Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL QUESTION

• What is Spoonfed Suppers?

  Spoonfed Suppers is a service that takes the grind out of meal planning, shopping and cooking. It’ll get you cooking simple, healthy, seasonal and delicious food that will leave you looking and feeling amazing, whilst giving you more time for friends, family, love and life. It’ll make your life easier, healthier and tastier. To learn more about Spoonfed Suppers, click here

• What is the difference between the Sparky Spoon and Vital Spoon membership plans?

  Sparky Spoon is a free membership that will send a supper email to your inbox from Monday to Friday, plus an optional weekly shopping list on Thursdays. It will give you inspiration for tastier suppers.

  Vital Spoon is a paid membership designed not only to make your life tastier, but easier and healthier too. Available both within your own account and by email, your supper plan will be completely tailored to your lifestyle, preferences and health needs. You’ll get to enjoy suppers that suit your palette every day. The specially designed features and functionality will help you take control of your evenings, saving you time, money and energy for the things you love most in life. Plus, our nutrition know-how will help you benefit from balanced health for life.

  For more information on the membership plans, click here.

• How do I sign up?

  Glad you asked. You can sign up here.

• Is my personal information kept private?

  Absolutely. Rest assured that all the information you share with us, including your email address, will be kept private and confidential. We guarantee you that we will not share, rent or sell your personal information without your express prior consent. We may use the information you provided us to inform you of any news or special events. For more on our privacy policy, click here.

• Is Spoonfed Suppers SPAM?

  No way! I’m hurt! You'll only get my Spoonfed Suppers if you sign up for either the Sparky or Vital Spoon membership plans. If you don't want to receive the emails anymore, you can unsubscribe at any time. However, if you have paid for the Vital Spoon membership and unsubscribe, you will not be entitled to a refund for any membership fees already paid because we provide membership services to you as soon as your subscription commences. For more information, take a look at our T&Cs.

• What are cookies? And why does Spoonfed Suppers need them?

  A cookie is a small piece of information that a website stores on your computer. It doesn’t contain viruses or anything else that might harm your computer. Certain parts of the Spoonfed Suppers website (namely the membership areas) need to know who you are, so we use a cookie to identify you. Only the website that gave you the cookie can see it, so you don’t have to worry about other sites seeing your information. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use information that you provide us. Please see your Web browser’s help section for information on how to enable cookies.

• I’ve forgotten my password. What do I do?

  On your login page you will find the option ‘Forgotten password’. Simply click on this button and follow the straightforward prompts on screen. You will then receive your password by email.

• How can I change my profile information?

  Go to the “My Account” page by logging in with your username and password. The page to which you'll be directed will display all your profile information. Enter the information you want to change, and hit "Update". This will automatically update your profile with us.

• How do I contact Customer Care?

  Please refer to our complete contact list by clicking here.

Sparky Spoon Membership

• What is the Sparky Spoon membership?

  The Sparky Spoon is a free membership that will send a supper email to your inbox from Monday to Friday, plus an optional weekly shopping list on Thursdays. It will give you inspiration for tastier suppers. Find out more information here.

• What do I get as part of my account?

  When you subscribe to a Sparky Spoon membership, you will create a basic online account. Within your account page, you can opt to receive a daily Spoonfed Supper from Monday to Friday by email. You can also plump for a weekly shopping list, which you will receive by email on Thursdays. You have the ability to set either of these to pause, when you are on holiday, for example.

• When should I receive my first email?

  You should receive a welcome email as soon as you have subscribed. However, your first Spoonfed Supper email should appear overnight. For example, if you subscribe to the Spoonfed Supper email on Tuesday morning at 11am, you can expect to receive Wednesday’s supper overnight (at ca. 3am GMT on Wednesday). If you subscribe to the shopping list, that will appear every Thursday at about lunchtime. If you subscribe to the shopping list on a Monday for example, the first shopping list you receive will be on Thursday for the following week.

• For how many people do the suppers and shopping list cater?

  The servings are based on two people. However, if you would like to either set your servings to a different default number and/or tweak them on a daily basis (in case Dad is on business or you’re having an impromptu dinner party) and receive an updated shopping list, then the best plan for you is the Vital Spoon.

• Can I see my supper plan and shopping list online?

