WHAT YA WANNA KNOW????

Hi, I’m Vanessa D’Souza The Autistic Chef ™

I am late diagnosed Autistic, with ADHD and I really struggle with sensory processing.

After many years of masking to ‘fit in’ living a life I thought was expected of me; I am finally on my journey of self-discovery to find my authentic self. 

My only goal is to be ‘me’.

I hope to be as open and honest as I can about my journey, my experiences, my thoughts and my feelings in the hope it can help others along the way. 

I hope to create not only more awareness, but true acceptance of neurodivergent minds like mine. I am currently the only person making her recipes and food accessible to everyone, including those with neurodivergences and disabilities.

You may recognise me from MasterChef UK 2023 where I got the semi-finals. 

I was very open about my Autism  & how my sensory sensitivities affect how I cook, present and eat foods.

I never expected how just being honest about my struggles with food & textures would resonate with so many thousands of people nationwide.

I will continue to be as transparent as I can be about my challenges when it comes to food, cooking, sensory sensitivities & presentation of food. I hope that sharing my experiences can help normalise the struggles that can come with being neurodivergent surrounding food. that are both healthy and tasty.

I am currently the only person making her recipes and food accessible to everyone, including those with neurodivergences and disabilities.

• Champion neurodivergent acceptance & inclusion.

•  Raise awareness of neurodiversity through my own lived experiences.

• Share coping mechanisms & strategies that work for me especially with food.

• Build a strong online neurodivergent community for support.

• Celebrate neurodivergent individuals, especially those of colour like me.

• Other neurodivergent people on their own journey.

• Myself! I often find sharing my neurodivergent experiences helps me feel free.

• Neurotypicals wanting to learn more about neurodivergent brains.

• Parents or caregivers of neurodivergent and especially autistic children.

• Anyone who struggles with food or feeding their children.