Nutritional Menu

Our menus at Child’s Play are developed by our Centre Cook with contribution from management, educators, children, parents, extended family and the community. We look to recommendations from State health departments and legislation, along with the healthy diet pyramid recommended serves per day and try to cater for a high portion of these for the time your child is in our care.

We cater for children with specific dietary requirements, allergies and anaphylaxis, in full consultation with the family and recommendations in writing from your child’s medical practitioner. We also cater for cultural dietary requirements such as Halal products, vegetarian and vegan. Please discuss your child’s specific requirements with us upon enrolment.

Children also love cooking and the many learning experiences and skills it brings with it. Measuring, volume, adding, taking away, multiplying, mixing colours, textures, smells, money and change are just some of the learning topics covered through cooking. Our rooms try to incorporate a cooking experience once a week when it fits with the safe use of the kitchen. In every centre we also have veggie patches, it is important to teach children where food comes from and how it is used and processed to make the food we eat.

Summer Menu

Drinks are offered throughout the day with meals are Milk and Water and also Water is offered all throughout the day, and is self-served by the children in the age appropriate rooms.

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Breakfast	Assorted Cereals; Weet bix, Rice Puffs or Corn Flakes served with Milk or/and Toast with Vegemite or Jam. Crumpets, English Muffins or Raisin Toast are also sometimes available.
Morning Tea	Raisin toast and sliced Bananas	Fresh fruit & raw vegetable platter with cheese cubes	Yoghurt and Seasonal Fruit Salad	Fresh fruit & raw vegetable platter with cheese cubes	Mango, Pineapple & Banana Bread with Apple Slices
Lunch	Chinese Pork Chow Mein with Steamed Rice	Thai Beef Noodle Salad	Mexican Chicken Taco’s with lettuce, cheese, tomato & sour cream.	Crumbed Fish fillets with mashed potato and mixed vegetables (carrots, peas and corn)	Vegetarian Lasagna includes spinach, beans & zucchini
2nd Course	Sliced Apple & Carrot sticks	Watermelon slices	Orange slices and Grapes	Banana smoothie	Garlic Bread
Afternoon Tea	Mezze nibble platter: cheese, dip, raw vegies, dried fruit, with rice or whole grain crackers	Sultana & Oat cookies served with assorted fruit	American pumpkin pie scones with choice of margarine or maple syrup	Pizza scrolls made with greek yoghurt pastry, oregano, tomato, cheese and pineapple	Vanilla natural yoghurt with seasonal fruit platter
Late Snack 5.30pm	A variety of Rice cakes, fresh fruit, pita bread, vegie sticks, crackers, cheese, dips, raisin bread, sandwiches etc. This is just a small snack for children still at the Centre to help tie them over to dinner time when they arrive home. Fruit Bowls are available to children during the day for them to help selves to fruit if hungry.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Breakfast	Assorted Cereals; Weet bix, Rice Puffs or Corn Flakes served with Milk or/and Toast with Vegemite or Jam. Crumpets, English Muffins or Raisin Toast are also sometimes available.
Morning Tea	Fresh fruit & raw vegetable platter	Corn Bread with Pear and Grapes	Cruskits with cottage cheese, banana and cinnamon, served with apple slices	Raisin toast with Banana slices	Fresh fruit & raw vegetable platter
Lunch	Sandwiches made with selection of cold meat, salad and cheese fillings	Italian Pork Bolognese with a Garden Salad	Beef Stroganoff with potato mash and green vegetables	Indian Butter Chicken with Steamed Rice	Tuna & Mushroom Pasta Bake with green vegie salad
