A week in the kitchen at My Stars — how we feed children every day

At My Stars Early Learning — both Berwick and Essendon — every meal your child eats during their day is prepared fresh on-site by our chef. Not delivered in sealed containers. Not reheated from a commercial kitchen. Cooked in our kitchen, that morning, for the children in our care. We think this matters — not just because fresh food tastes better, but because the quality of what children eat during their early years has a measurable impact on concentration, mood, sleep and development.

What a typical week looks like

Our menu rotates every four weeks so that children get variety without losing the familiarity of meals they've come to enjoy. Across a typical week, children will eat a range of proteins, seasonal vegetables, wholegrains, dairy and fruit — with meals designed to be nutritionally complete at each service point during the day.

• Morning tea: seasonal fruit, wholegrain crackers or toast with spreads
• Lunch: a hot cooked main (e.g. chicken and vegetable risotto, shepherd's pie, pasta bake, stir fry with rice) with salad or steamed vegetables
• Afternoon tea: a lighter option such as yoghurt and fruit, cheese and crackers, or homemade baked goods
• Bottles and formula: prepared individually for infants in the White Room to each baby's schedule

How we handle dietary requirements

When you enrol at My Stars, we ask detailed questions about your child's dietary requirements, allergies and intolerances. This information is documented, shared with our chef, and visible in the room. Children with allergies or specific dietary needs are never served the standard meal in error — our process is designed so that the right plate reaches the right child every time. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and a range of other requirements without fuss.

Why on-site cooking matters in early childhood

Early childhood is a critical window for forming food attitudes and preferences. Children who regularly eat a diverse range of fresh, well-prepared food at childcare are more likely to develop a broad palate and positive relationship with food over time. Conversely, centres that serve highly processed or repetitive meals can inadvertently contribute to food fussiness or narrow preferences.

There's also a practical benefit for families. When your child has eaten a nutritious, freshly prepared lunch at My Stars — one they actually enjoyed — you're not dealing with a hungry, overtired child at pickup who refused the reheated delivery option. Mealtimes at childcare are learning experiences too: sitting together, trying new foods, developing table manners and social skills around eating.

What you'll see on OWNA each day

Through the OWNA parent app, you receive a daily record of what your child ate and roughly how much. For babies and toddlers, this includes bottle volumes and feeding times. For older children, educators note whether they ate well, tried something new, or needed encouragement. This daily visibility helps you plan dinner, understand your child's hunger patterns, and feel genuinely connected to their day.