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Preparing a nutritious meal each day might seem straightforward, but when you live with a disability, it can quickly become one of the most draining tasks on your plate (pun intended). If you or someone you care for receives assistance with daily life NDIS funding, you may already know it covers help with personal care, household tasks and getting out in the community. What many participants do not realise is that this same Core Support category can also fund meal preparation and even the delivery of ready-made meals to your door. In this guide, we will walk you through exactly how it works, what the NDIS will and will not pay for, and how services like Nourish'd make it simple to enjoy fresh, chef-crafted meals without the kitchen stress.
Assistance with Daily Life (ADL) sits within the Core Supports budget of your NDIS plan. It funds the help or supervision you need with personal tasks during day-to-day life so you can live as independently as possible. Unlike Capacity Building supports, which focus on teaching new skills over time, ADL funding addresses the ongoing, practical support you need right now.
Your ADL budget can cover a wide range of activities, including:
Because Core Supports funding is flexible, you can often shift funds between the different Core categories to match your changing needs, as long as your plan allows for it.
It is worth noting the difference between Assistance with Daily Life and Improved Daily Living, which falls under Capacity Building. Improved Daily Living helps you build skills, for example, learning to cook independently, while Assistance with Daily Life provides the hands-on support for tasks you cannot safely do on your own because of your disability.
Meal preparation is specifically listed as an eligible support under Assistance with Daily Life. The NDIS support lists describe it as support that provides assistance with essential household tasks that a participant cannot do themselves because of their disability, including meal preparation and delivery.
In practical terms, this can take two main forms.
Since March 2022, the NDIA no longer requires quotes for meal preparation and delivery in most cases, making it easier than ever to access this support.
This is the part that trips up a lot of participants, so let us make it crystal clear. The NDIS will fund the cost of preparing and delivering your meals. This includes:
The NDIS will not fund the cost of the food itself, that is considered an everyday living expense, the same as rent or utilities.
According to the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, meal delivery providers must supply NDIS-specific invoices that clearly separate the food cost (your co-payment) from the preparation and delivery cost (funded by the NDIS). Reputable providers like Nourish’d handle this split automatically, so you do not need to worry about getting the invoicing right.
It is also important to know that fast food, takeaway and food delivery platforms such as Uber Eats, DoorDash and Menulog are not considered NDIS supports and cannot be claimed. You need to use a dedicated meal preparation and delivery service where the food and preparation costs can be clearly identified.
Proper nutrition plays a vital role in managing disability-related health conditions and supporting overall wellbeing. As noted by Dietitians Australia, people living with a disability may have physical, intellectual, sensory or psychiatric impairments that create unique food and nutrition needs. These go well beyond general dietary requirements and can directly affect energy levels, medication effectiveness and long-term health outcomes.
Recent NDIS quarterly reports show the scheme now supports more than 700,000 participants across Australia. Many live with complex or multiple health conditions that affect everyday tasks like eating, preparing food and staying safe in the kitchen. Yet for many participants, cooking a balanced meal from scratch simply is not possible because of limited mobility, fatigue, cognitive challenges or pain. That is where having reliable access to nutritious, ready-to-heat meals can make a real difference to your daily life.
Think about what goes into making dinner from scratch:
For someone managing a disability, each of those steps can drain precious energy that could be spent on the things that matter most to you, your goals, your relationships and your community.
A meal delivery service that partners with the NDIS takes all of that off your plate (we cannot help ourselves with the food puns). Here is how it works with a provider like Nourish'd:
Whether you are self-managed, plan-managed or agency-managed, you can access Nourish’d meals through your NDIS plan. If you are unsure about the sign-up process, the step-by-step NDIS guide walks you through everything.
Choosing your meals should be the fun part. Nourish’d’s rotating menu features a wide range of chef-crafted options, and every single one is 100% gluten-free and free from artificial preservatives. Here are some popular picks that tick all the boxes for taste and nutrition:
Our Lasagne with Beef & Pumpkin is a crowd favourite, with rich, creamy layers of bolognese, butternut pumpkin and homemade béchamel, served with baby spinach. It is high in protein, nut free, low carb and 100% gluten free, making it a comforting choice for participants who want something hearty and nourishing.
