Life Kitchen collaboration
Ryan Riley and Kimberley Duke, the co-founders of Life Kitchen – a not-for-profit cookery school for people living with cancer – have partnered with Big C, on the release of a free cookbook to help cancer patients who are struggling through the cost of living crisis.
Essential Flavour is a 15 recipe book filled with budget-friendly meal ideas that cost as little as 58p per person to make, using everyday ingredients to create a delicious selection of meals that will tantalise the tastebuds – all at a cost-effective price.
The recipes use ingredients from supermarket ‘essentials’ ranges and can be easily created at home. The book’s Swedish-style meatballs average at £2.96 per serving for two (£1.48 per person), while the spicy bean quesadillas work out at £1.94 (97p each).
For those with a sweet tooth, the sumptuous miso banana crumble is £1.41 for two (71p per person).
There are even recipes that can be used as tasty Christmas alternatives, such as the fried chicken sandwich with miso spring onion mayo and sage & onion stuffing, costing only £2.05 for two (£1.03 per person).
The book, in partnership with Big C who have funded its release, comes as a shocking survey from OnePoll revealed that over half of people surveyed (55%) think that they will struggle to pay for food this winter.*
It also revealed that 29% – over a quarter – are more concerned about the cost of living crisis than their cancer, while 80% were worried about being able to afford travel costs to hospital appointments.
A second report, conducted by Zurich UK, found that seven in 10 people living with cancer are facing an unexpected cost rise of £6,500 a year.**
Ryan Riley said “The cost of living crisis is a huge concern for everyone across the entire country, particularly those living with cancer. Every time you pick up a newspaper or switch on the TV, the outlook seems bleak and it’s having a massive impact on people’s mental health. And it only looks to be getting worse.”
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, multi-award winning writer, broadcaster and supporter of Life Kitchen, has written the foreword for Essential Flavour. He said: “This is an important, compassionate and hugely useful book which recognises the impact of the cost of living crisis upon our most vulnerable in the UK. It’s dreadful to hear that when facing a cancer diagnosis, many are more concerned with how they will afford to eat… I’m sure that it will serve as a vital resource for those who need it most.”
Dr Melanie Pascale, Director of Charitable Operations at Big C, added: “This book couldn’t be coming at a more important time. We’re increasingly hearing from people who are in a difficult financial situation, on top of the profound challenge of cancer. We’re very proud to support Life Kitchen in bringing this book to fruition, and hope that it offers both practical help and reassurance for those that need it the most.”
Life Kitchen, founded in 2018 by friends Ryan Riley and Kimberley Duke, is a not-for-profit cookery school that offers free classes to people living with cancer. It is the first of its kind in the UK, and the classes showcase delicious meals that focus on intense flavours, to add a zing to the taste buds.
Ryan and Kimberley were inspired to create Life Kitchen after they each lost a parent to cancer. They saw how cancer, and cancer treatment, can cause some patients to lose or experience changes in their sense of taste and smell. In honour of their parents, they wanted to create a way for people to enjoy food again and set up Life Kitchen to do just that.
The self-titled first book, Life Kitchen was released in 2020 to huge acclaim. Then in 2021 when people began to experience a loss of taste and smell as a side effect of Covid-19, Ryan and Kimberley again stepped in to help. They worked with taste and smell experts to create a free book called Taste & Flavour which became a global sensation.
To get one of 5,000 free paper copies of Essential Flavour, simply order online (a £3 postage and packaging fee occurs). Alternatively, you can download a free digital copy.
Survey Sources:
*The full OnePoll survey on behalf of cancer support charity, Maggie’s can be viewed here.
**The full Zurich UK survey can be viewed here.
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