By: Judy Davie - The Food Coach
 As Australia Day approaches on Monday it's the perfect time to reflect not only on our great southern land but also on the incredible foods that define our nation.
Half a century ago, the quintessential Aussie menu might have featured classics like lamingtons, meat pies, Vegemite, pavlova, Tim Tams, Anzac biscuits, sausage sandwiches, and the legendary Chiko Roll-of which some 40 million were sold in the '60s and '70s!
But we've come a long way since then.
Today's Australians are adventurous eaters with sophisticated, global, and health-conscious palates. It's time to celebrate a 21st-century menu - one that showcases who we truly are: a nation of fresh food lovers, creative cooks, and proud producers.
Alongside honouring those recognised in the Australia Day Honours for their remarkable service, let's also celebrate our Australian farmers - the dedicated men and women who bring the bounty of our land to our tables every day.
Here are 10 iconic modern Australian foods that deserve to shine this Australia Day:
1. Olive Oil
Once, we looked to Europe for the best olive oils. No longer. Australia now produces world-class, award-winning extra virgin olive oils with a glorious golden hue and a fruity, rich flavour. Locally made oils are prized not only for their taste but also for their heart-healthy benefits and cholesterol-lowering properties.
2. Macadamia Nuts
Native to Australia, macadamias are the cream of the crop when it comes to nuts. Rich, buttery, and packed with good fats, they support heart health and may even help burn body fat as part of a healthy diet. Try swapping your morning Vegemite for macadamia butter on toast - a deliciously Australian twist.
3. Wine
Australia is the 5th largest wine producer in the world, with every state offering distinctive regional varieties. From Barossa Valley's Shiraz to Margaret River's Chardonnay and Tasmania's Pinot Noir, Aussie wines rival the best on the global stage. Cheers to that!
4. Oats
Grown right across the country-from Western Australia to New South Wales-oats are a humble yet powerful superfood. Just one bowl provides enough beta-glucan to help lower cholesterol and support heart health. Affordable, nutritious, and versatile, oats remain a wholesome Aussie favourite.
5. Bananas
Packed with potassium, magnesium, B vitamins and fibre, this nutritious, affordable snack continues to fuel Australians from coast to coast.
6. Lamb
No Australia Day BBQ is complete without Aussie lamb sizzling on the grill. Tender, flavourful and nutrient-rich, lamb provides an excellent source of protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12 - and it's 100% homegrown.
7. Oysters
From Coffin Bay to Cape Hawk, our pristine waters yield some of the world's finest oysters. These ocean delicacies are rich in protein, iron, zinc and omega-3s - proof that indulgence and nutrition can coexist beautifully.
8. Finger Limes
Native to the rainforests of southeast Queensland and northern NSW, finger limes are often called the "caviar of citrus." Their tiny, jewel-like pearls burst with tangy flavour and are loaded with folate, potassium, and vitamin C. They're now taking the international culinary world by storm - another triumph for indigenous Australian foods.
9. Mangoes
Nothing says Australian summer like the scent of ripe mangoes. As Queensland's first mangoes hit the markets each season, households across the country rejoice. Juicy, sun-kissed, and delicious - mangoes are the taste of Australian joy.
10. Avocado
First planted in Sydney's Botanic Gardens in the 1840s, Australian avocados now dominate our breakfast plates. From Queensland to Western Australia, the creamy green fruit is perfect smashed on toast with olive oil, lime and local fetta. Rich in vitamins E, C, K and folate - it's the very definition of modern Australian nourishment.
Here's to Good Food and Great Company
This Australia Day, as we fire up the BBQ and gather with friends and family, let's celebrate the abundance of fresh, homegrown produce that makes our nation proud - from the farmers who grow it to the cooks who make it shine.
Happy Australia Day!
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