Justice, Mental Health & Rehabilitation
Nutrition for Correctional facilities, forensic units, mental health hospitals, alcohol & drug rehab centres, recovery-focused housing
At Appetite for Nutrition, we support justice, mental health, and rehabilitation settings with expert menu reviews, development, and nutrition strategies that promote recovery, stability, and long-term wellbeing.
Our Accredited Practising Dietitians work with correctional facilities, forensic mental health units, alcohol and drug rehab centres, and psychosocial residential programs across Australia. We adapt services to meet complex needs — balancing cost, logistics, security, and therapeutic goals.
🍽 Nutrition is a basic right – Safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food is essential. Dietitians ensure compliance with food safety and equity standards while promoting dignity in institutional food service.
🧠 Mental health & diet – 1 in 2 people in prison have a diagnosed mental illness. Poor diets can worsen depression, anxiety, and mood instability. Evidence (e.g., the SMILES trial) shows whole-food diets rich in vegetables, legumes, grains, and healthy fats can reduce depressive symptoms.
💪 Supports recovery – Up to 75% of people in rehab have co-occurring physical health issues. Good nutrition helps manage withdrawal symptoms, supports medication, restores gut and metabolic health, and builds positive routines for independence.
Our Services for Justice, Mental Health & Rehab Facilities
Menu Creation & Review
We assess menus for compliance, nutrition gaps, and cost-effective improvements, creating balanced, seasonal menus tailored to justice and rehabilitation settings.
Consultations
Our dietitians and health coaches provide individual and group consultations (onsite or via telehealth) to support chronic disease, mental health, recovery, and wellbeing, with services available under Medicare, WorkSafe, NDIS, and private funding.
Recipe Development & Special Diets
We also provide cooking and mealtime engagement sessions, supermarket tours for group homes, and compliance reporting. Services are tailored to each facility’s needs with ongoing dietitian support.
Training & Food Service Support
We deliver staff training, food safety education, and resident cooking programs to support skill-building and community transition.
Why Nutrition Matters for Your Facility
We help justice, mental health, and rehabilitation organisations meet national standards and improve resident outcomes. Our services support facilities to:
- ✅ Meet compliance obligations for safe, nutritious, and equitable food service
- ✅ Align with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and relevant correctional or health service standards
- ✅ Provide safe meals for people with allergies, coeliac disease, and texture-modified diets (IDDSI)
- ✅ Support accreditation, audits and governance through strong nutrition systems
With the right nutrition frameworks in place, facilities can reduce risk of malnutrition, improve health outcomes, and confidently prepare for inspections and compliance reviews.
Contact us today to begin your journey towards a better you
Do you want to reach out for more information or see how we can help you? Reach out to us by clicking on the button below.