Childcare, Schools & Education Settings
Menu Reviews and Development Support for Childcare centres, OSHC, primary & secondary schools, boarding schools
At Appetite for Nutrition, we support early learning centres, schools (including boarding schools), and out-of-school hours care (OSHC) programs with practical, compliant, and child-focused nutrition solutions. Our Accredited Practising Dietitians ensure menus are nutritious, age-appropriate, enjoyable, and meet the needs of children across diverse educational settings.
We work closely with directors, educators, canteen managers, OSHC coordinators, and families to create positive mealtime experiences that support healthy growth, development, and lifelong eating habits.
Why Nutrition Matters
🍏 1 in 4 Australian children is overweight or obese — healthy meals in care and school settings play a key role in prevention
🧠Food fuels learning and behaviour — dietitian-led planning supports brain development, focus, and emotional wellbeing
🥗 Childcare and schools provide up to two-thirds of daily nutrition — menus must be balanced, inclusive, and safe
🌍 Inclusive and regulated menus promote safety, equality, and positive outcomes for children with allergies, cultural needs, or chronic conditions
Our Services for Childcare, OSHC & Schools
Menu Creation & Review
We design seasonal menus and review existing ones for compliance with national and state standards. Reviews cover nutrition, portions, variety, and allergy or cultural needs, with clear recommendations that are practical and cost-effective.
Individual Consultations
Our dietitians support children with allergies, fussy eating, chronic conditions, or growth concerns. Each plan is tailored to promote healthy development and safe participation in meal programs.
Recipe Development & Modification
We create child-friendly recipes that are simple for staff to prepare and budget-friendly for centres. Meals are designed to be appealing while meeting nutritional needs and accommodating allergies or cultural requirements.
Staff Training & Education
We provide training for educators, canteen staff, and kitchen teams on child nutrition, food safety, allergy management, age-appropriate meal textures (including infant foods), and compliance. Sessions are practical and build staff confidence.
Additional Services
We also offer supermarket tours, food education sessions with children, and ongoing menu monitoring. Services can be tailored to each facility with ongoing dietitian support.
Consultancy & Implementation Support
We work with managers, chefs, and educators to apply nutrition guidelines in daily practice. Meetings and action plans ensure menus and kitchen processes align with best practice.
Why Nutrition Matters for Your Centre or School
We help childcare and education settings:
- âś… Meet National Quality Standard and ACECQA requirements
- âś… Align with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and state-based menu guidelines
- ✅ Ensure safe food practices through compliance with Regulations 77–80
- âś… Provide inclusive, allergy-safe, and culturally appropriate menus
- âś… Build a reputation for quality, compliance, and family confidence
With the right nutrition systems in place, centres and schools can foster healthier children, support learning, and prepare confidently for assessments and audits.
Frequency Asked Questions
Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions about our nutrition services for childcare, schools, OSHC, and education settings. These FAQs explain how our Accredited Practising Dietitians support healthy, compliant, and enjoyable mealtimes for children across Australia.
We offer dietitian-led menu reviews, menu creation, recipe development, staff training, and ongoing consultancy for childcare, OSHC, primary, secondary, and boarding schools. Our goal is to help centres meet national nutrition standards while ensuring meals are tasty, balanced, and inclusive.
Healthy food supports growth, learning, and behaviour. Since children receive up to two-thirds of their daily nutrition at school or care, balanced menus help prevent obesity, improve focus, and promote emotional wellbeing. Nutrition-led menus also reduce risk for allergies, nutrient deficiencies, and food-related incidents.
Our Accredited Practising Dietitians assess menus for nutritional adequacy, portion sizes, food variety, allergy safety, and compliance with national and state menu guidelines. You’ll receive a practical report with tailored recommendations and improvement strategies.
We align every review and menu plan with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and ACECQA’s National Quality Standard. We also ensure compliance with childcare Regulations 77–80, covering safe food practices and menu documentation for assessments and audits.
Yes. We deliver interactive training sessions covering child nutrition, menu planning, allergy management, safe food handling, and infant or age-appropriate meal textures. Training helps staff build confidence and ensures compliance with quality standards.
Absolutely. We design inclusive recipes that meet dietary restrictions and cultural preferences without compromising taste or nutrition. All recipes are tested for practicality, budget, and appeal in busy educational settings.
Our dietitians provide one-on-one consultations for children with allergies, intolerances, chronic conditions, fussy eating, or growth concerns. Each plan is personalised to promote healthy development and ensure the child can safely participate in centre meal programs.
We support OSHC and boarding schools with balanced, varied menus that suit older children’s and adolescents’ needs. Our reviews ensure appropriate energy levels for active students, with options that promote focus, wellbeing, and performance.
Yes. Appetite for Nutrition offers ongoing support to ensure your centre or school maintains compliance, updates menus seasonally, and continues to meet the needs of children, families, and educators. We can also conduct supermarket tours and food education sessions with children.
Simply contact Appetite for Nutrition to book a consultation. Our team will discuss your centre’s needs, review existing menus, and provide a clear action plan to ensure compliance, quality, and family satisfaction.
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.