Leaving Home, Learn to Cook Camp with Jane Hutton

Full-Day Teen Cookery Camp

For Ages 16-18 Years

Heading to university, college or moving away from home after the summer? The Leaving Home, Learn to Cook Camp with Jane Hutton is a practical, hands-on cookery course designed to give young adults the confidence and skills they need to cook for themselves, eat well and manage a food budget independently.

This full-day teen cookery workshop is perfect for 16–18-year-olds preparing for university life, apprenticeships, gap years or independent living. Participants will learn how to create quick, affordable and nutritious meals while developing essential life skills that will benefit them long after they leave home.

Hosted at the Truro School Cookery School, this engaging one-day course combines practical cooking, meal planning, budgeting and kitchen organisation, helping students become confident, capable and creative home cooks.

Learn Essential Cooking Skills for Independent Living

Throughout the day, students will discover how to prepare delicious meals that are:

• Quick and easy to cook
• Budget-friendly and economical
• Healthy and nutritious
• Perfect for student life and shared households
• Easy to adapt using store cupboard ingredients

The course focuses on practical recipes, everyday cooking techniques and smart kitchen habits that make cooking less stressful and more enjoyable.

What Will Students Learn?

Cooking as a Student: Time, Taste and Budget

Learn how to balance cost, convenience and nutrition while creating meals that taste great. Students will discover how to plan meals, reduce food waste and make the most of their weekly food budget.

Smart Food Shopping

Understand how to stock a kitchen effectively and make informed shopping choices, including:

• Essential store cupboard ingredients
• Fridge and freezer staples
• Budget-friendly shopping tips
• Meal planning and batch cooking

Bread Basics

Master simple bread-making techniques and learn how to create homemade breads that are easy, affordable and versatile.

One-Pan Meals

Discover how to prepare flavour-packed meals with minimal washing up. Perfect for busy students and shared kitchens.

Perfect Pasta

Learn how to cook pasta properly and create a variety of quick, affordable and delicious pasta dishes using simple ingredients.

Meat and Sauce Fundamentals

Build confidence cooking meat safely while creating versatile sauces that can be adapted for multiple meals.

Cakes and Bakes

Learn a selection of simple baking recipes that are ideal for sharing with friends, housemates and family.

Hands-On Learning and Practical Demonstrations

Throughout the day, students will:

• Cook recipes from a range of categories
• Learn essential culinary techniques
• Watch expert demonstrations from Jane Hutton
• Develop confidence in the kitchen
• Take home recipes, ideas and inspiration for future cooking

By the end of the course, participants will have a toolkit of practical recipes, cooking methods and kitchen skills that will help them thrive when living independently.

Kitchen Skills, Hygiene and Safety

Being able to cook is only part of living independently. Students will also learn essential kitchen management skills, including:

• Food hygiene and safe food handling
• Kitchen organisation and preparation
• Cleaning and washing-up techniques
• Safe use of kitchen equipment
• Time management and efficient cooking practices

These practical life skills help young adults become more confident, organised and self-sufficient as they prepare for university, college or independent living.

About Jane Hutton

Jane Hutton is an NHS-commissioned, award-winning specialist in nutrition and everyday eating. A clinical nutritionist, nutritional therapist, chef, educator, food writer, consultant, author, and speaker, Jane is passionate about helping people stay healthy in busy modern lives.

Inspired by growing up cooking with home-grown produce, Jane developed a passion for culinary medicine and practical nutrition, leading to the creation of The Functional Food Cookery School. Her mission is to help people better understand their bodies and use food to support both physical and mental wellbeing.

Jane is also a qualified teacher and is known for making nutrition accessible and easy to understand, whether discussing hormone health, long-term wellbeing, or healthier approaches to everyday cooking.

Her work includes commissions and consultancy for the NHS, specialist clinics, charities, supplement companies, restaurants, and national media. She has also received a UK Enterprise Award for innovation in nutrition.

Workshop Details

Location

Truro School Cookery School, Truro School Senior Site,

Date and Time

Tuesday 28 July 2026
10:00am – 4:00pm

Age Group

16–18 years

Cost

£70 per student

Lunch and Refreshments

Students should bring:

• A packed lunch
• Snacks for the day
• A refillable water bottle
• Please note: No nuts

We recommend bringing a packed lunch, as some recipes may take time to prepare and many students enjoy taking their culinary creations home to share with family and friends.

Arrival and Collection

Arrival

Registration takes place at the Sir Ben Ainslie Sports Centre from 9:45am.

Collection

Collection takes place between 4:00pm and 4:15pm from the Sir Ben Ainslie Sports Centre.

As this course is designed for older teenagers aged 16–18, students may travel independently to and from the site. We do not require parents or guardians to sign students in or out unless requested.

If you would like us to operate a sign-in and sign-out procedure for your child, please let us know in advance.

Allergies and Dietary Requirements

We aim to accommodate a wide range of dietary requirements, including:

• Vegetarian diets
• Vegan diets
• Gluten-free diets

If you have any allergies, intolerances or specific dietary requirements, please contact us before booking:

[email protected]

Our team will be happy to discuss suitable adaptations wherever possible.

Please note that the Truro School Cookery School is a shared teaching environment. While every effort is made to minimise the risk of allergen exposure, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment and there is a possibility of cross-contamination.

Why Choose the Leaving Home, Learn to Cook Camp?

• Ideal preparation for university and student life
• Learn practical cooking skills for everyday living
• Build confidence and independence
• Create affordable, healthy meals from scratch
• Improve budgeting and meal-planning skills
• Learn in a professional cookery school environment
• Gain valuable life skills that last a lifetime

Whether you’re heading off to university, starting college or simply want to become more independent in the kitchen, this course provides the confidence and skills needed to cook well, eat well and live well.

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