GROW KNOWLEDGE | GROW FOOD | GROW SKILLS TOGETHER
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
A welcoming space for participants to build skills, explore new foods, and form meaningful connections. We envision a community of curious, confident, and empowered individuals, supported and inspired to achieve lifelong health and wellness within a resilient and equitable food system.
Mission
Our mission is to improve lives by creating supportive, sustainable, and healthy environments through culinary and nutrition education. We strengthen local food systems in Frankston and surrounding areas to ensure equity for all, while teaching participants to prepare affordable, local, and culturally appropriate nutritious food that promotes health, resilience, and opportunity
Priorities
We support students with an NDIS plan to build independence through hands-on cooking and nutrition classes, providing practical experience in preparing healthy meals and developing culinary skills.
Community
&
Social Inclusion
Employability
&
Life Skills
Sustainability
&
Action
Health
&
Wellbeing
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: Supporting participants to develop practical nutrition, cooking, and life skills that improve physical and mental wellbeing
Practical skills today Career readiness for tomorrow
Building for Success Real World Skills : Communication, problem-solving, time management and project planning. Building confidence, independence, and practical skills that prepare participants for work, volunteering, or everyday life.
Shared Know-how
Shared stories
Shared impact
Intergenerational Tools & Knowledge Connection & Collaboration: Building relationships, teamwork Fostering connection, participation, and meaningful relationships within families and the wider community
Why
We Exist
This is not just a kitchen, it’s a living classroom and community hub where participants can learn, share stories, build skills, and form meaningful connections. It models an inclusive, adaptable, and scalable approach to food and life skills, creating opportunities for lasting, positive change for everyone involved.
At the heart of The Nutrition Kitchen is a simple idea: food can transform lives.
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Our NDIS program brings together participants- teens, adults, and families to learn practical, real-world skills in nutrition, cooking, and daily life, while building confidence, independence, and connection. Through hands-on learning and supportive guidance, participants develop skills that enhance their health, wellbeing, and everyday life.
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This program is designed to:
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Build food literacy: from understanding nutrition and food labels to meal planning, cooking, and enjoying shared meals.
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Strengthen access to nutritious food: addressing barriers to affordable, healthy options while supporting fair access for participants and families.
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Connect learning to real-life impact: participants gain practical skills they can apply at home, school, or work, fostering independence and confidence.
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Create pathways: linking participants with opportunities in nutrition, hospitality, and life skills development.
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Promote resilience and inclusion: through shared skills, stories, and experiences, strengthening connections and a sense of community.
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Through this program, participants not only learn how to nourish themselves and others—they build lasting relationships, confidence, and the skills to thrive.
"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
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Reinforces learning: Participants apply what they learn through hands-on cooking, nutrition activities, and daily life skills.
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Supports lasting change: Multiple, coordinated strategies help create real, long-term improvements, rather than short-term fixes.
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Engages the whole community: Families, carers, and peers all support and reinforce the same healthy habits and skills.
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Addresses multiple influences: Combines knowledge, environment, and social support to cover all factors that shape behavior and wellbeing.
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Maximizes impact: Coordinated efforts lead to greater improvements in confidence, independence, nutrition, and overall health than single-focus programs.
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 | Chef | Clinical Nutritionist
Kylie McAllester
BHSc Nutritional Medicine
Ms Human Nutrition
I’m passionate about creating practical, accessible programs that improve well-being, reduce food insecurity, and foster thriving, connected communities.
My career spans high-level restaurants both in Australia 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 work is deeply personal to me.
I bring all my experience together to teach and empower the next generation—helping them grow, cook, and fuel their bodies with knowledge, confidence, and practical skills.
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The Nutrition Kitchen was born from this mission. Through hands-on food literacy programs, we aim to address food security, sustainability, and nutrition education at a community level. My goal is to connect chefs, volunteers, families, and public health teams to create meaningful, lifelong impacts on health, skills, and community well-being