The free resource arms early childhood cooks and educators with skills to manage food allergies, reduce risks and meet diverse dietary needs without compromising nutrition.
A free national training program has been launched to help equip long day care staff with the skills to safely manage food allergies and provide nutritionally balanced meals for children with diverse dietary needs.
The Managing Allergies and Other Dietary Requirements in Children’s Education and Care course has been developed by the National Nutrition Foundation’s Healthy Eating Advisory Service (HEAS) in partnership with the National Allergy Council.
It comprises 11 short online modules designed for cooks, chefs and educators in early childhood education and care.
Of the estimated 1.3 million Australian children in care, between 52,000 to 86,000 lived with a diagnosed food allergy, said Dr Sandra Vale, CEO of the National Allergy Council.
“This training will give long day care services the tools they need to prevent life-threatening allergic reactions and provide safe, inclusive food for all children,” she said.
“There is no national requirement for food allergen management training in childcare, but it is essential. Cooks, chefs and educators want to do the right thing – this course will help them do it with confidence.”
The course covers strategies for managing food allergies, intolerances and coeliac disease; reducing cross-contamination risks; modifying meals without compromising nutritional value; and catering for cultural and ethical dietary preferences such as vegetarian, halal and kosher.
It also guides services on developing a single inclusive menu that supports all children’s health and wellbeing.
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A 2023 Healthy Eating Advisory Service needs analysis found many cooks lacked confidence in modifying menus to meet both safety and nutritional standards. This could often lead to duplicated effort, inconsistent food provision and higher allergen exposure risk.
Margaret Rozman, co-CEO of the National Nutrition Foundation, said cooks were under “huge pressure”.
“They are responsible for up to 70% of a child’s daily nutrition – often while juggling allergies, intolerances and other food requirements,” she said.
“This course will help simplify that complexity and ensure all children are safely and appropriately fed.”
While supported by the Victorian Department of Health, the training is available nationally and aligns with both the Victorian Government’s Menu planning guidelines for long day care and the National Quality Standard for food provision in early education and care.
It complements the National Allergy Council’s All About Allergens for Children’s Education and Care training and is now available via the HEAS and National Allergy Council websites.
