A new cookbook produced in Armidale by dietetian Gillian Woodward and her students is creating waves statewide and is destined to become a sector best seller.
It is a first of its kind to help people with disabilities living independently or in supported dwellings become productive in the kitchen and has now sold more than 1000 copies.
“There is no doubt this has met a need and the take up has been enthusiastic,” Ms Woodward said.
“It was quite a task to take cooking right back to basics, assume no previous knowledge and provide instructions that are easy to follow. We also had to take into account a shopping list for each recipe and ensure that the food was what people would be keen to cook and eat.”
Favourites such as Spaghetti Bolognaise, muffins, biscuits and milkshakes are all included.
Ms Woodward and her Nutrition and Dietetic students from the University of Newcastle tested each of the 64 recipes in the large, easy to read book .
“Presentation was pretty important too,” she said. “We’ve used large print and illustrations of each step to make it simple and enjoyable for people to use.”
The Ascent Group CEO Kevin Mead has been one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the new cookbook which was printed by the organisation’s printing business. Print Pack Post at Acacia Park.
“I’m not surprised there has been such a strong reponse across the state to the release of this cookbook,” he said.
“It covers a lot of ground in an interesting and informative way and really targets the capacity of the end users who have a variety of abilities and disabilities. Gillian and her students have done a fantastic job and it has really been welcomed in group homes as a great initiative to help people become more independent and involved in shopping for, preparing and cooking their own meals.”
Ms Woodward said she said the initial model was a book written in Victoria for immigrants new to the English language.  “We used the concept and some content but expanded it with a further 40 recipes which we researched and tested to make them really accessible for people with disabilities.”
“The principles we adopted were a strong visual content, easy steps illustrated with drawings or photographs, simple recipes for nutritious food that is popular with the majority of users and meets a stringent budget. The book also contains information about safe food handling, storage and ways to improve nutrition.”
The cookbook is now being used in group homes across NSW and Ms Woodward and her team of six students recently monitored feedback to make adjustments and incorporate new ideas for the next edition.
