National Nutrition Foundation

29/08/2025

Join us for a free online showcase of our new allergy and dietary requirements training for early childhood services, developed in partnership with the National Allergy Council.

This session is for cooks, educators, centre managers and health promoters supporting healthy, inclusive food provision in early childhood services.

👀 Get a walkthrough of the training
❓ Ask questions and get answers from the HEAS team
📚 Learn how to use the new resources with confidence

Whether you’ve completed the e-learning or are just getting started, this is a great chance to deepen your knowledge and connect with others.
🔗 Register now: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/.../b3eccf79-f6de-4ea9...

Join us for a free online showcase of our new allergy and dietary requirements training for early childhood services, developed in partnership with the National Allergy Council.

This session is for cooks, educators, centre managers and health promoters supporting healthy, inclusive food provision in early childhood services.

👀 Get a walkthrough of the training
❓ Ask questions and get answers from the HEAS team
📚 Learn how to use the new resources with confidence

Whether you’ve completed the e-learning or are just getting started, this is a great chance to deepen your knowledge and connect with others.

🔗 Register now: b3eccf79-f6de-4ea9-b61c-b82ffa0c771a@a964b104-f832-46ea-afdc-86f67971d6d3" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b3eccf79-f6de-4ea9-b61c-b82ffa0c771a@a964b104-f832-46ea-afdc-86f67971d6d3

22/08/2025

Does your nutrition and dietetics research connect evidence to real-world impact?

Abstract submissions are now open for the 2026 National Nutrition & Dietetics Research Summit, hosted by Dietitians Australia.

This year's theme 'Evidence to impact: Science with purpose' aims to highlight research that goes beyond generating knowledge and drives real-world change. If your work connects data to action and brings clarity, depth and direction to the nutrition and dietetics landscape, Dietitians Australia want to hear from you!

🗓️ Key dates:
Abstracts open: 25 July 2025
Abstracts close: 7 September 2025 (midnight AEST)
Summit: 13 February 2026, Melbourne / Naarm + online

🔗 Learn more and submit your abstract: https://buff.ly/hye4qoE

21/08/2025

We’re proud to see our own Ricky Gelman, Healthy Eating Advisory Service Nutrition Policy Advisor, sharing practical strategies with early childhood service cooks, educators, and directors in this upcoming webinar.

From seasonal menu planning to calculating the right amount of food per child, Ricky will be helping services take the guesswork out of creating nutritious, cost-effective menus.

📢 Service cooks, directors, and educators responsible for meals or menus 📢 This member-only webinar is for you! 🥗

Join Ricky Gelman from the Healthy Eating Advisory Service (HEAS) for a webinar packed with simple but powerful advice.

🥦 Learn how to plan nutritious, cost-effective menus that children and young people will love
🍅 Discover how seasonal menu planning can save you money and boost the nutritional-value of food
🥕 Get practical strategies on slashing food waste
🌽 Find out how to calculate the right amount of food per child using the Ingredient Quantity Guide
🫛 Hear how the Cook's Networks can provide support
🍋 Access a bunch of FREE resources to take back to your service.

📅 When: Thursday 4 September
📍 Where: Online – join from anywhere!
🕛 Time: 12–1pm AEST

✨ Remember ✨ Quality Area 2 of the National Quality Standards requires healthy eating to be promoted to every child! This webinar is a quick and effective way to ensure you're on track. 🎯

Can't make it? This session will be available as a recording for CCC members.

How do I join?
Members: You have already been sent an email with the registration link.
Non-members: Become a member before the webinar and we'll see you there!

15/08/2025

📸 Highlights from this week's media launch for the 'Managing allergies and other dietary requirements in children's education and care' training and resources!

We were thrilled to welcome public health leaders, early childhood experts and industry partners, all united by a shared goal: safe, nutritious and inclusive food in early childhood services.

On the day we heard from National Nutrition Foundation Co-CEO Margaret Rozman, National Allergy Council CEO Sandra Vale, Victorian State Public Health Nutritionist Julie-Anne McWhinnie, Healthy Eating Advisory Service Nutrition Manager Jodie McGough, Bloom Early Learning Centre Chef Vaishali Patel and Aparajitha Rajagopalan, a parent of a child with multiple food allergies.

We are very proud to officially launch this free, evidence-based training which was developed by the Healthy Eating Advisory Service with support from the Victorian Government, in partnership with the National Allergy Council.

Together, we’re equipping cooks and educators with the practical tools and knowledge to confidently meet the diverse dietary needs of children in early childhood services, without compromising on nutrition, safety or inclusion.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this important milestone. We can't wait to see the positive impact the training and resources will have in services across Victoria and Australia.

🔗 Explore the course and resources: https://buff.ly/whFQYWr

11/08/2025

We’re proud to be behind this important new training and resource suite for early childhood services.

Planning safe, inclusive meals for children can be complex, especially when catering for allergies, intolerances and other dietary needs. That’s why, through the Healthy Eating Advisory Service, we’ve partnered with the National Allergy Council to launch a free, practical and evidence-based toolkit for cooks and educators.