  Unfortunately not. Your subscription is via email. If you deselect the daily Spoonfed Supper and/or weekly shopping list emails, you will have no other means of receiving your supper plan. However, if you would like the ability to see your supper plan and shopping list in advance, online and/or via email, then take a look at details of the Vital Spoon.

• Can I view my suppers in advance?

  You have the option of receiving a weekly shopping list by email on Thursdays. As part of this email, you will receive an outline of the following week’s suppers. However, you will be unable to access details of the supper until the day that it is scheduled to be cooked, when you will receive an email with the cooking instructions, photograph and nutritional details. If you would like the ability to see your supper plan in advance, step this way for details of the Vital Spoon.

• How does the shopping list work?

  You can choose to receive a weekly shopping list on Thursdays via email. This will send you the ingredients required for the following week’s suppers, along with the quantity required and the day when they will be needed. For example, (Wed) indicates this particular ingredient will be needed on Wednesday.

• What if I don’t like the sound of a suggested supper?

  If Wednesday’s supper doesn’t sound appealing, for example, you can print the shopping list and strike off the ingredients needed for Wednesday. Then you can just ignore the supper that will appear by email on Wednesday. If you would like more flexibility within your account, such as the ability to substitute a supper for another or with a favourite and receive an automatically updated shopping list, then the Vital Spoon is for you.

• What if I don’t like a particular ingredient?

  If Wednesday’s supper includes an ingredient that you don’t like, for example, you can adjust the supper to miss out that particular ingredient. Or else, you can print the shopping list and strike off the ingredients needed for Wednesday. Then you can just ignore the supper that will appear by email on Wednesday. If you would like more flexibility within your account, such as the ability to substitute a supper for another or with a favourite and receive an automatically updated shopping list, or to exclude certain ingredients from your plan, then the Vital Spoon is for you.

• What if I am not intending to cook on a particular day?

  If you are eating out on Wednesday, for example, you can print the shopping list and strike off the ingredients needed for Wednesday. Then you can just ignore the supper that will appear by email on Wednesday. If you would like more flexibility within your account, such as the ability to remove days that you won’t cook and therefore receive an updated shopping list, then the Vital Spoon is for you.

• I am vegetarian. Can I receive emails with just vegetarian options?

  Yes, certainly. However, you will need to subscribe to the Vital Spoon membership, which you can personalise 100% to your taste, lifestyle and health needs. For more details, click here.

• Do you cater for any special medical conditions?

  Certainly, but this option is not available to Sparky Spoon members. By joining the Vital Spoon membership, you will receive supper plans that are both personalised and specially formulated for certain medical conditions, including heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, coeliac disease, lactose intolerance, diabetes type 1 & 2, hypoglycaemia, PCOS and underactive thyroid. For more details, click here.

• I have special dietary requirements and preferences. Can I receive suppers that cater for these specific needs?

  Absolutely, but this option is not available to Sparky Spoon members. By subscribing to the Vital Spoon membership, you will be able to personalise the plans according to special dietary requirements (such as high fibre, lower salt) and dietary preferences (such as, nut-free, or egg-free). For more details, click here.

• Are Sparky Spoon suppers suitable for children?

  The Sparky Spoon membership is not tailored with families in mind. Some of the suppers will suit families, while others may be too highly spiced or flavoured for children. However, by subscribing to the Vital Spoon membership, you can personalise the plans to suit families with children from the age of 2 years. For more details, click here.

• I am pregnant. How do I make sure that suppers fit my new life stage?

  Unfortunately the Sparky Spoon will not suit you. You need to join the Vital Spoon membership in order to tailor your plan to this exciting new phase in your life. For more details, click here.

• I want to eat well within a budget. How do I know how much the suppers will cost?

  Although, cooking from scratch is an inexpensive way of enjoying food, the Sparky Spoon is not designed to fit a specific budget. However, there are “Purse Pleaser” and “Student” options available within the Vital Spoon membership. For more details, click here.

• Can I search previous Sparky Spoon suppers?

  Unfortunately not. The Cookbook, where all delicious past, present and future suppers are kept, is only accessible as part of the Vital Spoon membership.

• How do I unsubscribe?

