Young athletes can now complete the skills section of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) while developing practical sports nutrition and cookery skills through a new online course.
Sports Nutrition for Teens comes from from DRN Nutrition and The Organic Cookery School, a not-for-profit community cookery school.
The course is designed for active young people aged 13–25 and is approved for the DofE Skills section at Bronze, Silver and Gold level.
Available as either a three- or six-month programme, it combines evidence-informed nutrition education with practical cooking challenges that students can apply to their own training, competition and everyday life.
The course has been created by performance nutritionist Dan Richardson, founder of DRN Nutrition, in partnership with The Organic Cookery School.
Mr Richardson said: “Many young athletes understand that nutrition matters, but don’t always have the confidence or practical skills to put that knowledge into action. This course is designed to bridge that gap. It helps young people make informed choices around food, prepare simple meals and snacks, and build habits that support their sport and independence.”
Throughout the first three months, students cover the foundations of sports nutrition, including fuelling for training and recovery, hydration, meal planning, reading food labels, eating on the go and taking a food-first approach to supplements. They also complete practical recipe challenges, preparing dishes such as stir-fries, chilli con carne, homemade energy balls, high-protein wraps and nutritious snacks.
Students choosing the six-month programme progress to more advanced topics, including pre, during and post-game nutrition, nutrition for team and individual sports, travel nutrition, preparing for university life as an athlete, and nutrition for recovery and injury prevention. The extended programme also includes guidance on planning food and hydration for a DofE expedition.
Delivered through fortnightly online modules, the course fits around school, training and competition commitments. Students typically complete around one hour of activity each week, with the flexibility to work through content across the fortnight. Each participant is supported by an experienced tutor, who also acts as their DofE Assessor.
Students receive step-by-step recipes, shopping lists, downloadable nutrition guides and interactive challenges, before completing a final project: a personalised sports nutrition or DofE expedition meal plan based on their own goals. Successful participants receive a personalised assessor report and certificate of achievement to support completion of their DofE Skills section.
The course is also open to young people not currently completing their DofE, providing a valuable option for any teenager or young adult looking to improve their nutrition knowledge and practical cookery skills.
For more information and enrolment options, visit The Organic Cookery School here.
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