At Merryland Childcare, we provide a healthy range of meals and snacks for your child throughout their day at the centre. A balanced diet is vital for growing children's bodies and minds, and we work alongside the Heart Foundation to create a heart-healthy environment in our early learning service. We have received the Rito (Founding) Award, the first step in the Healthy Heart Award Journey, and are now working towards the Whānau (Strengthening) Award.

We are a vegetarian centre with vegan food options. Our in-house cook prepares fresh, nutritious whole foods each day, supporting children's wellbeing through delicious, carefully planned meals and snacks. Our menu operates on a four-week rotating cycle, ensuring children enjoy a wide variety of meals, flavours, and ingredients throughout the month.

We believe that great nutrition starts with quality ingredients. That's why our centre cook prepares meals using carefully selected ingredients, including sesame seed oil for cooking, known for its rich aroma and distinctive flavour. This premium ingredient helps create delicious meals that children enjoy while introducing them to a variety of tastes from around the world. For our home-baked treats and baking recipes, we use olive oil, adding another quality ingredient to the meals and snacks we prepare for children each day.

For morning tea, freshly ground chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and linseeds are sprinkled over porridge or Weet-Bix. For afternoon tea, our baking is refined sugar-free and sweetened only with real fruit.

Our curriculum incorporates a variety of food-related learning experiences, including gardening seasonal vegetables, preparing afternoon tea every Friday alongside the kaiako, and exploring different food groups through pretend play, books, puzzles, and hands-on activities. The conversations and discoveries that arise from these experiences help spark children's curiosity and encourage positive attitudes towards food. Through these opportunities, children learn that food nourishes both their bodies and their minds while gaining an appreciation for healthy eating and diverse flavours.

Together, our thoughtfully chosen ingredients, freshly prepared meals, and food-focused learning experiences reflect our commitment to providing children with positive, enjoyable, and meaningful food experiences every day.

Please note: Sesame is a recognised allergen. We will work closely with families to ensure all dietary requirements and allergy needs are safely managed.