  If you are a Sparky Spoon member, you can unsubscribe at any time by emailing unsubscribe@spoonfedsuppers.com and including your membership type (i.e. Sparky), name and username in the correspondence. I hate to lose you as a member, but if you're reading this question, you probably have your reasons. Please do drop me a line to let me know your feedback via the contact form or feedback@spoonfedsuppers.com.

Vital Spoon Membership

• What is the Vital Spoon membership?

  Vital Spoon is a paid membership designed not only to make your life tastier, but easier and healthier too. Available both within your own account and by email, your supper plan will be completely tailored to your lifestyle, preferences and health needs. You’ll get to enjoy suppers that suit your palette every day. The specially designed features and functionality will help you take control of your evenings, saving you time, money and energy for the things you love most in life. Plus, our nutrition know-how will help you benefit from balanced health for life. Find out more information here

• What do I get as part of my account?

  When you subscribe to the Vital Spoon membership, you will create a premium online account. This will give you unlimited access to all the features and functionality within Spoonfed Suppers. In the “My Account” page, you can opt to receive suppers and the shopping list by email. In the “My Personal Plan” page, you can update your personal plan at any time based on any change in circumstance, such as engagement, pregnancy or a sudden aversion to lamb. “My Weekly Plan” will automatically supply you with a supper plan that is seasonal and fits your personal requirements. Within this page, you can tailor the number of servings, change supper choices, choose the days when you will cook and view the supper details (photograph, cooking instructions and nutritional details). Once updated, all changes will be reflected in “My Shopping List”. “My Favourite Suppers” is your personal corner of Spoonfed Suppers, where you can save your preferred suppers and add notes, such as adjustments made. “The Cookbook” is a store of suppers that you can explore for further inspiration, whether to use up leftovers or satisfy an out-of-season courgette craving. “Stock Up on Staples” acts to remind you of the staples you need to keep your larder stocked up and your trips to the supermarket down. “A Helping Hand” offers you handy hints and information to keep your confidence running high in the kitchen.

• Can I view a Vital Spoon sample supper plan before I join?

  No problem. Once you have subscribed to the Sparky Spoon membership, you will be able to see a snapshot of a supper plan, along with other features available to you if you upgrade. Although you will not be able to use any of the features, you can get a good sense of what the Vital Spoon package has to offer. For more details, click here.

• How do I know which supper plan I should follow?

  We don’t have a set number of healthy eating plans that you have to fit like a square peg into a round hole! Your supper plan is completely tailored to fit your personal needs – be it medical, dietary or lifestyle, or a combination of all three. You can continually adjust and tailor the programme as you go along. So there’s no confusion and no head scratching from start to finish.

• Once I’ve joined, how do I get my supper plans?

  Once logged into your personal account, you will be able to see your weekly supper plan in advance by clicking on “My Weekly Plan”. From here, you can modify the number of servings, change supper choices and select the days that you will be cooking to tailor your plan to your weekly schedule. These changes will be reflected in your personalised shopping list. By clicking on the pictures within the supper plan, you will be able to see the supper details (photograph, cooking instructions and nutritional information). You will see past supper plans archived at the bottom of the “My Weekly Plan” page for your convenience and reference. You can also elect to receive your suppers and shopping list by email from within the “My Account” page.

• What happens in “My Account”?

  In the “My Account” page, you can keep your member account details up to date so we can Spoonfeed you properly. You can also opt to receive suppers and the shopping list by email.

• What happens in “My Personal Plan”?

  In the “My Personal Plan” page, you can update your personal plan at any time based on any change in circumstance, such as engagement, pregnancy or a sudden aversion to lamb.

• What happens in “My Weekly Plan”?

  “My Weekly Plan” will automatically supply you with a supper plan that is seasonal and fits your personal requirements. Within this page, you can tailor the number of servings, change supper choices, choose the days when you will cook and view the supper details (photograph, cooking instructions and nutritional details). Once updated, all changes will be reflected in “My Shopping List”. You will also see past supper plans archived at the bottom of the “My Weekly Plan” page for your convenience and reference.

• What happens in “My Favourite Suppers”?

  “My Favourite Suppers” is your personal corner of Spoonfed Suppers, where you can save your favourite suppers and add notes, such as adjustments made.

• What is “The Cookbook”?

  “The Cookbook” is a store of past, present and future suppers, which you can explore for further inspiration, whether to use up leftovers or satisfy an out-of-season courgette craving.

