Understanding Nutrition


Our Cooks provide delicious and nutritious freshly cooked meals that encourage your
 child to taste as many new things as possible and help 
introduce them to the wonderful world of food.

Valerie is the cook for all our children in Giraffe Childcare Liffey Valley and it is obvious from talking to her that she just adores her job. She asks “how can it be called work when you enjoy it this much? I know I am here 7 years cooking for the children but I mean I should have been cooking for children years before as I just love it! And they appreciate it more than my own do!”

Mealtimes are an important and fun social time for children and provide 
an opportunity to relax with their friends and catch up on the
day’s events. We encourage children to help out at the table, serve
 themselves at snack times and they love experimenting with real
 cutlery.

Our menu has been carefully created in partnership with Cow & Gate and our kitchens use only the freshest meat and seasonable vegetables, we don’t add any salt, artificial flavourings or colouring and all our stock is home made. We’re happy to cater for vegetarian diets and any other dietary requirements your child may have.

Take a look at some of our menus
Summer Menu Autumn Menu Spring Menu Winter Menu

For babies and younger children, puréed and chopped meals are the dish 
of the days and we’ll work closely with Mum and Dad during your child’s 
weaning time so we are right in step.

All our cooks are trained and operate in kitchens approved by the HSE 
and are fully compliant with the H.A.C.C.P. (Hazard Analysis &
 Critical Control Points) food management system.

Our menus are compliant with the new legislation requiring that specific allergens such as peanuts, gluten, shellfish and dairy products, are clearly detailed.

All our recipes are available to mums and dads as we have had so many requests for their children’s favourite dishes.


Christmas fun with the family

Christmas is a fun time of year for children and their families.

Tuesday, December 6th, 2022

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Risky Play – Teaching our children to trust themselves

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Wednesday, July 5th, 2017

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Travelling with Tots

Some helpful travel tips

Thursday, March 23rd, 2017

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Witches, Goblins, and Ghosts – Oh my!

Halloween is the time when scary skeletons, spooky ghosts and wicked witches roam the world. All of the Giraffe centres enjoyed the build up to Halloween last week, and the children and staff certainly got into the spirit of the festivities! The children were delighted to dress up for the whole day for their Halloween parties. For […]

Thursday, November 3rd, 2016

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Time to wean? 

Weaning on to Solid foods

Wednesday, October 26th, 2016

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Supporting a clingy child

Supporting a clingy child

Wednesday, May 13th, 2015

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Dealing with Biting

Dealing with Biting

Sunday, March 8th, 2015

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