Nurturing healthy eating habits and green thumbs
We’re passionate about instilling the importance of maintaining a lifelong respectful relationship with food in all children.
With a childcare menu that focuses on nutrition and sustainability, we explain where food comes from and prioritise fresh produce from our vegetable gardens.
Sample childcare menu
We change our seasonal childcare menu every four weeks so little learners can enjoy different meals, discover new flavours and expand their palettes.
Morning tea
- Banana Muffins and Fresh Fruit
- Cheese & Water Crackers, Fresh Fruit & Raw Vegetables
- Custard and Fresh Fruit
Lunch
- Chicken Rissoles with Veggie Macaroni Cheese
- Beef Stroganoff with Mushrooms & White Rice
- Vegetarian Pasta Bake with Veggies & White Beans
- Fish & Homemade Vegetable Chips
- Butter Chicken with Rice
Afternoon tea
- Assorted Sandwiches & Fresh Fruits
- Blueberry wholemeal Muffins, Fresh Fruit & Raw Vegetables
- Rice Crackers with dip & Raw Vegetables
Late snack time
- Salads
- Rice Crackers
- Fresh Fruits
Supporting strong minds and local farmers
Our Mildura, Eglinton and Gateshead centres provide a nutritionally designed and balanced childcare menu to ensure every child can learn and thrive in all areas. Our in-house chefs use locally sourced and in-season produce wherever possible to support our local businesses.
Our healthy food philosophy for early childhood
Nutritional education
Our healthy menu and curriculum are designed not only to meet Australian dietary guidelines but also inspire positive eating habits.
We guide children to explore new foods and understand where they come from. Our meals feature a variety of in-season fresh ingredients, giving children the perfect opportunity to explore a nutritious, balanced diet and learn how different foods are grown.
To fuel healthy decision-making, we encourage children to talk about different foods and develop an understanding of their role in their health and well-being.
Nourishing recipes
Our in-house qualified chefs provide children with the essential nutrients to learn and grow to their full potential. Each childcare menu includes age-appropriate portions of wholegrain cereal foods and breads, healthy fats and fresh fruits and vegetables that optimise energy levels.
We also encourage children to drink plenty of water instead of sugary drinks like cordial, fruit or soft drinks, and instill the importance of starting every day with a nourishing breakfast.
Safe and considered practices
Our mealtime routines promote healthy food practices with consistent times, dedicated kitchen areas, and strict hygiene measures.
All children are taught to wash their hands before eating or cooking. We also minimise distractions while dining to create an enjoyable group experience and design cooking programs that allow every child to try new foods in their various states (raw, cooked, peeled, etc).
Frequently Asked Questions
At Juniors Journey, we provide a nutritionally designed and balanced menu. All meals and food are freshly prepared by the in-house centre chef daily.
Our menu includes morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack and is displayed in the kitchen area of each centre.
We change the menu on a seasonal basis, as well as rotating every four weeks to ensure that children have the opportunity to experience different food items. We also encourage feedback from families on menu ideas.
At Juniors Journey, we do not allow products containing nuts to be brought into our centres and maintain clean and hygienic areas for food preparation.
We aim to regularly update families as allergens become a known risk to any child’s health and organise family information sessions on this topic as needed.
Please feel free to talk to your centre Director about any concerns or requests you may have. We appreciate your support in ensuring all our children are safe and healthy each day.
Yes. If your child has any dietary requirements related to allergies, intolerances, health, cultural or religious needs, please make these known during enrolment and as they become known. We will do our best to accommodate specific nutritional needs every day.
At Juniors Journey, food safety is managed through clear, consistent systems that align with Australian early learning regulations like the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and best practice under the National Quality Framework.
Our food safety protocols include:
- Strict hygiene: Our in-house chefs and educators follow rigorous hygiene procedures. Hands are washed thoroughly before handling food and after any potential contamination. Food preparation surfaces, utensils and equipment are cleaned and sanitised regularly, with separate tools used for raw and ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination. No animals are allowed into food preparation areas, and children are only allowed into these areas for cooking experiences and when appropriate.
- Proper storage: All food is stored correctly and at the right temperature to maintain freshness and safety. Raw, cooked and ready-to-eat foods are stored separately, items are clearly labelled and dated, and perishable foods are refrigerated promptly and used within recommended timeframes.
- Clean spaces: Our kitchens and eating spaces follow a structured cleaning schedule. High-touch surfaces are sanitised before and after meal times, using safe cleaning products for early learning environments.
- Allergy and dietary needs management: Children’s allergies, intolerances, medical, religious and cultural dietary needs are carefully managed. We keep up-to-date dietary information for every child, follow strict procedures to avoid cross-contact with allergens, and ensure educators are trained in allergy awareness and emergency response.
At Juniors Journey, we strive to provide affordable, quality care to our local families and community.
To find out more about our fee options, please contact your preferred centre to speak to a member of our team for more information.
Yes! Juniors Journey is a CCS-approved childcare provider, which means families can claim the childcare subsidy at each of our centres.
Contact your preferred centre to talk to one of our friendly Centre Managers for further help with enrolment and/or the CCS claim process.
We offer quality child care for children aged between 6 weeks and 6 years old.
Yes. Our Gateshead centre is open from 6 AM to 6 PM Monday to Friday, offering long daycare to local families.
Centre hours may vary across our different locations. Please refer to the individual centre web pages for further information on opening hours.
Centre hours may vary across our different locations. Please refer to the individual centre web pages for further information on opening hours
Any child from 6 weeks to 6 years old is eligible to attend our centres. To begin your enrolment, fill out our enrolment form.
Children can be enrolled anytime during the year, provided your chosen centre has capacity. In the case that a centre is full, we can keep your details on our waitlist and let you know if places become available.
If you’re interested in enrolling your child at one of our centres, reach out to your local centre director to arrange a tour.
Nurturing, welcoming and empowering every child
We provide high-quality early education that supports the learning and growth of every child. Our play-based principles and nutrition-focused meals encourage exploration, expression and celebration of individual learning journeys.
A complete approach to early learning
At Juniors Journey, we combine quality education programs, play-based learning and nutrition to give every child the knowledge, skills and confidence to explore and discover a world of opportunities and possibilities.
Our Locations
23 Park St, Eglinton NSW 2795
49 Oakdale Rd, Gateshead NSW 2290
571 Riverside Ave, Mildura VIC 3500
Our Rooms
