Why Food Literacy Is a Life Skill, Not a Luxury

Food Literacy – A Fundamental Right, Not a Middle-Class Privilege.

In today’s society, knowing how to nourish yourself should be considered a basic life skill, not a luxury reserved for those with time, money, or access.

Yet, millions of people across the UK struggle with food literacy—lacking the knowledge, skills, and confidence to plan, select, and prepare nutritious meals (UK Food Standards Agency, 2023).

At Auntie’s Cookery Academy, we advocate for a radical shift in how food education is viewed: food literacy must be recognised as a public health necessity, just like financial literacy or basic hygiene.

Emily-Jane Dale, CEO and Chair of Auntie’s Cookery Academy, explored this issue in her 2025 dissertation. The research highlighted that participants gained valuable improvements in all three domains of food literacy—planning and managing, selection, and preparation—as defined by the Evaluation Tool for Food Literacy Programmes (Begley et al., 2018).

These are not optional skills. They are foundational for health, independence, and dignity.

Moreover, structured cooking education supports wider outcomes. It reduces reliance on fast food, encourages healthier dietary habits, helps combat food waste, and builds the confidence needed to live independently (West et al., 2020; Truman et al., 2020). These outcomes are particularly vital for young people, vulnerable adults, and those recovering from housing or food insecurity. Without food literacy, many are left nutritionally vulnerable, even when food is available.

Too often, food education is underfunded or absent from formal schooling.

It is seen as "extra" or "enrichment"—yet the research clearly shows it supports lifelong wellbeing. If we want people to thrive, we must ensure that they have the skills to feed themselves well, affordably, and independently. That’s why at Auntie’s Cookery Academy, we are working to make food literacy accessible, practical, and inclusive for those who need

it most.