AiLA Community Kitchen

Our project idea is an extension of our currently running Nutritional Workshops for Autistic Adults, an Edmonton-based series of nutritional cooking classes in partnership with the Centre for Autism Services, Autism Edmonton and Edmonton Public Library, and funded by Edmonton Community Foundation. These cooking clinics run over the winter of 2025/26. They include educational sessions on healthy nutrition and instruction on how to cook low-cost, healthy meals which participants can then take home. This Field Law application is to transform our nutritional pilot project into an ongoing community kitchen.

This community kitchen will be offered to AiLA members as an opportunity to maximize food budgets and give members of the Edmonton and area autistic community low-cost, nutritional dishes for themselves and their families. It will be led by the AiLA nutritional-workshops team working in collaboration with a nutritionist/dietician, Autism Edmonton and the Centre for Autism Services. The community kitchen will be based on Alberta Health Services’ “Collective Kitchens Manual (2018)” " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.albertahealthservices.ca/if-nfs-collective-kitchen-manual.pdf, which has instructions and examples of budgeting, materials required, activities and nutritional food staples. The sessions will be monthly, with actual times based on input from participants and the AiLA organizing team. Sessions will start in mid summer of 2026, and continue ideally for a year. Registration will be first-come first-served for each session, as there is limited space capacity. It will be open to AiLA members and free of charge. While participants will bring their own ingredients, AiLA will supply essentials such as salt, herbs and spices, as well as bulk dry goods such as flour and baking powder, however the final materials list will depend on the final allocated dollars and meal plans. We will also reach out to the Edmonton Food Bank and local grocery stores to help with food costs.

AiLA’s Community Kitchen, like all our programs, will be member-led. Participants will be part of the decision making regarding what types of food will be cooked, while the nutritionist will advise on food prep, meal planning and ingredients. The location will continue at the Stanley Milner Library in downtown Edmonton. Low income and anxiety around bus travel for some participants means we will be offering support for travel, by taxi or bus, and parking for those who need it.

AiLA serves the adult (18+) autistic population of Edmonton and area, which also includes Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Beaumont and St Albert. Our current membership is 80, which includes autistic adults, their family members as well as caregivers and AiLA supporters within the disability-services sector. All of our programming is available to our membership, however taking into account Canada’s 2016 census report indicating that approximately 2% of Canadians are autistic, we estimate there are at least 13,000 autistic adults in Edmonton and approximately 2600 in the outlying communities mentioned above. Everyone within this wider population is welcome to register for our community kitchen simply by getting a free membership with AiLA.

Research shows that the autistic population is at risk of poor diet and unhealthy eating. A study from April 2025 ( " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12073154/ ) highlights nutritional gaps for this demographic and offers recommendations for healthy eating, including dietary interventions tailored to their needs. Authors conclude that education programs for autistic adults can enhance dietary autonomy and confidence and foster independence in food preparation.

Another study ( diet, exercise, sleep-autistic adults(2023).pdf) on the diet and exercise of autistic adults indicates that this population can exhibit altered dietary patterns, including restricted food choices and low consumption of fruits and vegetables. Factors such as sensory sensitivities, gastrointestinal deficiencies and age play a significant role.

A toolkit for autism healthy eating, produced by AIDE Canada (" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aidecanada.ca/eating-issues-toolkit ) notes that 70 to 90 percent of autistic children have eating issues such as high food selectivity, a higher rate of gastro-intestinal issues and autistic traits such as anxiety and preference for sameness. 

Researchers concur that more focus on improving diet is necessary for this population, and that dietary research for autistic adults needs to increase. AiLA recognizes that food plays an important role in building community and bringing people together. This community kitchen will benefit the Edmonton autistic community by stretching food budgets, pooling resources and reducing waste. For instance, participants may have extra garden produce to be used in a meal rather than being tossed. They will also teach each other food prep and cooking techniques, share food-saving practices and build friendships.