The purpose of this essay is to examine the relevance of an across the curriculum approach to nutrition education and to indicate how this concept may be applied to curriculum development in New South Wales schools. The long essay is especially concerned with the development of a conceptual framework for nutrition education as it relates to curriculum development in the context of multicultural Australian Society. The study explores the complex relationships between culture, curriculum planning and innovation by outlining the educational attitudes of Australians in post immigration periods. This situational analysis acts as a background for understanding the relevance of theories of curriculum development and innovation due to social change. In view of contemporary events, teacher education needs to respond to the many issues and realities of our social complexity and adopt a philosophy of educating children so they may enjoy living. The importance of nutrition education is a society of 'fast foods' is discussed and the relationship between drugs, diet and human development. Speculations are made as to how changes in family structures and living arrangements may influence eating behaviour and nutrition education.