• What is “Stock Up on Staples”?

  This page is a reminder of the staples you need to keep your larder stocked up and your trips to the supermarket down. These staples are tailored to your specific plan requirements to save you time, money, energy and prevent wastage!

• What is “My Shopping List”?

  Your weekly shopping list is generated every Thursday. You can then go and make changes to your weekly plan (such as swapping suppers, tweaking the number of servings, updating the days you will cook). Any changes made will be reflected in “My Shopping List”. Then, you can strike through any ingredients that you already have, such as the Stocked Up Staples, and the total cost will update. For maximum convenience, you can view your week’s shopping either on a daily or weekly basis. Please note though, if you do strike through an ingredient in the Weekly View, you must do the same in the Daily View, and vice versa.

• What is “A Helping Hand”?

  This page offers you handy hints and information to keep your confidence running high in the kitchen.

• Can I see my supper plan and shopping list online?

  By joining the Vital Spoon membership, you can see your supper plan and shopping list in advance and within your account pages. For maximum convenience, you can also select to have the shopping list sent to you by email on Thursdays and the suppers sent by email on the day that they are due to be cooked.

• When should I receive my first email?

  You should receive a welcome email as soon as you have subscribed. You can also opt to receive your personalised suppers and shopping list by email. Once you have ticked the check box within the “My Account” page, your first Vital Supper email should appear overnight. For example, if you tick the box on Tuesday morning at 11am, you can expect to receive Wednesday’s supper overnight (at ca. 3am GMT on Wednesday). By opting for the shopping list by email, you can expect your list every Thursday at about lunchtime. If you tick the shopping list email box within the “My Account” page on a Monday for example, the first shopping list you receive will be on Thursday for the following week. However, you will be able to access the contents of the emails – the supper plan and shopping list – at any point via your premium account.

• Can I see what I'm going to get in my supper plan in advance?

  Yes you can. On Thursdays, you will be able to see next week’s shopping list. Then if you click through to “My Weekly Plan”, you will be able to see all of next week’s suppers, including photographs, cooking instructions and nutritional information. You can deselect days when you will not be cooking, tweak the number of servings and/or swap suppers for favourites or others from The Cookbook. The shopping list will reflect these updates.

• For how many people do the supper plan and shopping list cater?

  When you join the Vital Spoon membership, you will state how many people you normally cook for. Your supper plan and shopping list will show this number of servings as a default. However, you can adjust the number of servings on a day-to-day basis, in case you have a dinner party or Dad is away on business, and your shopping list will automatically update.

• How does the shopping list work?

  Your weekly shopping list is generated every Thursday. You can then go and make changes to your new weekly plan (such as swapping suppers, tweaking the number of servings, updating the days you will cook). Any changes made will be reflected in “My Shopping List”. Then, you can strike through any ingredients that you already have, such as the Stocked Up Staples, and the total cost will update. For maximum convenience, you can view your week’s shopping either on a daily or weekly basis. Please note though, if you do strike through an ingredient in the Weekly View, you must do the same in the Daily View, and vice versa.

• I have altered my Weekly Plan and the Shopping List has updated. Why haven’t I received an updated Shopping List by email?

  Firstly, you need to select the option to receive the shopping list by email from within the “My Account” page. The new shopping list is generated overnight on Thursday (ca. 3am GMT on Thursday) and the shopping list email is scheduled to send on Thursday at around lunchtime. For any changes to be incorporated into the shopping list email, you would need to make them by the scheduled sending. It would be very confusing and perhaps overwhelming, if a new shopping list was sent every time a change was made to the weekly plan.

• I have updated my Weekly Plan. Will I receive an updated Vital Supper by email?

  Yes. Firstly, you need to select to receive the suppers by email from within the “My Account” page. Secondly, you need to make sure that any changes to any suppers are completed before the email is scheduled to send (i.e. 3am on the day that the supper is scheduled to be cooked).

• Can I choose which Vital Suppers I want to receive by email?

  Unfortunately, this option is not available. If you tick to receive the suppers by email, you will receive all of your suppers by email.

• What if I don’t like the sound of a suggested supper?

