Merri Menu's

We acknowledge that eating healthy and nutritious foods helps young children grow normally and enjoy good health. Healthy eating habits are crucial for cognitive and physical development. Establishing good eating habits in Early Childhood provides a good foundation for healthy eating habits to continue through to adulthood. Healthy eating habits learnt in childhood can also reduce the risks of diseases such as diabetes, iron deficiency, dental caries, anaemia and obesity. As per Merri Community Childcare Centre & Kindergarten Policy all meals provided are sensitive to the child’s age and sensitive to the child’s needs as a whole. When planning meals all considerations of food choices are given. Vegetarian and multi-cultural foods are offered to all children to establish an appreciation of varied cuisines.

The Centre cook holds a level 2-food safety supervisor certificate and commits to on-going training. All staff undergo annual in-house training regarding safe food practices and hold a basic food handling practices certificate. The Centre cook has regular planning time so that they can prepare and review menus as well as gain more information on current and up to date research. We provide various combinations of spoon/fork/finger foods for all children. Water is offered as a primary drink. We ensure that children have adequate access to clean and fresh water at regular intervals.

The Menu is displayed weekly menu on the blackboard in the Centre foyer. The menu is structured in a 6-week rotating program: Please see our current menu below

SUMMER WEEK ONE 2010
	MORNING TEA	LUNCH	AFTERNOON TEA
M O N	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Tomato and Vegetable Risotto A creamy risotto, prepared with onions, garlic, Arborio rice, tuna, baby spinach, zucchinis and herbs, simmered in a tomato and chicken stock. Served with a sprinkle of cheese.	Wholemeal salada Wholemeal salada spread with vegemite and cheese slices. Served with milk
T U E	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Spaghetti Bolognese Lean minced meat sautéed with onions and simmered with tomato paste and Napoli sauce with garlic and herbs added. Mixed with spaghetti pasta and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. Served with fresh bread stick.	Yoghurt with Fruit Salad Fruit salad tins: diced pear, peach, grapes, pineapple pieces and red cherries. Served with Vanilla yoghurt
W E D	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Apricot Chicken With Rice Lean diced chicken pieces sautéed with onions, capsicum and spring onions. Simmered in a French onion and apricot nectar sauce and baked slowly in the oven Served with steamed carrots and basmati rice	Cheese and Tomato Pizza Bread Freshly baked at the local bakery, cheese and tomato topped rolls, cut into bite size pieces to serve. Served with milk
T H U	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Italian Beef with pasta and vegetables, Served with multigrain bread Diced lean beef simmered with tomatoes, onions, kalamatta pitted olives, herbs and carrots, mixed in with pasta and served with multigrain bread.	Wholemeal Sandwiches Sandwich platter with wholemeal bread with a variety of egg/lettuce, carrot/cream cheese, cucumber/strass and cheese/tomato Served with milk
F R I	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Tuna Mornay A creamy corn and cheese béchamel sauce with herbs and mustard added to flavour and mixed in with tuna and served with wholemeal bread.	Carrot and zucchini Cake A nutritious cake prepared with grated carrot and zucchini. Served with milk

SUMMER WEEK TWO 2010
	MORNING TEA	LUNCH	AFTERNOON TEA
M O N	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Salmon and pea quiche with Baked Beans Pink salmon, peas and corn prepared in an egg based quiche with tasty cheese. Served with baked beans.	Turkish bread with dips Fresh Turkish bread from the bakery cut into small squares and served with bowls of dips: Tzatzki, avocado and French onion. Served With Milk
T U U	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Chicken, avocado and mushroom fettuccine Chicken cooked with sautéed onions and capsicums with mushrooms and avocadoes, through a cream of chicken soup mix to thicken.. Served over fettuccini with parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top.	Fruit Cake Homemade fruit cake Served With Milk
W E D	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Beef and snow pea stir fry with crunchy noodles on rice Lean diced beef sautéed with onions, celery, carrots and snow peas, prepared with crunchy two minute noodles and served on basmati rice.	Cheesy mite Scrolls A scone mixture rolled out with vegemite and shredded tasty cheese spread over mixture. Dough rolled up and formed into small scrolls and baked in the oven until golden brown. Served With Milk
T H U R	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Tortellini Vegetable Carbonara Cheese tortellini tossed through a fresh Carbonara sauce of eggs, evaporated milk, parmesan cheese, spring onions and bacon.	Corn and Chive Bread Home baked bread with the main ingredients derived from corn kernels and chives. Served With Milk
F R I	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Beef Macaroni Lean minced beef sautéed with onions, garlic, grated carrot and zucchini, mixed with French onion and tomato soup, macaroni pasta mixed through and placed in a baking dish, with tasty shredded cheese sprinkled over the top.	Muffins Homemade muffins Served With Milk

