The Official AIFS

Meal & Menu Planning Course (Healthcare)

Designed for healthcare professionals that need to develop meal and menu plans for clients, this course covers topics such as religious and cultural requirements, health considerations and the IDDSI framework for texture-modified food.
Planning, evaluating and monitoring meals and menus is an important part of many healthcare professionals' responsibilities.When you study online with AIFS you will:
  • Learn skills required by public and private healthcare facilities
  • Complete your course 100% online
  • Easily track the practical assessment with an online Job Log
  • Get the support you need
Meal & Menu Planning (Healthcare)
for-job-seekers-icon-Study online, whenever you want

Study online, whenever you want

Enjoy the convenience of doing your training anywhere, at any time of the day or night.
for-job-seekers-icon-Finish within hours, or take your time

Finish within hours, or take your time

Complete the Meal & Menu Planning Course all in one go, or take up to 12 months.
for-job-seekers-icon-Receive your documents fast

Receive your documents fast

Receive your documents within just a few days. If you need them faster, just get in touch!
for-job-seekers-icon-Get the support you need

Get the support you need

Our qualified trainers and assessors are here to provide the support you need when you need it.
for-job-seekers-icon-Recognised across Australia

Recognised across Australia

Be sure of acceptance with a course that's nationally recognised and accepted in hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout Australia.
for-job-seekers-icon-Easy Practical Assessment

Easy Practical Assessment

No need to go anywhere or video yourself performing tasks. Simply complete a Job Log for tasks you're probably already doing!

AIFS is Trusted and Recommended Throughout Australia

Relied on by the Australian food service industry for a quality training experience
Discover why our students love our courses
99%of students would recommend our courses to others
98%of students rate our courses as good or excellent
10/10 students say that this our courses are easy to use
Trusted by thousands of companies
Nestle Logo
Subway Logo
United Care Logo
Pizza Hut Logo
Sumo Salad Logo
YMCA Logo
Red Rooster Logo
Supa IGA Logo