  Easy, peasy. If Wednesday’s supper doesn’t sound appealing, simply click on the “Remove” button at the bottom of Wednesday’s supper suggestion. Then click on “select supper” and search from The Cookbook or your favourites. The supper plan will automatically update with your new choice, as will your personal shopping list. If you have chosen to receive the suppers by email, the new supper will automatically appear on the day you are due to cook it, in this case, on Wednesday, as long as you change the supper before the email is scheduled to send (i.e. 3am on Tuesday morning).

• What if I don’t like a particular ingredient?

  If Wednesday’s supper includes an ingredient that you don’t like, for example, you can substitute it for another from The Cookbook or a favourite. The shopping list will automatically update. Or else you can exclude certain ingredients from your plan altogether, such as nuts, wheat, eggs. For more information, take a look at the options under “Food Exclusions” within the “My Personal Plan” page.

• What if I am not intending to cook a particular day?

  If you are eating out on Wednesday, for example, you can remove Wednesday’s supper and the shopping list will automatically update to reflect changes made to your supper plan.

• I am vegetarian, but I eat fish – does the vegetarian plan include this?

  No, our Vegan, Lacto Vegetarian and Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian plans exclude meat and fish products. However, you can personalise your plan to include vegetarian and fish suppers by going to “Food Exclusions” within the “My Personal Plan” page and ticking all meat products, while deselecting fish products.

• I have IBS, is there a supper plan for me?

  There is not a set supper plan for people with IBS as the foods which aggravate this condition can vary greatly from person to person. However, people who are aware of the foods that cause their symptoms can join the Vital Spoon membership and tailor their plan to avoid those foods. If you choose to register with us you will be able to substitute meals and exclude certain food groups if necessary.

• Is this a subscription service?

  Yes, at the end of your selected offer term, your membership will renew every month at £3.75 or every year at £35.00, according to your original subscription term, until you cancel.

• Is there an option for me to pay weekly?

  At the present moment we do not offer this as a payment option. All our membership terms are charged as an upfront payment at the beginning of each subscription term (either monthly or annually).

• Does the membership price for a supper plan include the food too?

  No, the cost of food and shopping is not included. The membership price is for using the online service only and does not include the price of the food that the supper plan suggests. The Vital Spoon plan is very flexible, however, and you can choose to include “Purse Pleaser” (budget) suppers and / or buy supermarket own brand foods to help reduce costs.

• How much will it cost me to shop for the Vital Spoon supper plan?

  It really depends on where you shop and what brands you usually buy. Luckily, preparing your own suppers, instead of using ready-made meals, helps to lower the weekly shopping bill – especially if you have Stocked Up on Your Staples. If you want to reduce the cost of your shopping list, choose a supermarket’s own brand products or discount range rather than branded items. Another way of keeping costs low is to select the “Purse Pleaser” option, which looks at including suppers with lower cost generic ingredients.

• Can I order my Vital Spoon supper plan online for delivery?

  Unfortunately, we are unable to provide this service at present. However, we are keen to work with an online supermarket to make this possible in the future!

• I am a Vital Spoon member, but I want to cancel my membership. Who do I contact?

  If you wish to cancel your membership, you’ll find the cancellation option available in the 'The Directory' section of your personal online account. Alternatively, you can request to cancel via email to unsubscribe@spoonfedsuppers.com by including your membership type (i.e. Vital), name and username in the correspondence. Please note, you will not be entitled to a refund for any membership fees already paid.

Email

• I have signed up but why haven’t I received a confirmation email?

  Confirmations are normally sent out instantly but sometimes there may be delays with mail servers, Internet Server Providers (ISP) or the internet itself. You can always check that you spelt your email address correctly by signing in via the login section at the top of the homepage. If the username and/or password are incorrect, you will see a pop-up message that says “Username or password does not exist. Please register or try again with the correct username and password”. Alternatively, please check any spam filtering software you may have, just in case the confirmation email has been added to your spam or junk mail folder. If the confirmation has appeared in your junk mail, take a look at the Email Help section to take Spoonfed Suppers off your spam filter list. Otherwise, you can check with your ISP to see if it's filtering out any emails at that end. If it has been, take a look at the Email Help section to get Spoonfed Suppers on to their white list. If you still haven’t received your confirmation email 24 hours after adding yourself to the email list, please contact help@spoonfedsuppers.com and my technical wizards may be able to help.

• When should I receive my first email?

