Food Program
At our centre, we are committed to providing nutritious, well-balanced meals for our children that adhere to the Australian Dietary Guidelines to support their growth and development. We take allergies seriously and operate as a nut-free centre, always accommodating individual dietary sensitivities and requirements. Our newly introduced kitchen team is dedicated to creating a healthy, delicious, and diverse menu with exciting new recipes
Our Kitchen Team
Leah Maier
Kitchen Team, Educator
Wanted to be a dentist Meet Leah, who joined us in May 2024 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fashion Design at FDS TAFE. Leah is passionate about sustainable fashion and aspires to work as a sustainable fashion consultant, helping fast fashion companies implement sustainability policies. Her love for textiles is evident in her hobbies, which include sewing (she even makes most of her own clothes) and fibre arts such as knitting and crochet. Before joining SHARE, Leah worked as a teacher's assistant for a year, primarily supporting in the craft room where she taught children how to knit, sew, and crochet. Leah brings this experience into her role at SHARE, incorporating creative, hands-on activities into her work with children. Leah is also fluent in German, which adds a unique cultural perspective to her teaching style. Her diverse background and passion for creativity make her a valued member of our team, where she continues to inspire and teach through artistic activities. Leah lives on unceded Gadigal and Wangal country
Ethan Gandler
Kitchen Team, Educator
Wanted to be a train driver More on Ethan coming soon!
Luca Bedding
RP, Kindergarten Leader, Kitchen Team, Educator
Wanted to be an astronomer Meet Luca, a passionate educator who has been with SHARE for several years and brings a strong foundation in supporting school-aged children. With a Diploma in Education of School-Aged Children, Luca is committed to creating an environment where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to express themselves. Currently pursuing further studies to expand her knowledge and skills, she applies her learnings to build positive relationships and foster growth in the children she works with. Outside of her professional work, Luca enjoys reading and solving sudokus. Luca lives on unceded Gadigal country
Our approach
At SHARE, our kitchen program is guided by the principles of the National Quality Standards (NQS), with a strong focus in the kitchen on supporting children’s healthy eating. We aim to promote healthy eating habits, as well as creating a food culture that children can enjoy and learn from. Our approach is responsive - we hear children’s feedback and adjust our meals and food experiences to suit their needs and preferences. SHARE is excited with our new initiative to grow our kitchen program to include more hands-on food experiences, with a focus on connecting with children, families, and the broader community. We're especially looking forward to developing our veggie garden, where children can learn about growing their own food!
Children are encouraged to explore new foods and are given the freedom to eat at their own pace, allowing them to enjoy their meal without feeling rushed. In addition to carefully planned meals, we incorporate healthy eating activities into our curriculum, such as cooking and as mentioned gardening, to help children connect with their food in a hands-on and engaging way. These activities promote not only the enjoyment of nutritious foods but also an understanding of where food comes from and how it contributes to a healthy lifestyle.
We'd love to hear from families - do you have a favourite healthy recipe to share? Would you be interested in volunteering in the garden or helping with a cooking experience? Your ideas and involvement are always welcome!
An example of some of our weekly menus;
Breakfast at SHARE
At SHARE, we aim to create a relaxed and supportive breakfast environment where children feel safe, comfortable and engaged. Families are always welcome to stay and share breakfast with their child, and we encourage this as a way to support a calm and positive start to the day
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Each morning, the educator on kitchen shift writes the daily special on the chalkboard for children to see. Children are invited to write their name on the board if they would like the special, or they can speak directly to the educator if they would prefer something different. We ensure that every child is offered a meal they are comfortable with, and we always accommodate individual preferences to make sure no child goes without breakfast.
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In addition to the daily special, we offer a self-serve breakfast station where children can choose from a variety of options, including Weet-Bix, various cereals, milk, yogurt, berries, and other seasonal fruits. This setup encourages independence, allowing children to make their own choices and serve themselves with support from educators as needed. Once the educator has made their breakfast, children sit down at the designated breakfast table with their peers to enjoy their meal in a calm, social setting. After eating, they are free to join outdoor play or participate in the planned morning activity.
Afternoon Tea
After the children arrive at SHARE from school, afternoon tea is served on the verandah. This includes a table serving a variety of fruit, a milk table and a main table for the special of the day. Food for children with allergies is prepared separately and placed on a dedicated table to prevent cross-contamination.
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The children then eat on the verandah and once they've finished can either join the planned afternoon activity or play freely outside. This routine helps ease the transition from the school day into the rest of the afternoon.
SHARE's favourite recipes
We’re excited to share all our recipes with parents and hope you love them just as much as we do! Our meals are made with care, and we’re always happy to let you know what goes into them. If you ever see something that looks especially tasty, such as a breakfast special or something not on our website, please feel free to ask. Any of our educators will be more than happy to provide the recipe!
Breakfast
Afternoon Tea