Good nutrition in early childhood does more than keep children healthy, it shapes how they grow, how they learn, and how they experience the world around them. As winter arrives across Australia, Affinity Education Group's 2026 Winter Menu is now live at centres across our network, bringing warm, carefully balanced meals to children each day of the season.
Developed With Accredited Practising Dietitians
This year's winter menu has been developed in collaboration with The Biting Truth, Anna Debenham and Alex Parker, Accredited Practising Dietitians with over a decade of experience working with early childhood education and care services across Australia. The menu has also been developed alongside our national food partner Woolworths at Work.
Every dish has been designed to meet the nutritional needs of children aged two to five, and the full menu is aligned with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, ACECQA requirements, Munch and Move, the Caring for Children Manual, and Menu Planning Guidelines for long day care. Across a four-week rotation, children encounter a wide variety of cuisines, flavours, proteins, and vegetables, building food confidence alongside the habits that support healthy development.
Why Winter Nutrition Matters for Young Children
The cooler months bring particular nutritional considerations for young children. Energy demands increase as bodies work harder to stay warm. Immune systems face greater pressure as seasonal illness circulates through communities. And the natural narrowing of food variety at home - toward comfort foods and familiar favourites - can reduce the diversity of nutrients children receive across the week.
A well-designed centre menu plays a meaningful role in filling this gap. By offering iron-rich proteins, complex carbohydrates, a broad range of vegetables, and healthy fats across every day of the week, centres can ensure children are receiving the nutritional variety their development requires, regardless of what's on the table at home.
Meals prepared fresh onsite each day preserve nutritional value and allow kitchen teams to respond to children's needs in the moment. Across our network, centre cooks and chefs prepare the winter menu fresh daily, not from pre-packaged or reheated stock.
What's on the Menu
The 2026 Winter Menu rotates across four weeks and includes warm, hearty main meals at lunchtime alongside nourishing morning and afternoon teas. Dishes include:
- Vietnamese Beef and Bean Stew - iron-rich and gently spiced, served with white rice
- Mexican Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole - a protein and fibre-rich one-pot meal
- Minestrone Soup with Bread Soldiers - a vegetable-forward classic with legumes and risoni
- Garlic Chicken Veggie Stir Fry with Brown Rice - lean protein with a range of fresh vegetables
- Italian Pork Mince and Veggie Pasta Bake - hearty and homestyle
Every lunch on the menu includes a balanced vegetarian alternative, using legumes, tofu, and lentils to ensure iron and protein needs are met across all dietary preferences.
Halal menu options are also available at centres across the network.
Menus That Reflect Local Communities
While the core winter menu has been expertly designed to meet all relevant nutritional guidelines, our approach to menu delivery is designed to be responsive. Centre teams consult with their families throughout the season, and the menu structure allows for up to 20% of meals to be thoughtfully swapped to reflect local preferences, cultural needs, and children's own feedback, with nutritional balance maintained across any changes.
This means families can expect a menu that feels familiar and relevant to their community, while knowing that every meal their child receives meets the same standard of nutritional care.
Supporting Families at Home
Each of our brands - Milestones Early Learning, Papilio Early Learning, Kids Academy, and Aussie Kindies Early Learning - has published a winter menu blog post this week, including a family-friendly recipe inspired by the season's menu. These posts are available on each brand's website for families who would like to bring some of the same nourishing flavours to their home kitchen.
The Biting Truth is also hosting an upcoming family webinar, 'Fun Tips for Fussy Eaters', with practical strategies for mealtimes at home this winter. Families can speak with their Centre Manager for details on how to participate.
Viewing the Menu at Your Centre
The full 2026 Winter Menu is displayed at each centre across our network. Families with questions about specific meals, dietary requirements, or menu feedback are encouraged to speak directly with their Centre Manager.