Aspire Cranbourne West’s Favourite Healthy Recipes!

Healthy eating is a key part of growth and development in young children. It’s no secret that Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten centres have some of the best food in the business. The meals at Aspire Cranbourne West are so popular that the team collated a recipe book with some of their faves! Check out a selection of our favourite recipes from the book below.

Thai Pumpkin Soup with Turkish Bread

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 50 minutes | Servings: 5

This healthy soup is one of the most highly requested recipes that both parents and children enjoy. Now that soup season has well and truly started, include this soup-er soup in your family’s rotation.

Ingredients –

Method –

1. Preheat oven 180°C. Place the chopped pumpkin and sweet potato on a large baking tray, season with salt and pepper, and roast until tender. Around 20-30 minutes.
2. Remove and allow to cool.
3. Heat oil in a pot and brown the onions.
4. Add lentils to the onions and ensure to cook until soft.
5. Use a food processor to blend the cooled pumpkin and sweet potato with ½ cup water, onions, lentils, ginger, cumin, coriander, and chilli.
6. Once blended, transfer to the pot and add stock. Simmer for 45 minutes.
7. Toast and Serve with Turkish Bread for the perfect addition to dish.

Beef Meatball Stew

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 45 minutes | Total Time: 1hr | Servings: 8

This recipe is the perfect winter warmer with the cold weather approaching. This centre favourite is a great recipe to create at home and enjoy as a family to keep warm. Make this in bulk and freeze it for an easy, healthy, reheatable weeknight meal.

Ingredients -

Method –

1. In a large bowl, combine the egg, breadcrumbs, chopped onion, salt, marjoram and thyme. Crumble beef over the top and mix well.  
2. Shape meat mixture into 24 small meatballs. Heat oil in pan and cook meatballs until brown. Make sure you turn the meatballs so all sides are browned.  
3. Add the tomato soup, stock, potatoes, and carrots to a separate pot and bring to a boil.
4. Add the meatballs (don’t forget to include the juices!) and reduce the heat. Let the pot simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Garnish with parsley and serve with fresh crispy bread. Enjoy!

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 25 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes | Servings: 12

Another popular recipe that the children always enjoy eating. We are sharing it as it a healthier yet easy treat option to create at home. Perfect for picnics, play dates, breakfast, dinner parties, or just for whenever.

Ingredients - 

Method -

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced). Lightly grease a 12-hole muffin pan.
2. Sift the flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a bowl. Set aside.
3. Whisk the oil and syrup together in a jug until combined. Add eggs, yoghurt and vanilla. Whisk well until combined.
4. Make a well in the centre of flour mixture. Pour in wet ingredients. Stir until just combined.
5. Use a spoon to fold in the 1 cup of blueberries.
6. Spoon batter into muffin holes. Scatter over remaining blueberries.
7. Bake for 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
8. Set aside in the pan for 2 minutes to cool slightly before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Aspire Cranbourne West’s chef team, lead by Satish, is proud to make nutritious meals that are loved by children and their families.

We want to see you make these delicious recipes, so share them with us by using the hashtag #AspireEats. It is a great way to bring your children's favourite centre meals home with you!

Aspire Early Education Cranbourne West, as well as all of our other centres, create healthy, nutritious food for each child. If you are interested in touring Aspire Cranbourne West, click here or call 1800 978 429.