Course Outline

Develop a solid understanding of meal and menu planning for healthcare
When you enrol in the Meal & Menu Planning for Healthcare Course, you have access to everything you need to gain a solid understanding of how to plan meals and menus for your clients taking into consideration their nutritional needs, cultural and religious preferences, and food allergies and intolerances.With AIFS there are:
  • No hidden prerequisites
  • No hidden assessment requirements
  • No hidden fees or charges
Immediate StartAs soon as you sign up, you have instant access to your course. You can complete the training all in one go, or if you prefer to take your time, we allow 12 months to complete the course and you can start and stop as often as you like.Training recognised across AustraliaThe nationally recognised units of competency delivered by this course are recognised and required by hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout all Australian states and territories.
COURSE OUTLINE
+
The course is split up into 19 lessons, two simulated scenarios, and a Job Log that you should complete in the workplace.The lessons in the course are:
  • Lesson 1 - Introduction to Nutrients
  • Lesson 2 - Protein, Carbohydrates & Fat
  • Lesson 3 - Vitamins, Minerals, Water & Fibre
  • Lesson 4 - ADG & AGHE
  • Lesson 5 - Intro to Menu Planning & Therapeutic Diets
  • Lesson 6 - High-Protein High-Energy Diet
  • Lesson 7 - Texture-Modified & Thickened-Fluid Diets
  • Lesson 8 - Low-Energy Diet
  • Lesson 9 - Low-Fat, Low-Residue & Low-Sodium Diets
  • Lesson 10 - Fluid-Restriction Diet, Low-Potassium Diet & Phosphate Reduction
  • Lesson 11 - Healthy Choices / Lifestyle Diet
  • Lesson 12 - High-Fibre Diet
  • Lesson 13 - Food Allergies & Food Intolerances
  • Lesson 14 - Vegetarian Diets
  • Lesson 15 - Cultural Diets
  • Lesson 16 - Religious Diets
  • Lesson 17 - Allied Health & Care Team
  • Lesson 18 - Additional Client Considerations
  • Lesson 19 - Food Safety & Foodservice Systems
QuizzesAt the end of each lesson, there is a multiple-choice quiz. You have five attempts at each quiz and must score 100% to move on to the next lesson. If you don't pass the quiz after five attempts, simply get in touch and we'll help you progress to the next section.Simulated ScenariosAfter you've completed all the lessons, there are two simulated scenarios to complete. You will be given the details of two clients and their nutritional needs and food requirements. You will then create a daily meal plan for each scenario, and our assessors will review it.Job LogIn order to comply with the government requirements for the units of competency being awarded, you need to demonstrate that you can perform certain tasks correctly. To complete this practical component, we require you to complete a Job Log covering 120 hours of meal and menu planning.To facilitate this, we'll provide you with an easy-to-use template as soon as you start the course and complete your Student Registration. This Job Log should be completed over a series of shifts under the supervision of the delegating Dietitian in your workplace.Most of our students are already completing the tasks listed in the Job Log as part of their role, and so this part of the assessment is a simple formality to meet compliance requirements.Quality Assurance ProcessAs part of our quality assurance process, we reserve the right to contact you or your nominated delegating Dietitian to conduct a competency conversation or verification of assessment prior to awarding certification.
There are no training prerequisites for this course - you can simply enrol and get started.Language, Literacy and NumeracyWhilst there are no training prerequisites, there are some requirements around language, literacy and numeracy. In order to complete this course you should be able to perform everyday tasks such as:
  • Completing an application form
  • Sending an email to enquire about accommodation
  • Reviewing and discussing news items with others
  • Following a recipe
If you have any concerns about the skills required to participate in this course, please contact us and we'll be happy to discuss your situation.
You need to make sure that you have the following in order to be able to complete the Meal & Menu Planning Course:1. A modern web browserAt AIFS we use some of the latest eLearning technologies to deliver the courses. You will need to have a modern web browser to view and complete the course (Google Chrome is recommended), and it's important that you have Javascript enabled.2. An email addressDuring the registration process, we will ask you for your email address. This is a mandatory requirement for you to be able to access our systems. Email addresses cannot be shared by students.3. Adobe PDF Reader or Adobe AcrobatSome of the resources are in PDF format. Ensure that you have the latest version of Adobe PDF Reader. AIFS courses work on most computers, laptops, tablets and mobile devices.4. MS Office or G-Suite AccessThe Job Log and Meal Planner document is provided in spreadsheet format. You will need access to MS Office (Excel) or G-Suite (Google Sheets) in order to complete the practical component of the course.

Healthcare-Specific Training

Develop expert skills in meal and menu planning for clients in healthcare settings
Health & Community
+
Hospitals and healthcare facilities require meal and menu planning that ensures the best outcomes for clients.The units of competency awarded for the course are:
  • HLTAHA039 - Assist in the development of meals and menus to meet dietary and cultural requirements
  • HLTAHA040 - Assist with the monitoring and modification of meals and menus according to individualised plans
Training for the Health & Community sectorIndustry-specific training is offered for the Health & Community sector.When you complete the AIFS Meal & Menu Planning Course, you'll receive a Statement of Attainment.This lists the units of competency you've attained.

Common Questions

Learn more about what our students ask about this course
How do I enrol in the course?That's easy! Simply click on the blue 'Start Online Now' button on this page and follow the prompts. You'll be enrolled and ready to start in just a few minutes.
Can you tell me more about the practical assessment?The units of competency delivered in the course require the learner to spend 120 hours or more performing meal and menu planning activities.
What are the simulated scenarios?The simulated scenarios are an assessment tool found in the Job Log and Meal Planner document that we send you during your registration.
Is it mandatory for me to do this course?That depends on where you work. Some government departments, hospitals and healthcare facilities require certain employees to complete this training.