  You should receive a welcome email as soon as you have subscribed. However, your first Spoonfed Supper email should appear overnight after the day you have subscribed. For example, if you subscribe to the Spoonfed Supper email on Tuesday morning at 11am, you can expect to receive Wednesday’s supper overnight (at ca. 3am GMT on Wednesday). If you have subscribed to the shopping list, that will appear every Thursday at about lunchtime. If you subscribe to the shopping list on a Monday for example, the first shopping list you receive will be on Thursday for the following week. However, if you have a Vital Spoon account, you will be able to access the contents of the emails – the supper plan and shopping list – at any point.

• I signed up, confirmed my address and it’s 24 hours since I subscribed. I haven’t received my first email yet. What’s the deal?

  Oh I hate it when this happens. Take a look at the Email Help section for more information.

• I'm getting the emails, but they don't look right.

  Many email service providers automatically block images. Look to unblock images in your email account preferences or settings. For directions on unblocking images by email provider, check out the Email Help section for more information.

• Why have my emails stopped arriving?

  Oh what a bother. I rarely change the configuration of the Spoonfed Suppers email so a sudden stop usually results from other factors. Firstly, check to see if you have accidentally unsubscribed. You can do this by going to your “My Account” page and checking which emails you are currently subscribed to. Otherwise, have you installed any spam filtering or firewall software recently? If so, follow the help instructions to whitelist a website or sender. Add candy@spoonfedsuppers.com to your list of legitimate senders.

  Another reason why you may have stopped receiving your emails is because you have "bounced". This means that we have repeatedly tried to deliver your message but your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is blocking it. If this is the case you should contact your ISP and explain the problem to them (see the Email Help section).

  If these two reasons don’t appear to be the issue take a look at the Email Help section for more information.

• How do I change my email address to which the emails are delivered?

  You can change your email address by visiting the “My Account” page. Use the form to simply overtype your old email address to replace with the new one and press Update. This will transfer your subscription to the new address and stop emails being sent to your old address. Or, if you’re having issues and getting ready to throw your computer out of the window, email my technical wizards at help@spoonfedsuppers.com with your old and new addresses and they’ll update it for you.

• Why am I told that an email account for this address already exists?

  If you are trying to create a new account and you are told that an email account for your address already exists, it could be that you mistyped your email address. If you have typed your address correctly, it means that the email address has already been used to set up an account and you can log in and make changes to your profile as necessary.

• Can I stop my emails for a short time while I am going on holiday?

  To temporarily suspend your subscription you will need to unsubscribe from whatever emails you are signed up to. You can do this from the “My Account” page. Simply untick the subscriptions (both the daily email and the shopping list). Your details will be maintained; so to re-activate your subscription, you simply go back to the “My Account” page and re-tick the subscriptions for the emails. You do not need to set up a new account.

• Why don’t some of the links work within my email?

  This might affect you if you receive the plain text version of the emails. Your email application may not allow some long URLs to fit on one line. When they wrap onto two lines they sometimes break, so when you click on the link you get an error message. This is a problem that affects many hotmail subscribers. If this is the case, simply copy and paste the entire link address into your browser's address field.

  If you are having a problem with the links in the HTML (picture) version of the email, the problem is most likely to be with your email client. It may help to close your email client, reopen and try again (a fairly standard IT help suggestion! Sorry!). Alternatively, if you are a Vital Spoon member, your supper is always duplicated in a fully readable version in your profile account.

• How do I unsubscribe?

  If you are a Sparky Spoon member, you can unsubscribe at any time by emailing unsubscribe@spoonfedsuppers.com and including your membership type (i.e. Sparky), name and username in the correspondence.

  If you are a Vital Spoon member, you can unsubscribe at any time using the cancellation option available in the 'The Directory' section of your personal online account. Alternatively, you can request to cancel via email to unsubscribe@spoonfedsuppers.com by including your membership type (i.e. Vital), name and username in the correspondence. Please note, you will not be entitled to a refund for any membership fees already paid.

  I hate to lose you as a member, but if you're reading this question, you probably have your reasons. Please do drop me a line to let me know your feedback via the contact form or feedback@spoonfedsuppers.com.

Press

• I have a press/ media enquiry. Who do I contact?

  For all press and media enquiries, please contact press@spoonfedsuppers.com.