Choosing NDIS meal preparation: menus, storage and food costs
Meal Preparation Under the NDIS
By Olina · Originally published 8 January 2020
Deeper review: 6 October 2026. The deeper review adds article-specific decisions and audience guidance. Historical passages and their adjacent corrections remain preserved.
Choose meals for your preferences and practical needs
Vegan, vegetarian or other dietary preferences can shape which provider you choose. Ask about the actual ingredients, portions, accessible packaging and reheating instructions. An old provider statement about next-day delivery or current registration needs confirmation before you rely on it.
Compare the personal food cost with the eligible preparation and delivery charge. Being able to choose a menu does not mean NDIS funding pays for all the food. Ask for the current written breakdown before agreeing to regular orders.
Ask how substitutions and ingredients are communicated and labelled.
Original article and dated context
Olina from Vege2go is passionate is passionate about providing healthier food choices for people with disability. Vege2go is a registered NDIS provider.
In case you hadn’t heard, you _can _use your NDIS funds to pay for meal preparation and delivery! It’s massively exciting, especially for participants who might otherwise need assistance in the kitchen. Obviously, the NDIS will fund meal prep and delivery only if it’s considered reasonable and necessary. (For instance, it has to be related to the person’s disability and link to that person’s goal.)
However, when you’ve got the funds provided, it’s an exciting thing, allowing people with disabilities to have the meals they want, prepared how they want. And it’s this last bit that I want to focus on briefly – people with disability are entitled to choose the food that they want. What’s the NDIS without choice and control?
Providing healthy choices
Take us, for example. Vege2go started in 2006. We provide a healthier choice for people on the go – one that meets the needs of more people and, hopefully, the planet too. We supply vegan, vegetarian, gluten free meals to NDIS participants, as well as Mercy Health and hospital customers.
This is because Australia is the third fastest growing vegan market in the world. More Australian are becoming vegan with dietitians expecting the trend to grow as people become increasingly aware of their gut health. But as consumers become increasingly aware, they have less time to maintain a balanced diet with the busyness of life.
[Clickability update, September 2026: This market ranking and the five-year forecast below are historical contributor claims, not current Australian market evidence.]
As a society, we are increasingly aware that “we are what we eat”. The nature of our diets determines our ability to function effectively each day. Vegetarianism is associated with a reduced risk of chronic illness, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
So, with other retailers slow to respond to this change in desires, how are people with disability able to eat what they want, when they want, if they too want to be vegetarian or vegan? We want to ensure we offer this choice and control, helping people find a delicious food option that works for them! Vegetarians, vegans and omnivores alike.
Forecasters predict that the industry for healthy and alternative ready meals will grow over the next five years, as innovation and convenience continue to drive the decisions of increasingly busy consumers, so it’s our responsibility at Vege2go, and elsewhere, to offer busy consumers what they want – nutrition, great taste, and quality. That’s choice and control.
What does this mean for participants?
What do we do at Vege2go? Simply, NDIS customers could use their NDIS funds to buy our foods. We serve both self-managed, plan-managed and agency-managed customers in Victoria. NDIS customers can choose mains, sides, salad, desserts, meal plans, dinner packs, and snacks. They all have a variety of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. Can you believe that we even have vegan sushi and vegan handmade dumpling?!
NDIS Customers can also make their own choices for their dinner packs and meal plans. If you have any allergy about any ingredients, i.e soy & nuts, please write it in the email and we will pay special attention to your requirements. All you need to do is to send us an email to [email protected], stating your order items and delivery date. We will organize everything else for you. If you wish to set up as a regular order, we could send you the order on a certain day every week. Generally speaking, when you place the order today, you will probably receive the order tomorrow!
[Clickability update, September 2026: Menu, availability, allergy arrangements and delivery timing must be confirmed directly. This describes the contributor’s 2020 service, not a current delivery promise.]
We are very proud that NDIS customers appreciate our products as they feel much stronger and healthier after being a regular customer with us. Food and health go hand in hand!
Keep food choice and funding questions separate
Check nutrition and safety without making promises
Ask what the participant likes and which meals they can store and use safely. If there are allergies, swallowing needs or other clinical concerns, follow the relevant professional advice rather than relying on a general menu label or an email assurance.
A preferred diet is not a guarantee of better health. Discuss any nutritional questions with an appropriate health professional and avoid turning the original provider’s testimonials into expected results for another person. Keep food preferences, clinical advice and the funded support arrangement visible as separate decisions.
Agree how a delivery change will be handled and keep ordering information accessible.
Show actual preparation and delivery costs
The current NDIA nutrition guideline requires actual eligible preparation and delivery costs to be distinguished from food and ingredients. Do not use a universal percentage merely because another website advertises one. The participant’s support must also meet their plan and funding requirements. Read the official guidance
Explain minimum orders, delivery areas, missed deliveries and how an order can be changed. Where the person wants to build cooking skills, discuss how delivered meals and hands-on support can fit that goal instead of assuming one model is right for every meal.
Does meal-preparation funding pay for ingredients?
No. Food and ingredients are everyday living costs. Eligible preparation and delivery costs need to be separated from them. Official guidance
Is a vegan meal automatically nutritionally complete?
No. A balanced diet needs planning, and some nutrients need particular attention. Seek individual advice where needed. Official guidance
Does choosing a vegan menu make the whole order NDIS-funded?
No. Food and ingredients remain separate from eligible disability-related preparation and delivery support. Check the plan and actual cost breakdown. Official guidance
Find support for your meal routine
Tell Clickability the kind of daily support you need, from preparing meals at home to finding an appropriate provider. Browse profiles and reviews as you consider your options.
