COOKING & NUTRITION
GOOD FOOD. REAL LIFE. YOUR KITCHEN.
You don't need to be a chef to cook for yourself. A few basic skills can help you eat well, spend less and feel more confident in the kitchen.
START WITH THE BASICS
WHAT CAN YOU ALREADY DO?
PLAN A MEAL
Decide what you're going to eat before you shop.
SHOP FOR FOOD
Make a list, compare prices and stick roughly to your budget.
PREPARE FOOD
Learn basic chopping, peeling, measuring and preparation skills.
COOK A MEAL
Build confidence using everyday kitchen equipment.
STORE FOOD SAFELY
Know where food belongs and when it should be used.
CLEAN UP
Keep your kitchen, equipment and preparation areas clean.
BUILD A MEAL
WHAT MAKES A MEAL?
Building a meal isn't about dieting or calories—it's about variety. Try to include something from different food groups to keep yourself energised throughout the day. Using realistic UK kitchen basics like pasta, eggs, and frozen veg makes eating well easy and achievable.
HEALTHY EATING DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN EXPENSIVE OR COMPLICATED.
PLAN IT → PRICE IT → COOK IT
REAL LIFE 'WHAT'S FOR TEA?'
You've got £10 and need to make an evening meal. Use what you find here to plan your plate.
PASTA
RICE
POTATOES
CHICKEN
BEANS
EGGS
VEGETABLES
TOMATO SAUCE
CHEESE
BREAD
What could you make?
What would you buy first?
Could any ingredients be used for another meal tomorrow?
KITCHEN CONFIDENCE
SKILLS WORTH LEARNING
Using an oven
Using a hob
Using a microwave
Using a knife safely
Reading cooking instructions
Measuring ingredients
Knowing when food is properly cooked
Cleaning as you go
KEEP IT SAFE
WASH
Keep hands, surfaces and equipment clean.
SEPARATE
Avoid spreading germs between raw and ready-to-eat foods.
COOK
Follow instructions and make sure food is cooked properly.
CHILL
Store foods that need refrigeration appropriately.
CHECK
Pay attention to food labels and use-by information.
IF YOU'RE NOT SURE ABOUT FOOD SAFETY, CHECK RELIABLE CURRENT GUIDANCE RATHER THAN GUESSING.
MAKE YOUR FOOD MONEY GO FURTHER
MAKE A LIST
CHECK WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE
COMPARE PRICES
TRY SUPERMARKET OWN BRANDS
PLAN MEALS THAT SHARE INGREDIENTS
USE LEFTOVERS SAFELY
WATCH OUT FOR FOOD WASTE
CHEAPER DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN BORING.
YOUR 3-MEAL CHALLENGE
MEAL 1
MEAL 2
MEAL 3
What ingredients would you need?
Roughly what would they cost?
Which one will you try first?