Little Food Festival

13/03/2026

Packing lunchboxes can feel like balancing between nutrition and health. We want our kids’ lunches to be nutritious, yet exciting enough that they’ll actually get eaten – avoiding unnecessary food waste.

Tips from Marika Day, accredited practicing nutritionist and dietician include:
- choosing fruit and calcium or grain-rich snacks. Quick to assemble options include cheese and crackers, yoghurt, vita-wheats or pretzels.
- getting kids involved in the packing process can increase your chances of them eating the food
- don’t be afraid to add treats a couple of times each week. Kids are active and growing, needing plenty of calories!

Find all the tips from Marika on the AIA website.

09/03/2026

Got some sweet-tooths in the family? You can satisfy sweet cravings while also fitting in fibre and nutrition with Jazz apple recipes from Montague Farms. Perfect for breakfast or an after-school treat, give overnight maple-apple oats a try.

Prep time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats
2 cup milk of your choice
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
2 JAZZ™ small apples, diced
1 cup granola

Method
Stir together oats, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and raisins
Divide into 4 jars and refrigerate overnight (or at least 5-6 hours)
In the morning, microwave before stirring in apples and granola

04/03/2026

What's new for 2026?

We are so excited to have some amazing new partners on board. Joining us at Fed Square in April for the first time:
- Common Ground Project
- National Nutrition Foundation
- Tiny Fork
- You're no food fool
- Veggies First
- Oral Health Victoria
- Vic Kids Eat Well

More newness coming soon!

26/02/2026

The Little Food Festival is proud to call one of Melbourne’s iconic landmark – Fed Square – our home. 2026 marks our eighth year of learning, sharing and connecting; and we can’t wait to do it all again this April.

Looking for more family-friendly activities that won’t break the bank? Check out awesome free events, outdoor adventures and interactive exhibitions happening right now, via What's On Melbourne

24/02/2026

From fruity favourites to veggie-inspired masterpieces, kids can transform into delicious alter egos while exploring the Little Food Festival! Best of all, face painting is totally free. Be sure to come and visit Fairy Mary this April at Fed Square.

18/02/2026

Widely known as The Fruit Nerd, Thanh Truong is a produce expert, food educator and passionate advocate for food systems literacy and sustainability. Since 2023, he has been a familiar face at the Little Food Festival as our MC. Thanh brings energy, warmth and deep food knowledge to the Foundation’s flagship event.

For Thanh, health is about balance: “It’s a harmony across all parts of life. The food we eat, the activities we enjoy, our connection to nature, our sense of community and the way we approach work,”

Of joining the SDF Board, Thanh says, “What excites me is engaging and educating young Australians, empowering them to discover their own balance and live fulfilling, healthy lives.”

We’re thrilled to have Thanh’s passion, expertise and creative energy on the Board as we continue to grow the impact of the Little Food Festival and the Foundation’s work across Australia.

18/02/2026

Have you entered the Feel Good Food competition yet? Don’t
miss your chance to showcase your school or community’s favourite
snack or meal for kids.

Entries close 4 March 2026 – and the winning organisation will receive
a $300 kitchen voucher PLUS be featured live on stage at the Little
Food Festival in April.

Submit your entries now: https://www.vickidseatwell.health.vic.gov.au/be-inspired/blog/celebrate-feel-good-food.html

Have you shared your Feel Good Food yet? There’s still time!

We’re partnering with Little Food Festival to find nutritious snacks and meals that make Vic kids smile!

Schools, outside school hours care services and sports clubs: this is your chance to showcase dishes that matter – good, honest food that’s affordable, seasonal, simple to make and loved by kids.

The winning organisation will receive a $300 kitchen voucher and have the opportunity to be featured LIVE on stage at Little Food Festival in April 2026.

Entries can highlight:
• Equity and accessibility – affordable, seasonal ingredients
• Creativity – fun twists or presentations that get kids involved
• Sustainability – local produce, cultural stories or smart ways to reduce waste

Don’t miss out – entries close 4 March 2026.

Submit your entry here: https://bit.ly/45E6kFb

Cancer Council Victoria
Victorian Department of Health
National Nutrition Foundation
Healthy Eating Advisory Service

17/02/2026

The Little Food Festival wouldn't happen without the amazing help of volunteers. If you're passionate about creating abetter future for Aussie kids, we need you! We're looking for volunteers for our festival days, April 15 and 16, at Fed Square. Head to our website (link in bio) to find out more.

13/02/2026

Daniel Briggs is a long-serving and deeply valued member of the Sandro Demaio Foundation Board, bringing both legal expertise and a strong commitment to community wellbeing.

For Daniel, health is about sustainability and connection. “It means feeling good in your body, having energy for the things that matter, and living in a way that supports long-term wellbeing not just for yourself, but for the people around you,” he says.

Of SDF, Daniel says, “I love being part of a team that’s genuinely trying to make healthy living more accessible and fun. SDF has a way of bringing people together around food, community and positive change.”

We’re grateful for Daniel’s leadership and the role he continues to play in supporting the Foundation’s mission.

11/02/2026

Little Food Festival goes international! Last month, Monash University Malaysia hosted the first-ever international Little Food Festival at the Monash Kuala Lumpur campus.

Kids aged 6–12 enjoyed learning about the food system through play at our six signature activation stages (Grow, Move, Buy, Cook, Eat and Reuse).

Families were able to enjoy a mix of educational experiences geared towards understanding where food comes from, how it moves through the system and how good choices support healthier lives and a healthier planet

06/02/2026

A long-time contributor to the Little Food Festival, we’re delighted that Dr Liza Barbour has joined the Board of the Sandro Demaio Foundation.

Liza is a Senior Lecturer in Food Systems, Planetary Health and Public Health Nutrition, and an Education Fellow (Planetary Health) in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. She brings deep expertise in nutrition, sustainability and public health, alongside a strong commitment to helping future generations thrive.

For Liza, health is about connection and belonging. “A healthy life is one where we enjoy food that connects us to people and our culture, we move our bodies in ways that make us feel present and truly alive, and we feel a sense of belonging to those around us,” she says.

Of joining SDF, Liza says she’s excited by the opportunity to work directly with children to help shape better food systems. “So much of my work focuses on the challenges facing our planet and future food systems. Working with SDF gives me hope. It’s a chance to be creative, to connect with children and their incredible imaginations, and to help turn their ideas into real, systemic change.”

We’re thrilled to have Liza’s insight, energy and optimism on our Board as we continue to grow the impact of the Little Food Festival and the Foundation’s work.

05/02/2026

Are you getting the Little Food Newsletter? Always informative, never spam, with news, resources and tips on all things food, health and sustainability. To stay up to date with the Little Food Festival, sign up now: https://www.littlefoodfestival.com/sign-up-3