What we’re about
Hi everyone! My name is Vivian and I'm a special needs caregiver to an amazing autistic young man who loves to cook and has become quite a chef!
We started cooking healthy meals together after discovering that an anti-inflammatory diet improves many of the symptoms he suffered from, such as frequent meltdowns, trouble focusing, and being semi-verbal. He now has very seldom meltdowns, can focus more, and has become more verbal, including initiating conversations. He even lost a much needed 30 pounds!
Many of his friends have noticed his positive changes and wanted to learn more about this healthier lifestyle. I therefore started teaching healthy cooking skills to people with special needs and would like to invite you to join us!
Our classes are 2-3 hours long, offered 7 days a week. Each student has his or her own prep station and everyone creates the same dish for that day...whether savory or sweet. All dishes are gluten-free, sugar-free, and if necessary dairy-free.
For beginners, all dishes are made in the oven and I am the only one to place each dish in and remove from the oven. When I see a student show superior skills, they can advance to an intermediate and then to an advanced class, where stove, knife, and other more involved skills are taught and utilized. These students will be recommended for catering and/or private chef opportunities, either alongside myself or on their own.
Unfortunately, this population of amazing people often go unnoticed, ignored, and are made to feel invisible. This greatly impacts their view of themselves, believing they are limited in their abilities. I want to show them that they CAN prepare food that is not only nutritious, but also delicious! They CAN accomplish much in the kitchen and in their lives! Each one was created with purpose!
It would be my honor to work with your child on developing more independent skills and building their self-confidence. I invite you to reach out to me for more information.