SUMMER WEEK THREE 2010
	MORNING TEA	LUNCH	AFTERNOON TEA
M O N	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Mediterranean pasta Napoli Mediterranean sauce simmered with garlic, kalamatta pitted olives, celery, spring onions, onions, mushrooms and spinach with herbs served in with pasta and feta cheese through and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.	Multigrain Sandwiches Sandwich platter with wholemeal bread with a variety of egg/lettuce, carrot/cream cheese, cucumber/strass and cheese/tomato Served With Milk
T U U	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Chille Con Carne Lean minced beef sautéed with onions, diced tomatoes, bay leaves, herbs, garlic, chilli powder and red kidney beans. Served through with basmati rice.	Cheese and Oat pikelets Home made corn and oat pikelets cooked lightly in the frying pan and served with a spread of vanilla yoghurt. Served With Milk
W E D	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Tomato, sausage and basil pasta Lean beef sausages cooked with sautéed onions, garlic, tomatoes, basil, herbs, capsicums, baby spinach and celery. Stirred into pasta	Apple Cake with Custard Home baked cake prepared with apples served warm with vanilla custard Served With Milk
T H U R	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Salmon patties with Cous Cous Homemade salmon patties formed from pink salmon, lemon juice, parsley, creamed corn, onions and rolled in flour and breadcrumbs. Cooked on the frying pan. Served with cous cous with a tomato and avocado dressing.	Antipasto platter A arrangement of cubed cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, celery, julienne carrots (pre cooked), oranges and sultanas with a avocado and French onion dips Served With Milk
F R I	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Chicken Lasagne Lean minced chicken and sautéed onions simmered in a tomato base Napoli sauce, layered between lasagne sheets and cheesy béchamel sauce and baked in the oven until golden brown.	Wholemeal Salada Wholemeal salada spread with vegemite and cheese slices Served With Milk

SUMMER WEEK FOUR 2010
	MORNING TEA	LUNCH	AFTERNOON TEA
M O N	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Tuna Pasta Bake Coloured shell pasta mixed with a variety of vegetables (broccoli, corn, carrots and beans) tossed in with tuna and a cheese béchamel sauce through it. Baked in the oven until cheese is golden.	Raisin Bread Fresh raisin bread from the local bakery, spread with nuttelex and cut into bite size pieces to serve. Served With Milk
T U U	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Beef Stroganoff with rice Lean diced beef simmered in a beef stock and sour cream sauce with herbs, mushrooms, carrots, celery and spinach.	Cheese Scones Freshly baked cheese and onion scones, spread with a scrape of nuttelex. Served With Milk
W E D	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Zucchini Slice with Baked Beans A zucchini slice prepared with eggs, self raising flour, cheese, grated carrot and onions, baked in the oven until golden brown. Served with baked beans.	Breadstick with dips Fresh breadstick from the bakery served with spreads of dips: Tzatzki, avocado and French onion, corn relish. Served With Milk
T H U R	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Chicken Enchiladas Diced chicken mince simmered in enchilada sauce with onions, garlic, capsicum and mushrooms. Wrapped with baby spinach and rolled into wholemeal lavish breads, baked in the oven with tasty cheese melted over the top.	Strawberry Muffins Home made strawberry muffins. Served With Milk
F R I	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Curry beef with steamed rice and vegetables Lean diced beef sautéed with carrots, celery, tomatoes, baby spinach. Simmered in a mild curry sauce with extra herbs added. Served with rice.	Served With Milk

