The holidays are a smorgasbord of non-standard food and everyone has food traditions that differ from the next person. I was sitting thinking about what to write about this week and then it hit me - nearly literally as my To Be Read pile by the side of the bed cascaded onto me this morning. Lydia Wilkins had written the answer to the food overwhelm that is the Christmas period. In The Autism-Friendly Cookbook, published in 2022, Wilkins creates a spiky profile guide to cooking and eating. 

The first reason I recommend the book, beyond the need to cook for the festive season, is the commitment to supporting spiky profiles and dietary requirements. The book uses quick to identify symbols and scales to detail the level of energy required, the complexity of the dish - both in the sense of complexity of tastes and texture and skills required - and explains how to simplify or augment the dish (which is a godsend for us sensory seekers). It covers a range of dietary requirements including gluten and dairy, which in my childhood household of allergies and food sensitivities would have been a delight to my recipe book reading father. My favourite part of the guidance really is the matter-of-fact way in which sensory seeking and avoiding is supported without judgement. I have seen many helpful guides that don’t even consider sensory seekers and me and my jar of scotch bonnet chili jam are glad to be included in this recipe book.          

Recipe wise, some are incredibly simple - think fruit salad kebabs. They are quick and easy, and you know what, I am here for their simplicity, for days when opening and closing the fridge in hopes of a meal magically appearing is easier than actually making dinner. This is another part of the book that deserves credit: there are simple recipes, ones that take little time, little preparation and often can be made from leftovers or back of the fridge/cupboard. There are more complicated recipes, such as Aunty’s Lamb Kofta and Salsa for example, but the base premise of the book doesn’t disappear. The focus on easy-to-follow recipes with clear advice on how much energy you need for them shines through. The book is dedicated to providing clear instructions that don’t tumble into the trap of assuming Autistic people need to be infantilised. 

This book is ideal for people cooking for themselves for the first time. It would couple nicely with Harriet Axbey’s book “University: The Autistic Guide, Everything You Need to Survive and Thrive” as a go-to pair for those at university or heading there next year. It is also super useful for families struggling to cater to sensory issues around food and different dietary requirements. It is also (and this is my personal preference shining through) a lovely little bed time read; a short paragraph explaining how the recipe came about and then a step by step guide - sign me up. 

So if you’re wondering how to make the festive season less of a food nightmare, or you’re looking for a stocking filler, this is the book for you. If you need me for the next week I’ll be in the kitchen - as we say at home, Bon Appétit. 

“The Autism-Friendly Cookbook” by Lydia Wilkins can be purchased here.