2nd Course	Sliced Apple	Garlic Bread	Sweet Corn Cobs	Mango Lassi (Indian Yoghurt Drink)	Watermelon Slices
Afternoon Tea	Spinach and Cheese Damper	Mezze nibble platter: cheese, dip, raw vegies, dried fruit, with rice or whole grain crackers	Warm Apple and Oats with custard	Corn Flake Cookies with a seasonal fruit platter	Garlic, Cheese and Bacon scones with carrot and celery sticks
Late Snack 5.30pm	A variety of Rice cakes, fresh fruit, pita bread, vegie sticks, crackers, cheese, dips, raisin bread, sandwiches etc. This is just a small snack for children still at the Centre to help tie them over to dinner time when they arrive home. Fruit Bowls are available to children during the day for them to help selves to fruit if hungry.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Breakfast	Assorted Cereals; Weet bix, Rice Puffs or Corn Flakes served with Milk or/and Toast with Vegemite or Jam. Crumpets, English Muffins or Raisin Toast are also sometimes available.
Morning Tea	Vanilla Yoghurt with assorted fruit platter	Fresh fruit & raw vegetable platter	English muffin pizza with assorted fruit platter	Fresh fruit & raw vegetable platter	Rice cakes with Dip & cubed cheese, served with carrot sticks
Lunch	Greek Eggplant & Lamb Moussaka with Cucumber salad	Basa Fish Fillet & Vegetable pie	Moroccan Pork with Basmati rice and Middle Eastern Vegie Salad	Savory Beef Mince topped spuds served with Coleslaw	Apricot Chicken with Brown rice
2nd Course	Watermelon Slices	Apple Slices & Grapes	Pear & Orange Slices	Cantaloupe & Apple slices	Dinner Rolls and Butter
Afternoon Tea	Herb and Cheese Bread served with tomato relish	Vegemite & Cheese Scrolls made with Greek Yoghurt pastry	Mezze nibble platter: cheese, dip, raw vegies, dried fruit, with rice or whole grain crackers	Spiced Apple Muffins & Fruit	Carrot, sultana and Maple syrup loaf served with fruit platter
Late Snack 5.30pm	A variety of Rice cakes, fresh fruit, pita bread, vegie sticks, crackers, cheese, dips, raisin bread, sandwiches etc. This is just a small snack for children still at the Centre to help tie them over to dinner time when they arrive home. Fruit Bowls are available to children during the day for them to help selves to fruit if hungry.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Breakfast	Assorted Cereals; Weet bix, Rice Puffs or Corn Flakes served with Milk or/and Toast with Vegemite or Jam. Crumpets, English Muffins or Raisin Toast are also sometimes available.
Morning Tea	Cruskits & Dip served with Fruit platter	Fresh fruit & raw vegetable platter	Pineapple Rice yoghurt	Herb & Cheese crumpets with Fruit platter	Fresh fruit & raw vegetable platter
Lunch	Italian Basil Chicken & Vegetable Pene pasta	Indian Vegetable Korma Curry	Wraps & Pita bread with selection of cold meats, salads and cheese	Vietnamese pork served with jasmine rice	South African (inspired) Beef Bobotie with potato salad
2nd Course	Garlic Bread	Peach Lassi (Indian Yoghurt Drink)	Seasonal Fruit Platter	Watermelon slices	Flat Bread
Afternoon Tea	Zucchini Scones with chutney & Seasonal Fruit Platter	Warm peach, pear & oats with vanilla yoghurt	Raspberry & coconut loaf served with a Seasonal Fruit Platter	Mezze nibble platter: cheese, dip, raw vegies, dried fruit, with rice or whole grain crackers	Date and apricot muffins served with a Seasonal Fruit Platter
Late Snack 5.30pm	A variety of Rice cakes, fresh fruit, pita bread, vegie sticks, crackers, cheese, dips, raisin bread, sandwiches etc. This is just a small snack for children still at the Centre to help tie them over to dinner time when they arrive home. Fruit Bowls are available to children during the day for them to help selves to fruit if hungry.

