About Plate it Up®
Founded in 2024, Plate it Up Food Literacy is a not-for-profit, advancing health charity.
Our Plate it Up® food literacy sessions and events are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals living in regional areas of Australia.
We are passionate about food and health. Our team comes from backgrounds in health, academic research, business and the hospitality industry. As nutritionists, we focus on teaching the importance of choosing nutritious foods to combat the rising levels of diet-related chronic diseases. As foodies, we focus on fun, healthy methods of cooking and emphasise the importance of preventing foodborne disease.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Food connects us to others and the environment. We are in awe of how food nourishes and sustains our bodies while nurturing family food history and fostering social connectedness with culture and the community.
We want to harness the positive impacts food has on us and empower communities to build a positive relationship with food and lead happy lives.
OUR VISION
We aim to empower individuals’ ability to make sustained, informed food choices, ultimately reducing their risk of food-related diseases and cancers.
To make an impact on food literacy skills in Australia, we strive to increase people’s confidence to plan for, to choose, to prepare, and to eat healthier options using evidence-based education from the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADGL) and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ).
OUR VALUES
Sustainability
We are dedicated to promoting sustainable, nutritious eating and the safe preparation of food.
Inclusivity
We embrace diversity and ensure our programmes are accessible to all, regardless of background or ability.
Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of honesty and ethical standards in all our activities.
Health and Wellbeing
We are committed to enhancing health and well-being using practical education.
Respect
We value and practice respect in all our interactions, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
Collaboration
We believe in the power of working together with communities, partners, and stakeholders to achieve our goals.
OUR WORK
Our team comprises leading food and health professionals. We focus on teaching the importance of choosing and preparing nutritious foods to combat the rising prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases. Our programs and events are evidence-based, inclusive, and designed to be both fun and engaging for participants of all ages.
The feasibility study & preliminary evaluation were conducted by Narelle Bickford. Founder of Plate it Up®, Researcher of food literacy and nutrition and a trade qualified chef.
OUR RESEARCH
Research and evaluation are a big part of our efforts to improve food literacy and health outcomes.
We invest in promoting the importance of choosing and preparing foods that are beneficial to health and well-being. We conducted a feasibility and preliminary evaluation of our family-focused food literacy program in central Victoria.
Working in collaboration with the White Hills Junior Football Club, we educated families on planning for nutritious everyday food, basic nutrition, food safety and practical cooking. We investigated the barriers that families experience when choosing and preparing nutritious food and drinks.
Please see below the key findings, and feel free to reach out for more information.
Our Collaborators
Our Collaborators
Our collaborators
White Hills Junior Football Club
We would like to thank the White Hills Junior Football Club for their support in delivering Plate it Up® as a family-focused food literacy intervention.
Eaglehawk Community House
Delivered in collaboration with Eaglehawk Community House, which supports food literacy and nutrition knowledge across its community. We designed our sessions to empower staff, volunteers, and family members with practical knowledge and skills around healthy eating that included nutrition education, cooking and reducing food waste.