Cooking and meal preparation skills
How the NDIS supports learning to plan, shop and cook safely — the goals involved, and building the skill versus having meals prepared for you.
Being able to feed yourself the way you like is a big part of independence, and cooking touches everything from planning and shopping to food safety. The NDIS can support you to build these skills, or to get help with meals you find hard to manage. This guide explains the difference, the goals involved, and how to make a start.
What cooking skills really involve
Building the skill versus having meals prepared
The goals behind cooking support
Who supports you and how
Making it stick
Frequently asked questions
Can the NDIS teach me to cook?
Yes, where cooking relates to your disability and is reasonable and necessary. Support to learn to plan, shop and cook safely usually sits in Capacity Building, built around a goal like cooking a few simple meals on your own.
Will the NDIS pay for my groceries?
No. Food is an everyday cost everyone has, so groceries are not funded. The NDIS can fund the disability-related support around cooking — the teaching or the ongoing help — but not the ingredients themselves.
What is the difference between learning to cook and having meals made for me?
Learning to cook is usually Capacity Building — support that helps you build the skill and is expected to taper. Having meals prepared with or for you on an ongoing basis is usually a Core support, with no expectation it fades.
What if cooking is unsafe for me even with practice?
That is common and fine. Some people build the parts they safely can and keep ongoing help for the rest. An occupational therapist can assess what is safe and suggest equipment or strategies that make more of the kitchen workable.
Can I learn to cook in a group?
Yes. Group cooking programs can build skills alongside other people and are often enjoyable and social. Whether a group or one-to-one suits you better depends on your goals and how you like to learn — talk it through with your support coordinator.
Does shopping count as part of cooking support?
It can. Planning meals, getting to the shops and managing money at the checkout are all part of the chain. These connect to the travel training and money and budgeting guides, and can be worked on together.