Learning to prep your own meals is a great way to become more independent. There are ideas in this section that can help you pick up easy cooking skills and handy tips so you can make food without stress and feel confident in the kitchen—and maybe even impress a few people along the way!
Change for Life runs Young People's Clubs over a five-week period for young people aged 11–19, or up to 25 for those with special educational needs or disabilities. The clubs are delivered in partnership with local organisations across Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea and are designed to equip young people with practical skills and resources to eat well, stay active, improve emotional wellbeing, and maintain a healthy weight through simple, enjoyable lifestyle changes.
Videos of simple food prep and using cutlery can be found here: Video Library - Watch Me Do It Project
The Cookability Team at United Response’s ROC Wellbeing service in Devon have developed accessible, easy-to-follow cooking videos like the one below, made by and for people with learning disabilities. The videos aim to get more people with learning disabilities cooking healthy, homemade food and they have been used in colleges to help students learn to cook and use kitchen equipment safely. There are lots of simple step by step recipes, including spaghetti bolognese, chilli con carne and fish pie on their Youtube channel. They also offer Easy Read ingredient lists for some of the recipes.
Free cooking and meal preparation resources
ASDAN have created free cooking and meal preparation resources for learners aged 13–19, designed to build practical kitchen skills, promote healthy eating, and encourage cooking on a budget. Inspired by their FoodWise Short Course, the resources include engaging challenges such as meal planning, cooking one-pot meals, and exploring food sustainability and nutrition.
Student guide to food safety and hygiene
The Food Standard Agency has produced a student guide to food safety and hygiene to give students advice on how to keep their kitchen clean and understand the basics of food hygiene.
Practical Guide on Eating Well for 12-18 year olds
The Caroline Walker Trust has published a Practical Guide on Eating Well for 12-18 year olds to support young people in eating well by outlining key nutrition principles, showing how their dietary needs can be met with a variety of foods and drinks, and providing guidance on appropriate portion sizes.
