When Phoenix joined the Friendly Food Club cooking sessions at Joy Café in Boscombe, he had never cooked before. He wanted to eat more healthily, lose weight and feel better, but didn't know how to make the change.
What made Phoenix stand out from the start was his determination. Each week, he took part in the cooking workshops and then stayed for the Aspire nutrition sessions straight afterwards. The combination of practical cooking and learning about food helped him make real, lasting changes.
The turning point came when Phoenix cooked his first meal from scratch. Week by week, he prepared dishes full of fresh ingredients and discovered that he enjoyed cooking vegetarian food – something he had never tried before. He explained that he used to eat "the bad stuff – pizzas, fast food, McDonald's, chocolate, biscuits and cakes," but now he recognises how those foods affected him. He told us that fast food made his energy levels drop, while the meals he cooked in class helped him "feel different; less tired, with more energy, and sleeping better."
Cooking gave Phoenix confidence. At home, he began making dishes for his mum, who doesn't enjoy cooking but loves the meals he prepares, especially curries and chilli. His next goal is to teach her how to cook them too.
The classes helped him break old habits and build new routines. When he goes out with friends, he now chooses smoothies instead of sugary drinks and has started making them at home, knowing they are full of nutrition.
A powerful part of Phoenix's journey was the social side of the sessions. He made new friends, spent time talking and laughing, and enjoyed sharing food with others. On the final day, he cooked Spaghetti Napoli and shared it with friends in the café, who gave it a 10 out of 10. They continue to chat on social media and meet up outside the sessions, showing that the workshops have supported his health and his sense of belonging.
Phoenix describes the experience as transformative: "Without the cooking and nutrition course it would have been the same cycle, but I've changed, broken the cycle and I'm moving forward instead of backwards."
He is excited to attend the next Friendly Food Club workshops after Easter and plans to keep on cooking at home.
What began as a way to eat better has become a new source of confidence, health and connection.
