Sonya's Nurtured Kitchen

I’m a Public Health Nutritionist and  a food educator offering diverse cooking classes in Melbourne.

My relationship with food began in Bulgaria, growing up as a fussy eater, disliking most home-cooked food. But everything changed in my early 20s, after going through a health scare. The experience sparked a deep interest in preventative health and led me to study Public Health Nutrition in Denmark. During this time, I taught myself to cook, bake, and ferment.

While writing my Master’s thesis, I moved to Melbourne and fell headfirst into its vibrant food scene. The diversity of ingredients, flavours, and cuisines was transformative. I discovered a passion for teaching while managing the production kitchen at SisterWorks. There, I led healthy cooking classes for women from around the world and saw firsthand how food could be a bridge: building confidence, sharing culture, and creating community. Since then, I’ve run community workshops, worked in commercial kitchens, and continued to explore how food can nourish both people and planet.

My teaching style is grounded in simplicity, sustainability, and joy. I share practical nutrition tips, tricks from professional kitchens, and celebrate seasonal, local produce with minimal waste.

Whether I’m leading a class or chatting over a shared meal, I love that moment when something clicks — when someone realises that healthy, delicious food doesn’t have to be complicated.