Our story
Great dishes can be made by anyone – not just Michelin Star chefs. We all have the potential to create great things – and nom! is here to help you unleash that potential. Bringing nutrition education and cooking programs to Western Australia – it’s something we’ve been doing for a little while now.
Where it all began
Foodbank WA’s formal nutrition education journey began with FOOD Cent$, a practical, hands-on program designed to help people eat well on a limited budget. Originally developed in the early 1990s and taken on by Foodbank WA in the late 1990s, FOOD Cent$ focused on real world skills – planning meals, shopping wisely, cooking simple food and understanding nutrition basics.
Importantly, FOOD Cent$ was never just about information. It was grounded in behaviour change principles and designed to be accessible, respectful and empowering for people experiencing food stress. This approach strongly aligned with Foodbank WA’s connection to communities who are often hardest to reach, and it set the tone for everything that followed.
Growing food literacy across the lifespan
The success of FOOD Cent$ led to the expansion of Foodbank WA’s nutrition education into schools, communities and families.
Over time, this work evolved into a range of Food Sensations® programs, including:
- Food Sensations® for Schools, delivering engaging, curriculum aligned food education in classrooms across WA.
- Food Sensations® for Adults, supporting people on low incomes to plan, shop for and cook healthy meals.
- Food Sensations® for Parents, recognising the critical role parents play in shaping children’s eating behaviours.
A strong prevention focus underpinned all of these programs, alongside a commitment to equity, inclusion and practical skill building.
The introduction of Superhero Foods® HQ added another important layer, making nutrition education fun and culturally inclusive for children, and embedding storytelling and Aboriginal perspectives into learning.
nom!
nom! is tasty learning for life.
Our program ingredients of learning, cooking and sharing blend together in a fun and inclusive environment.
Our programs teach important life skills such as how to read food labels, plan meals, and shop on a budget. The programs also teach cooking skills to participants, using our very own recipe books to make and prepare recipes which are then shared. All our recipes meet the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommendations, can be made in under 30 minutes and are budget-friendly.
Our program empowers participants with the knowledge and skills to make healthy food choices. Developed and facilitated by university-qualified nutritionists and dietitians, these evidenced-based programs help people to make sustainable changes which lead to healthy lifestyles. This has a ripple effect by reducing the risk of a number of preventable medical conditions.
Bringing nutrition education and cooking programs to Western Australia – it’s something we’ve been doing for a little while now.
For over 20 years we have been delivered evidence-based nutrition education to school aged children, adults, parents of children 0-5, people with disability and youth and we are excited to take these years of experience to deliver nom!
And best of all nom! is backed by a bank – Foodbank.
The students loved it and we refer to the skills they learnt regularly. Parents have been sending in photos of their children cooking recipes from the book which is fabulous! Overall, students are more aware of healthy food choices and more confident in their ability to make good food for themselves. Thanks again for a wonderful incursion.
School
About Foodbank WA
Hello, we’re Foodbank WA. We believe everyone should have access to healthy food. There are Western Australians going without every day, and we are working hard to change that.
We provide food and groceries to those who struggle to afford them. We also deliver nutrition education to promote healthy eating and advocate on behalf of people that experience food stress.
While feeding Western Australians in need addresses the immediate issue, our nutrition education programs offer a pathway out of poverty.
Our purpose is to Feed. Educate. Advocate. We are here to support Western Australians in times of need.
As a 21-year-old, learning about how to better my health while simultaneously reducing expenditure will be an important life skill which I liked.
Youth program