From the point of diagnosis, there seems to be this odd idea about how to deal with acknowledging that someone is on the autistic spectrum.

In the end, I had to go all the way to a tribunal, which rounded off an extraordinarily stressful 16 months. EasyMeals by Rachel Allen is a solid cookbook too with basic recipes that almost always work with the right balance of flavours.We provide expert tips and strategies to help you navigate food sensitivities, sensory issues, and dietary restrictions. The strong implication under the spiky words of a stranger was that this was somehow a lifestyle choice I had willingly chosen. Primarily aimed at autistic people, Lydia explains several key cooking concepts to aid in your cooking journey. Understanding yourself – what you find difficult or easy, your preferred textures, your sensory profile, possible triggers for distress – can have a hugely positive impact, as we can start to help ourselves when it comes to adapting the kitchen and making food accessible. The UK – and potentially wider society – has an odd idea that Autistic people should have to rely on older relatives for support forever.

Many autistic people spoke or wrote to me about how they did not learn how to cook or prepare food because lessons were not accessible – or that they had not learned because they were perceived as not needing to know how to prepare food, on the basis of their condition. The more I looked at the ‘just learn to cook’ line, the more it seemed to me there was something amiss. Key skills such as cooking, despite my spiky profile and terrible motor skills limiting me in some aspects, can ‘just be learnt’. Not bad for a first attempt, perhaps, but it did go badly wrong and was a lot smaller than it should have been and more shrivelled as a result. Recipes are categorised by meal with additional guidance on the level of energy needed to tackle them, with options for low-energy or meltdown days, or days when you're able to take on a new challenge.The impeccable analysis of tasks is the basis for the success of the unique cookbook, “Coach in the Kitchen”.

Between the odd pockets of times between lockdowns, I was informed that I was eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a form of disability benefit here in the UK. The goal of the book is not to make the most delicious ever; it is to make sure people can just eat to survive and be comfortable.

With recipes to suit any occasion, the book is written in clear, jargon-free language which makes 'the obvious' obvious. More than a cookbook, Lydia has produced a book that is an excellent educational tool, a model for accessible and inclusive cookbooks, and an important piece of advocacy for the autistic community. I pitched the idea but didn’t really expect it to be accepted – it was more a release of frustration in having to justify myself once again, in spending time and an emotional energy that is not endless.

Below, you can read an extract and a recipe from the The Autism-Friendly Cookbook , published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers on Nov.Mashable is a registered trademark of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without express written permission. Having observed firsthand the remarkable cooking classes that generated the delicious recipes in the “Coach in the Kitchen” cookbook, I am so happy that the book includes detailed information on how to run similar classes elsewhere. Happy Mealtimes: Transform mealtimes from stressful events into opportunities for connection and enjoyment.