Winter Menu

Drinks are offered throughout the day with meals are Milk and Water and also Water is offered all throughout the day, and is self-served by the children in the age appropriate rooms.

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Breakfast	Assorted Cereals; Weet bix, Rice Puffs or Corn Flakes served with Milk or/and Toast with Vegemite or Jam. Crumpets, English Muffins or Raisin Toast are also sometimes available.
Morning Tea	Cruskits with spreads-Vegemite and Jam	Raisin Toast with Bananas	Yoghurt and Seasonal Fruit Platter	Strawberry, Pear and Vanilla Bread	Crumpets with Vegemite / Jam
Lunch	Tuna Pasta Mornay with Vegetables	Beef Cottage Pie with Crispy Mash	Spanish Meatball & Cannellini Bean Soup	Aaroz Con Pollo (Spanish Chicken Tomato base risotto)	Roast Pumpkin, Spinach and Garlic Penne Pasta
2nd Course	Watermelon & Rockmelon	Pear and Grapes	Bread Rolls with Butter	Sliced Apple and Sultanas	Rice Crackers and Cheese Cubes
Afternoon Tea	Vegetable sticks, pita bread, sliced meats & roast capsicum dip	Cheese cubes, dry fruits and salada biscuits	Vegemite scrolls and Apple slices	Rice Cakes with spreads and seasonal fruit platter	Funfetti Cookies and seasonal fruit platter
Late Snack 5.30pm	A variety of Rice cakes, fresh fruit, pita bread, vegie sticks, crackers, cheese, dips, raisin bread, sandwiches etc. This is just a small snack for children still at the Centre to help tie them over to dinner time when they arrive home. Fruit Bowls are available to children during the day for them to help selves to fruit if hungry.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Breakfast	Assorted Cereals; Weet bix, Rice Puffs or Corn Flakes served with Milk or/and Toast with Vegemite or Jam. Crumpets, English Muffins or Raisin Toast are also sometimes available.
Morning Tea	Yoghurt and Fruit Platters	Seasonal Fruit Platter	Ham, Cheese & Tomato Toasties	Banana Bread with Apple Slices	Rice Cakes & Spreads with Seasonal Fruit Platter
Lunch	Asian Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup and Spring Rolls	Beef Lasagne with Garlic Bread	Coconut Fish Curry with Steamed Rice	Moroccan Lamb Meatballs with chick peas and couscous	Vegetable Potato Bake
2nd Course	Dried Fruit Platter	Pear and Grapes	Rice Crackers and Sultanas	Vanilla Yoghurt	Watermelon
Afternoon Tea	Mixed Sandwiches	Cruskits with spreads	Jam Donut Muffins with Seasonal Fruit Platter	Dry Fruits, Cheese Cubes and Rice Crackers	Plum Cake
Late Snack 5.30pm	A variety of Rice cakes, fresh fruit, pita bread, vegie sticks, crackers, cheese, dips, raisin bread, sandwiches etc. This is just a small snack for children still at the Centre to help tie them over to dinner time when they arrive home. Fruit Bowls are available to children during the day for them to help selves to fruit if hungry.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Breakfast	Assorted Cereals; Weet bix, Rice Puffs or Corn Flakes served with Milk or/and Toast with Vegemite or Jam. Crumpets, English Muffins or Raisin Toast are also sometimes available.
Morning Tea	Cruskits with spreads and Pear slices	Raisin toast and Apple slices	Toasted English Muffins with Cheese and Tomato	Apple Cinnamon Muffins and Banana	Yoghurt and Fruit Platter
Lunch	Beef Stroganoff with mashed potato and green veggies	Pumpkin & Sweet Potato Soup	Fettuccini Carbonara	Butter Chicken with Steamed Rice	Corn and Tuna Parcels
2nd Course	Mandarins and dried cranberries	Garlic Bread	Fresh Fruit Platter	Naan Bread	Dried Fruit Platter
Afternoon Tea	Pizza Scrolls	Fresh Fruit Platter with cheese cubes and water crackers	Zucchini Slice	Salads with spreads and Fruit platter	Carrot Cake with Cream cheese icing
Late Snack 5.30pm	A variety of Rice cakes, fresh fruit, pita bread, vegie sticks, crackers, cheese, dips, raisin bread, sandwiches etc. This is just a small snack for children still at the Centre to help tie them over to dinner time when they arrive home. Fruit Bowls are available to children during the day for them to help selves to fruit if hungry.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Breakfast	Assorted Cereals; Weet bix, Rice Puffs or Corn Flakes served with Milk or/and Toast with Vegemite or Jam. Crumpets, English Muffins or Raisin Toast are also sometimes available.
Morning Tea	Yoghurt and seasonal fruit	Rice Cakes with Jam and Vegemite	Raisin Toast and Fruit Platter	Crumpets with Spreads & Fruit Platter	Apple and Date Loaf
Lunch	Roasted Vegetable Risotto	Empire Meatloaf, Sweet Potato mash and mixed vegetables	Tuscan Fish Bake with Rice	Mexican Chicken Tortilla Stack served with Sour Cream	Bacon and Corn Chowder
2nd Course	Water Crackers	Assorted Dried Fruits	Rice Crackers and Cheese	Corn Chips	Apple Slices
Afternoon Tea	Mixed Sandwiches	Custard and Fruit Platter	Pineapple and Coconut Muffins	Vegetable Sticks, Hommus, Crackers and sliced meats	Cruskits with spreads and fruit platter
Late Snack 5.30pm	A variety of Rice cakes, fresh fruit, pita bread, vegie sticks, crackers, cheese, dips, raisin bread, sandwiches etc. This is just a small snack for children still at the Centre to help tie them over to dinner time when they arrive home. Fruit Bowls are available to children during the day for them to help selves to fruit if hungry.

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