What we feed them.
All meals cooked on site, prepared on site. How allergies are handled, a sample weekly menu, and the everyday details.
The cook
Lorna has been our cook since 2021. She prepares every meal in the centre's kitchen, using a four-week rotating menu that we adjust seasonally. Allergies, intolerances, vegetarian, halal, kosher and culturally specific requirements are accommodated in the kitchen rather than asked of parents.
What we serve
| Breakfast | 7:00 to 8:30am | Toast, cereal, porridge, fruit. For children arriving early. |
| Morning tea | 9:30am | Fruit, yoghurt, occasional muffins or scones. |
| Hot cooked lunch | 11:30am to 12:30pm | Pasta, rice dishes, soups, casseroles, curry, stir-fry. Hot, balanced, on a four-week rotation. |
| Afternoon tea | 2:30pm | Sandwiches, vegetable sticks and dip, cheese and crackers. |
| Late snack | 4:30pm | Light snack for children still at the centre, taking the edge off the trip home. |
Sample weekly menu (Spring 2026)
This is what a recent week looked like. The full rotating menu is displayed in the centre's foyer for current families.
| Monday | Breakfast: Weet-Bix or porridge, banana Lunch: chicken and vegetable risotto Tea: cucumber and cheese sandwiches |
| Tuesday | Breakfast: toast with cheese, apple Lunch: lentil and pumpkin soup with bread Tea: hummus and vegetable sticks |
| Wednesday | Breakfast: porridge with berries Lunch: spaghetti bolognese (vegetarian option: lentil bolognese) Tea: fruit platter and crackers |
| Thursday | Breakfast: Weet-Bix, banana Lunch: chicken stir-fry with rice Tea: cheese and tomato sandwiches |
| Friday | Breakfast: toast with vegemite, apple Lunch: butter chicken with rice (mild, kid-friendly spice) Tea: vegetable muffins |
Allergies and dietary requirements
We're a nut-aware centre. We don't serve nut products on site, and we ask families not to bring food containing nuts.
For all other allergies and dietary requirements, we accommodate them in the kitchen. At enrolment, we ask for:
- Any diagnosed allergies, with relevant medical documentation
- An anaphylaxis plan if applicable, signed by the child's doctor
- Intolerances and sensitivities (lactose, gluten, etc.) even if not formally diagnosed
- Cultural and religious dietary requirements (halal, kosher, vegetarian, etc.)
- Personal preferences, we'll do our best
Children with anaphylaxis have an Action Plan visible in the room, with their photo, their allergens, and the response steps. All educators are trained in anaphylaxis response and EpiPen administration.
What you don't need to pack
Anything food-related. We provide all daily meals, all snacks, drinking water, and special-occasion treats (birthdays are celebrated; if your family doesn't celebrate birthdays at the centre, just let us know). Children just bring a labelled water bottle.
What you do need to tell us
- If your child has a new allergy or intolerance
- If your child is going through a fussy-eating phase (so we can plan around it)
- If breastfeeding is in progress for the youngest babies, and how you'd like us to handle expressed milk
- If you'd like your child not to eat certain foods for cultural, religious or family reasons
Reference documents
This summary reflects our day-to-day practice. The Healthy Eating Policy and Anaphylaxis Management Policy, with regulatory references, are on the Eikoh documents page. We collaborate with the Munch & Move NSW Health Initiative on healthy eating and physical activity.
Questions about food at the centre? Call Corinne on 02 9858 5333 or email director@westrydeldc.nsw.edu.au.