Managing allergies & other dietary requirements toolkit

Nutritious meals help children grow, learn and thrive. That’s why, when managing allergies and other special dietary needs, it’s essential to ensure children are still receiving adequate nutrition.

When key foods are removed without the right alternatives, children may miss out on the chance to experience a variety of nutritious foods important for their growth and development.

A 2023 needs analysis by the Healthy Eating Advisory Service, with support from the Victorian Government Department of Health, found many cooks in early childhood settings face challenges planning menus that cater to allergies, and other cultural and dietary needs while also meeting children’s nutrition requirements.

The Healthy Eating Advisory Service (delivered by National Nutrition Foundation and supported by Victorian Government), in partnership with the National Allergy Council have developed new online training and resources to help cooks in early childhood settings confidently identify nutritionally equivalent replacements when adapting recipes for allergies and other dietary requirements.

These resources support services to:

• Manage dietary requirements safely and inclusively
• Plan meals aligned with the Victorian Menu planning guidelines for long day care to ensure centres provide adequate nutrition to the children in care.