the number of children eating from the regular and vegetarian menus each day. We will customise the recipes and shopping lists to align with the number of portions required.

Do the menus meet nutrition guidelines?

Yes. All menus have been assessed using FoodChecker by dietitians to meet the Victorian Menu planning guidelines for long day care and align to the Australian Dietary Guidelines. You can feel confident knowing your centre's food provision aligns with the National Quality Framework's regulations and standards related to Quality Area 2.

Are the recipes allergy-friendly?

The recipes included in the menus do not contain nuts, however, the onus remains with each long day care centre to check all products and labels for allergens, prevent cross-contamination and practice appropriate allergy & anaphylaxis management.

What if my cook changes?

Your menu pack includes clear recipes and shopping lists, so any staff member can step in and follow the menu easily.

Do I need special ingredients or equipment?

No. All recipes use everyday ingredients and work in real childcare kitchens.

How do I get my Menu Pack?

After you place your order, our team will contact you to confirm the number of children in your service so we can customise all portions and recipes correctly. Once that’s done, we’ll email you your personalised Menu Pack with everything ready to download — menu, shopping lists and all 76 recipes.

Can I buy both packs?

Yes! Many services use both packs to plan a full year of nutritious menus that make the most of seasonal ingredients.

Are the menus adapted for all allergies, cultural alternatives, babies and transitional ages from puree to whole foods?

Our Menu Packs are designed to meet the Menu Planning Guidelines for Long Day Care, which outline the minimum food group serves for children aged 1–5 years.
The guidelines do not cover children under 12 months, so the menus are not designed for babies or for the transition from purees to whole foods.

Services can make ingredient swaps for allergies, intolerances or cultural preferences, and the Menu Pack includes general guidance to support this.
Please note that if substitutions are made, the menu may no longer meet the Menu Planning Guidelines, as it is not individually customised for specific dietary needs.

A vegetarian menu alternative is provided.

For more support with managing allergies and intolerances in long day care, visit the Healthy Eating Advisory Service website to access free resources and online training, developed in partnership with the National Allergy Council.

shop dietitian-approved menus for ECEC.