SUMMER WEEK FIVE 2010
	MORNING TEA	LUNCH	AFTERNOON TEA
M O N	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni Spinach, ricotta, egg yolks, spring onions, garlic, herbs onions and parmesan cheese mixed thoroughly together and rolled up in fresh lasagne sheets and placed in an oven dish, layered with Napoli sauce with pureed red kidney beans and shredded tasty cheese on top to bake.	Sultana Scones Home baked scones prepared with sultanas as the main ingredient Served With Milk
T U U	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Sweet and Sour Chicken with Hokkien Noodles Lean chicken tenderloins simmered in a sweet and sour sauce, with spring onions, baby corn, red capsicum and pineapple. Tossed through thin hokkien noodles to serve.	Multigrain Sandwiches Sandwich platter prepared with multigrain bread with a variety of egg/lettuce, carrot/cream cheese, cucumber/strass and cheese/tomato Served With Milk
W E D	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Meatballs with Pasta Lean minced beef mixed in a bowl with onions, tomato soup, pureed red kidney beans, rolled oats, grated carrots and zucchini. Eggs added in to form into balls, then placed in the oven with tomato pasta sauce poured over the top and placed in oven, served through with Napolitano sauce	Yoghurt with fruit salad Vanilla yogurt served with fruit salad Served With Milk
T H U R	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Fruity beef casserole with Rice Lean diced beef simmered in the oven with sultanas, dried apricots, onions, fresh tomatoes, carrots, celery, zucchinis, broccoli and herbs. Served with basmati rice.	Pikelets Homemade pikelets spread with a variety of avocado, natural yoghurt and Nuttelex/vegemite. Served With Milk
F R I	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Baked blue Grenadier Fish with a Mediterranean tomato sauce on Cous Cous Blue grenadier pieces of fish baked in the oven with a rich Mediterranean sauce over the top (onions, garlic, pitted kalamatta olives and red kidney beans). Served with plain cous cous.	Turkish Bread with Dips Fresh Turkish bread from the bakery cut into small squares and served with bowls of dips: Tzatzki, avocado and French onion. Served With Milk

SUMMER WEEK SIX 2010
	MORNING TEA	LUNCH	AFTERNOON TEA
M O N	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Broccoli and Chickpea pasta Chickpeas pre soaked in lemon juice and then sautéed with spring onions, garlic and red capsicums. Cooked broccoli and pasta stirred through and seasoned with parmesan and tasty cheese.	Yoghurt and Fruit salad Vanilla yoghurt served fruit salad
T U U	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Hamburgers with salad in multigrain rolls Lean minced meat mixed with breadcrumbs, eggs, onions, grated carrot and zucchini formed into hamburgers and cooked. Served in a wholemeal dinner roll with a choice of mixed lettuce, cucumber, cheese and tomato.	Antipasto Platter A arrangement of cubed cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, celery sticks, julienne carrots (pre cooked), pitted olives, strawberries, oranges and sultanas with a avocado and French onion dip and Salada Served With Milk
W E D	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Chicken Ravioli in chicken Bolognese sauce Fresh chicken and basil ravioli served with a home made chicken Bolognese and tomato pasta sauce consisting of garlic, diced onions, lean minced chicken, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, herbs/spices, grated zucchini, carrot and spinach. Parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top.	Salada Salada spread with cheese slices, tomato and cucumber. Orange segments served with the platter. Served With Milk
T H U R	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Mild Rogan Josh served with rice and accompanied with Naan bread and yoghurt A mild curry paste simmered with herbs, stock, tomatoes, mushrooms, green beans and carrots, served with basmati rice. Accompanied with naan bread and yoghurt for dipping	Vanilla Custard with fruit salad Vanilla custard served with fruit salad.
F R I	Fruit platter Apples, pears watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, kiwi fruit Served with milk	Spinach and Fetta slice served with baked beans A frittata slice prepared with onions, garlic, capsicum, baby spinach, eggs, fetta cheese, tasty cheese and self raising flour. Served with baked beans	Raisin Bread Fresh raisin bread from the local bakery, spread with Nuttelex and cut into bite size pieces to serve. Served With Milk

Further Resources and Support

Management/Coordinator/Cook
Approved training courses by the state training board
City of Darebin Health Department
Independent Food Audit agency representative
Food safety Victoria
National Childcare Accreditation Council
The Lady Gowrie Child Care Centre SRER support team
www.nutritionaustralia.org
www.cdhf.org/childcarenutrition
www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au
www.health.vic.gov.au/nutrition
Lady Gowrie book shop/Resource Centre