Fostering safe, inclusive mealtimes for children with food allergies

Mealtimes are an important part of the day in early childhood education and care settings. They are opportunities for connection, conversation, learning and belonging. For children with food allergies, however, these everyday moments can carry significant danger and need to be handled with careful consideration. 

Food allergies are common amongst young children in Australia, affecting one in 10 infants and one in 20 school aged children. Most services have at least one child with a food allergy enrolled, and many services will care for several. 

Creating safe and inclusive food experiences requires more than simply avoiding certain foods. It involves building a culture of awareness, planning and shared responsibility so that every child can participate confidently in meals, celebrations and learning experiences. 

What does it mean to be allergy aware? 

An allergy-aware approach is different from banning particular foods. Food bans alone are not an effective strategy because children can be allergic to a wide range of foods. 

Instead, allergy-aware services have clear policies and procedures that support educators and staff to safely care for children with food allergies. This includes ensuring all relevant staff understand which children have allergies and are trained in food allergen management, first aid and anaphylaxis response. 

Training programs such as All about Allergens helps educators develop practical strategies to reduce the risk of accidental exposure and respond appropriately if an allergic reaction occurs. 

Supporting safe mealtimes 

Strong routines and consistent practices are essential for managing food allergies safely. 

At meal and snack times, educators should: 

• know which children have food allergies, intolerances or special dietary requirements before each meal and snack 

• follow a clear process to ensure the right food is given to the right child, including careful handover from the kitchen and a double check by two staff members before serving 

• support all children and educators to wash their hands before and after eating 

• ensure children with food allergies eat with other children and are not seated separately unless this is part of an agreed risk-management plan 

• actively supervise all children while they are eating 

• teach children not to share food or drinks 

• clean up spills and dropped food promptly to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. 

These practices not only help reduce risk but also support children's sense of belonging and inclusion. 

Making food-based learning experiences accessible 

Cooking and food preparation experiences are valuable opportunities for learning, but they require careful planning when children with food allergies are involved. 

Children can be exposed to allergens through handling ingredients as well as eating them, so it is important to select recipes that can be safely enjoyed by everyone. 

Educators can work closely with cooks, chefs and families to identify suitable ingredient substitutions and plan experiences that are both engaging and inclusive.  

Planning makes perfect! Ask the cook or chef for advice. They will know suitable ingredients you can swap if a recipe contains a food a child is allergic to.  

Also check with parents and carers as they may have examples of foods that are easy to make and that can be enjoyed by all children. 

Planning ahead for excursions and special events 

Excursions, celebrations and special events can introduce additional considerations for children with food allergies.  

When planning these experiences, educators should consider children's allergy management needs from the outset and consult with families early in the planning process.  

Careful thought should be given to: 

• the choice of excursion 

• how food and drinks will be managed throughout the event  

• any environmental factors that could increase risk. 

Planning tools such as the National Allergy Council Anaphylaxis Checklist (CEC): Preparing for off-site activities can help services identify potential risks and put appropriate strategies in place before the event takes place. 

More information

Visit the National Allergy Council Allergy Aware Hub for best practise recommendations, and example templates to help your service care for children with allergies.  

Complete the All about Allergens Food Allergen Management for CEC free online training. Download the Managing Food Allergies in Children’s Education and Care All about Allergens Kitchen Handbook. 

Access resources for planning and supervising meals for food allergies in children’s services.