These resources will help services:
✔️ Save time by planning one inclusive menu
✔️ Confidently adapt recipes while maintaining nutritional quality
✔️ Reduce cross-contamination risk
✔️ Keep every child safe, well-fed and included

From vegetarian and Halal diets to coeliac disease and multiple food allergies, this toolkit gives services the confidence and guidance to create nutritious, inclusive menus.

We’re grateful for the support of the Victorian Department of Health in making this possible. We can’t wait to see the positive impact in early childhood settings across Victoria and the rest of Australia.

🔗 Explore the e-learning and download the resources: https://buff.ly/whFQYWr

01/08/2025

Our Co-CEO Margaret Rozman recently attended the Heart Foundation National Stakeholder Forum on Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease where Professor Louise Baur shared insights on the complex factors influencing childhood and adolescent obesity.

The message was clear: this isn’t just about food choices. It's about systems, environments, biology and support.

Since 1975, childhood obesity rates have risen significantly worldwide, now affecting 5–7% of children. The pandemic made things worse, with many children gaining weight during lockdowns due to disruptions in daily life.

It’s not as simple as “eating too much.” Children’s health is shaped by a combination of biology, family circumstances, and the world around them. That includes:
- Limited access to nutritious food
- Constant fast food advertising targeting kids
- Fewer opportunities for active play (with big drops in physical activity between ages 6 and 13)
- Increased screen time and disrupted sleep
- Early life influences, including what happens during pregnancy, childhood stress and infant feeding

❓ So, what’s needed?
We can’t ask families to go it alone. Creating healthier futures means building environments that support wellbeing at home, in schools, and in communities.

It’s time to move beyond individual blame and toward solutions that address the bigger picture with better policies, healthier communities and support for families across the lifespan.

Jebeile et al., The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2022 (https://buff.ly/zu5AH9M )

28/07/2025

23/07/2025

Are you a leader passionate about creating healthier communities? We are seeking an exceptional Program Manager to spearhead the Healthy Eating Advisory Service (HEAS), Victoria's leading government-funded program transforming food environments across the state.

This is an opportunity to lead meaningful change and directly impact the health and wellbeing of Australians. You'll join a respected organisation with 45 years of expertise, leading a dedicated team while collaborating with government stakeholders, and industry partners to create lasting systemic change.

📍 Location: Richmond, VIC & work from home
🕒 Hours: Full-time (0.9 FTE will be considered)
📅 Contract: Fixed term until 30 June 2028

Learn more about this exciting opportunity and apply here:
https://buff.ly/nviEYz8

18/07/2025

A new study from the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University found that Victorian children aged 8–12 are getting nearly half (47%) of their daily energy from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) like cakes, biscuits, lollies, sugary drinks and fast food.

🔍 Key findings:
- Top 5 UPF sources: pastries (5%), biscuits (5%), lollies (5%), breakfast cereals (4%) and fast food (4%)
- Only 32% of daily energy came from unprocessed or minimally processed foods
- Boys and children from lower education backgrounds consumed more UPFs
- In 10-12 year olds, every 10% increase in UPF intake linked to higher BMI and 19% greater chance of abdominal fat

💭 Why it matters:
This is a critical age for forming lifelong habits. Ultra-processed foods are often made with cheap ingredients like sugar, salt and unhealthy fats to boost food manufacturers' profits, but they lack the essential nutrients and fibre kids need to grow, learn and thrive.

Research shows a link between high UPF intake and poor health outcomes in children, including high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, weight gain and mental health challenges.

👉 So, what needs to change?
- Healthier food environments in schools and communities
- Stronger nutrition education
- Industry accountability
- Better support for families to access and prepare nourishing foods

The food we surround children with today will shape their health for years to come.

What do you think would help kids and families reduce their reliance on ultra-processed foods? Share your thoughts below 👇

Read the research here: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.70030

11/07/2025

👋 Meet Jing - our new Nutrition Policy Advisor for Health Services!

Jing is passionate about creating healthier food environments and making the healthy choice the easy choice through preventative health initiatives.

With four years of experience working within public health food and nutrition programs, she brings valuable knowledge about supporting program participants to create lasting change.

She’s excited to work alongside health promoters, dietitians and food service staff to help implement the Healthy Choices guidelines and meet the policy directive with tailored, practical support.

We're so excited to have Jing join the HEAS team!

09/07/2025

This NAIDOC Week, we’re proud to celebrate the strength, vision and legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people — the next generation of leaders, change-makers and keepers of Culture.

To support teachers, students and school communities in recognising this year’s theme, the National NAIDOC Committee and ABC Education have released a fantastic set of free classroom resources.

Designed for both primary and secondary settings, the materials include stories, lessons and hands-on activities, including food-based learning that highlights the cultural significance of native ingredients and traditional foods.

They’re a meaningful way to help children connect and learn from Country, and deepen their understanding and appreciation of First Nations culture and knowledge.

📘 Explore the NAIDOC 2025 education resources: https://www.naidoc.org.au/news/abc-and-naidoc-release-official-naidoc-week-education-resources

05/07/2025

Looking for a yummy, winter nourishing recipe? We love this fruity crumble from the Healthy Eating Advisory Service! Perfect for the current weather and seasonal produce 🍎🍐