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Life Kitchen is a not-for-profit cookery school for people with cancer, focused on taste and flavour. It is run by co-founders Ryan Riley, author, cook and food stylist, and Kimberley Duke, recipe developer, trained chef and food stylist.

During chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer treatment, a lot of patients lose or experience changes to their sense of taste. This is a really difficult side effect that can make mealtimes difficult and isolating. We’re here to change that.

Both Ryan and Kim were inspired to launch Life Kitchen after losing parents to cancer. Throughout Ryan’s mum Krista’s two-year battle with cancer, Ryan saw how chemotherapy was affecting her ability to taste and experience food.

After her death, he wanted to honour his mother’s memory and use his cooking skills to help cancer patients find flavour and pleasure in food again. And so, Life Kitchen was born.

Life Kitchen is backed by science. We are advised by Professor Barry Smith, the founder of the Centre for Study of the Senses. Professor Smith guides the Life Kitchen team on our recipes and ingredients so that people living with an altered sense of taste get enjoyment out of food.