For a hearty, comforting option, Beef Bourguignon with White Potato Mash delivers tender slow-cooked beef in a rich, cranberry-infused sauce with carrots and mushrooms, served with creamy mash. It is high in protein and fibre, nut free and 100% gluten free, perfect for participants who want a satisfying, home-style meal without any of the effort.
If you prefer something lighter, Chicken Singapore Noodles combines free-range chicken, colourful vegetables and rice noodles in a mild curry finish. It is dairy free, nut free, low calorie, low carb and high in protein, an easy way to enjoy a lighter meal that still keeps you feeling satisfied.
Participants looking for a classic pasta-style option love Beef Bolognese Gnocchi, with pillowy gluten free gnocchi and a thick, nutrient-packed beef and pork bolognese. It is high in protein, dairy free, nut free and 100% gluten free, with hidden veg for an extra nutrition boost.
Nourish’d meals come in three portion sizes to suit your appetite:
Your support coordinator or plan manager can help you work out how many meals per week your funding covers.
Not sure whether your plan includes meal preparation funding? Here is a quick way to find out.
Meal preparation and delivery does not have to be specifically stated in your plan as a separate line item. As Team DSC explains, if it is reasonable and necessary for you because of your disability, it can be purchased flexibly from your Core funding budget. However, if your plan does not currently include Core funding for daily activities, you may need to provide supporting information about why this support is reasonable and necessary at your next plan reassessment.
If you need help navigating this process, Nourish’d’s team can assist. You can check if meal prep and delivery is in your plan or use the NDIS quote generator to prepare for your next planning meeting.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend that all Australians eat a variety of nutritious foods every day, including plenty of vegetables, lean proteins and wholegrains. When you struggle to prepare food safely, meeting these guidelines on your own becomes an unnecessary challenge.
Signing up with Nourish’d is refreshingly simple, no mountains of paperwork, no confusing processes. Whether you manage your own plan, work with a plan manager, or have agency-managed funding, there is a pathway for you. The support coordinator sign-up guide makes the process straightforward for coordinators as well.
Here is what you can expect:
If your NDIS plan is extended or changes, you do not need to start from scratch. The Nourish’d team can help you navigate any plan extensions or adjustments smoothly.
Absolutely. Every meal on the Nourish’d menu is 100% gluten-free and endorsed by Coeliac Australia. We prepare all meals under a curated Allergen Plan developed in collaboration with Coeliac Australia, so you can eat with complete peace of mind.
Yes. If your NDIS plan includes Core Supports funding for Assistance with Daily Life, you can use it for meal preparation and delivery. The NDIS covers the preparation and delivery component of each meal, while you pay a small co-payment for the food itself. Providers like Nourish’d provide NDIS-compliant invoices that clearly itemise each component.
In most cases, no. Since March 2022, the NDIA removed the requirement for quotes for meal preparation and delivery for participants with Core funding. You can start ordering straight away. However, if your circumstances are unique, the NDIS quote guide can help you work out whether a quote would be beneficial for your next planning meeting.
If meal preparation is not specifically mentioned, you can still access meal delivery flexibly from your Core funding, provided it is reasonable and necessary for your disability. To ensure ongoing access, it is a good idea to request that meal preparation and delivery is included in your plan at your next reassessment. Speak to your Support Coordinator or Local Area Coordinator for guidance.
Nourish’d delivers fresh meals to a wide range of locations across Australia, including:
You can check whether your area is covered by visiting the Nourish’d delivery information page.
Assistance with daily life in the NDIS is about more than personal care and household tasks, it is about making sure you are well nourished, too. With meal preparation and delivery covered under your Core Supports, you can enjoy fresh, chef-crafted meals without the kitchen struggle. Nourish’d makes it easy with 100% gluten-free, preservative-free meals delivered straight to your door, complete with NDIS-compliant invoicing. Explore the full NDIS meal menu and take one more daily task off your list.
