There’s no better way to promote health and transform food systems than through hands-on, engaging Teaching Kitchen experiences.” – Kylie McAllester, TNK
Our Vision
We envision a community of curious, confident, and unstoppable individuals, equipped and inspired to pursue lifelong health and wellness within a resilient and equitable food system.
Mission
We aim to improve lives by creating supportive, sustainable, and healthy environments through culinary and nutrition education, while strengthening local food systems in Frankston and surrounding areas to ensure equity for all. We promote health, resilience, and opportunity by teaching the community how to prepare affordable, local and culturally appropriate nutritious food.
Growth Starts Here
The
Farm
The Growing Plate
School Bites
All Ages Table
Fuel For Future
Practical
Hands- on Skills
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The world needs needs kids who are lit up curious, confident and ready to crush it !
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​Growing, harvesting, and processing food sustainably.
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Understanding soil health, composting, water management, and organic practices.
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Basic tools use and safety in a farm setting.
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Seasonal planning and crop rotation knowledge.
Early Years -
First bites shape future wellbeing
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Expert-led – Delivered by INFANT-trained facilitators for evidence-based guidance.
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Early nutrition focus – Supporting parents to establish healthy eating from first bites.
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Practical strategies – Simple, real-world tips to make mealtimes easier.
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Family-centered – Tailored to parent and caregiver needs, building confidence at home.
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Future-focused – Setting strong foundations for lifelong health and development.
School Nutrition Workshops
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Build lifelong healthy eating habits
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Hands-on cooking and food literacy
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Improve focus, energy, and wellbeing
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Develop teamwork and confidence
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Gain skills for future employability
Meaningful Shared Food Literacy
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Strengthens community connections through food
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Shares knowledge across ages and cultures
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Builds practical cooking and growing skills
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Encourages sustainability and local food systems
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Empowers future generations to thrive
Teamwork That Feeds Communities
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Cook meals that directly support vulnerable people
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Learn teamwork and leadership through action
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Build corporate social responsibility in a hands-on way
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Strengthen community resilience one meal at a time
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Create lasting impact with shared purpose
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ONE Meal
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ONE Lesson
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ONE Stronger Future
Priorities
Reshape the way we do food systems. Promote local sustainability. Foster healthier communities,
Environmental Sustainability
&
Climate Action
Health
&
Wellbeing
Community
&
Social Inclusion
Employability
&
Life Skills
01
02
03
04
Grow knowledge
Reduce waste
Inspire action
Hands-on Education Grow Knowledge: Hands-on gardening teaches students about ecosystems, soil health, and sustainable food production. Reduce Waste: Composting and mindful harvesting build skills in resource management and waste reduction. Climate Awareness: Observing food cycles and energy use fosters understanding of environmental impact. Community Stewardship: Working in gardens encourages responsibility for local green spaces and shared resources. Inspire Action: Practical projects empower students to make sustainable choices in school, home, and beyond.
Building habits that stick
For a lifetime
Resilience Grow & Eat Fresh: Hands-on gardening teaches kids how to source and prepare food, building independence and practical life skills. Practical Food Literacy: Planting, harvesting, cooking, develop problem-solving skills, planning and confidence in everyday decision-making. Active Healthy Living: Garden-based activities encourage movement and resilience, supporting physical and mental stamina for life. Mindful Choices: Understanding the journey from seed to plate fosters responsibility, self-awareness and informed decision-making. Roots for Life: Establishing healthy routines through gardening and food literacy sets the foundation for lifelong wellbeing and sustainable habits.
Practical skills today Career readiness for tomorrow
Building for Success Real World Skills : Communication, problem-solving, time management and project planning. Responsibility & Leadership:Â Accountability, teamwork and mentoring opportunities. Career Pathways : Exposure to agriculture, horticulture, sustainability, nutrition and hospitality. Community & Industry Links :Â Connections with local businesses, co-ops and food initiatives. Innovation & Impact : Entrepreneurial projects, certifications and understanding the wider food system.
Shared Know-how
Shared stories
Shared impact
Intergenerational Tools & Knowledge Connection & Collaboration: Building relationships, teamwork and cross-generational engagement. Cultural & Community Awareness: Sharing stories, traditions, and experiences to foster understanding. Responsibility & Leadership: Mentoring, accountability, and supporting peers in projects. Local Networks: Linking participants with community groups, businesses and social initiatives. Collective Impact: Working on shared projects that benefit the community and strengthen social cohesion.
Why
We Exist
This is not just a garden or a kitchen , it’s a living classroom and community hub where stories, skills, and opportunities are shared.
It’s a working model of a fairer food system, one that can be replicated, adapted and scaled to create long-term change.​
At the heart of The Nutrition Kitchen is a simple idea; food can transform lives.
This project brings together kids, teens, elderly, families and the wider community to learn real-world food skills, growing, cooking and nourishing that can evolve into real careers, while also building resilience, confidence and connection.
Starting with a localised pilot, we bring together farming, nutrition, cooking and community leadership to create a model that:
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Builds food literacy across the system; from soil health and crop production to food distribution, preparation and shared meals
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Strengthens community food security; addressing barriers to fresh, local food while creating fairer access for families
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Connects education to real-world impact; students and families see how farming, health and sustainability intersect, creating awareness and agency
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Creates pathways, linking young people with opportunities in horticulture, agriculture, nutrition, and hospitality
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Builds resilience and inclusion; through shared skills, shared stories and shared impact; we strengthen the fabric of community life.
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"Community-based nutrition education empowers adolescents by fostering peer engagement and cultural relevance, leading to sustainable behavior change and improved health outcomes."
- Adapted from findings in the Journal of Nutrition, 2023
An Integrated Approach Matters
Reinforces learning: Students apply what they learn in class through healthy food options and activity opportunities.
Supports long-term change: Multiple, coordinated strategies are more effective than isolated interventions.
Engages the whole community: Teachers, parents, and peers all reinforce the same health messages.
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Addresses multiple influences: Combines knowledge, environment, and social support, covering all the factors that shape behaviour.
Maximises impact: Coordinated efforts lead to greater improvements in diet, activity, and overall wellbeing than single-focus programs.
Supporters
The Team
Meet our dedicated team of passionate locals committed to making a difference in the lives of youth. Together, we strive to provide forward thinking sustainable hubs, that seed, foster, grow and support the next generation.
Founder
Kylie McAllester
BHSc Nutritional Medicine
Ms Human Nutrition
I’m a proud resident of The Pines, with both children at a local school and kinder here and I’m passionate about practical, accessible programs that improve well-being, reduce food insecurity and foster thriving, connected communities.
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My career spans high-level restaurants here and internationally, a stint on MasterChef The Professionals and hands-on experience in organic market gardens.
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Now, as a registered Clinical Nutritionist, I focus on youth nutrition, ADHD, mineral balancing and early childhood health.
As a mum of two boys, this is a personal project for me.
I’m bringing all my experience together to teach and prepare the next generation for sustainable food systems inspiring them to grow, cook and fuel their bodies with knowledge and confidence.
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The Nutrition Kitchen was born from this mission.
Through school and garden-based food literacy programs, we aim to address food security, sustainability and nutrition education at a community level.
My goal is to connect chefs, retired volunteers, families and public health teams to create meaningful, lifelong impacts on health, skills and community well-being
