FAQs

We serve the Tri-State area (New York City, Westchester, parts of Long Island and New Jersey and Connecticut), Los Angeles, Miami and Palm Beach. Contact us today to see how we can serve you.

Step 1  Schedule a 15-minute introductory call via telephone so we can see if we are a good fit for you.
Step 2 From there, we will follow up with an estimate via email, and then schedule the consultation (which takes 45 to 60 minutes and is $100). This is when we will go over your food preferences, any dietary restrictions, and plan the details to begin.
Step 3  Once you select your cooking date to begin, we will plan your menu, shop for fresh ingredients, and then prepare the meals. All meals are packaged, labeled, and ready to eat.
Step 4 Once cooking is complete your chef will clean up your kitchen (if cooking on site in your kitchen), or deliver if you have arranged for delivery.
Step 5  You will receive a follow up email one to two days after your cook date to obtain your feedback and to provide an invoice (chefs are not paid by clients directly).

This is up to you. Most clients have us cook anywhere between one and three times per week, and we are available as many days per week as you need us.

One of our highly-skilled chefs from our small team will be your dedicated chef each time we see you. Our chefs are professionally trained, have extensive experience working in private homes, and are well-versed in healthy cooking and special diets.

Ideally, you will have the same chef each time we cook. We will always do our best to ensure you have your chef of choice, but on occasion we may request a substitute chef to cook for you.

Having a chef is such a personal fit and we do our best to pair your appropriately. However, if you feel your chef is not the right fit we will find you one who is.

Yes, our chefs are required to carry professional liability insurance in the unlikely event an incident occurs is a client’s home.

One or two days after cooking we will email an invoice. For the service fee you can pay Health Nut Chefs directly via Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or credit card. For the food cost you can provide a cash stipend or a credit card. The one-way transportation fee (if any) after the chef finishes grocery shopping can be paid for with a cash stipend, a credit card, or if the chef uses his/her card we can include this in the invoice. (*Please note chefs cannot use their personal credit card for grocery or other large purchases).

Once we have the consultation, or at least a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation, we can better assess the estimated fee. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

This is determined the menu you choose. Organic ingredients and/or meat/seafood will have a higher grocery bill than plant-based/vegetarian menus. We are very mindful of food cost, and will always search for the best deal without compromising quality.

There is no contract or obligation, you are free to hire us on a trial basis. We do ask for at least 48 hours notice of cancellation to avoid a cancellation fee.

Once you fill out our Food Preferences form, we create custom menus that we think you would enjoy, based on your food preferences and any dietary restrictions.

Yes! This is our specialty and we are passionate about helping individuals eat healthy, especially those faced with dietary issues. Please see our list here of some of the many special dietary needs we accommodate.

Absolutely, and this is common. For example, we are happy to make vegetable “noodles” for the adults if the kids prefer traditional pasta. We can also omit or put spicy seasoning on the side if some palates prefer milder than others.

Meals will taste freshest and have the most nutrients when enjoyed within the first 3-4 days. Beyond that, we recommend a second cook date or freezing some of the food when we first prepare it.

We recommend refrigerating the meals. However, if you are interested in freezing part of the menu we would suggest doing so with freezer-friendly foods, such as soups, stews and curries.

Absolutely, we are happy to collaborate with your healthcare professional.

Yes, in most cases they are fully cooked and ready to eat. However, we also offer a hybrid option where part of the meal is cooked and part is prepped for you to cook. For example, we will purchase and marinate fish and leave simple baking instructions, while the side dishes would be fully cooked.

We use only the freshest ingredients, and prepare and package the food to maximize freshness. For example, when making fresh salads your greens are placed in one container and the dressing in another, and if avocado is added we suggest slicing fresh just before enjoying.

As mentioned above, we can prep meals for you to cook a la minute. For example, we can make the pasta sauce but rather than cook the noodles you can cook them fresh. Also, removing cooked food from the refrigerator one hour before reheating and then gently warming in the oven will keep the food tasting fresh.

Absolutely, we often make meals for our clients to take to work. Please let us know before we cook and we will prepare and package the food accordingly.

We do the grocery shopping.

Most often we shop at Whole Foods, as they have the highest quality ingredients. Please let us know your preference.

This depends client preference and your particular chef. We will know once we have the consultation.

It depends on the menu, but anywhere between 3 to 5 hours.

Most often all of the meals are fully cooked, to make it most convenient for our clients. However, please see above if you prefer otherwise.

We are happy to serve meals, but this is a separate service. Please inquire.

You do not need to be home when your chef cooks. In fact, many of our clients are at work when we cook. We only need to have access to your kitchen, either via a doorman/concierge or a spare key.

Aside from ensuring we have entry to the kitchen if cooking on site, we only request a clean kitchen with ample workspace to prepare the lovely meals for you. We will also need room in the refrigerator to store your freshly prepared meals. If we are delivering we ask for you to arrange refrigeration as soon as possible.

Yes, if cooking on site, we are happy to use any ingredients you have in your kitchen, as long as they fresh and are within the use by date. Fresh spices make all the difference in good cooking. We also keep an online database of client inventory, so as not to purchase duplicates.

We clean!

We now offer delivery. Many more clients working from home have been requesting this in recent years. In addition, we understand many of our clients might be immune compromised, in which case contactless delivery is their preference.

No, we use each client’s cooking equipment if cooking on site. However, if not a kosher kitchen, the chef may bring his/her knives or other small tools.

Absolutely, if we are cooking in your home. Once we have the consultation (which includes a kitchen checklist), we can email you a link to order any supplies you may need, such as food storage containers. Alternatively, we can shop for you at an hourly rate and hand select any kitchen supplies you need. Please inquire.

Whichever type each client prefers, but most often either glass, BPA-free plastic containers, or disposable compostable containers.

Yes, and we enjoy doing parties! Please inquire.

We do not offer nutrition consulting at this time, as we are not registered dieticians. However, we are happy to work alongside your RD or other health and wellness professional to craft menus that align with your dietary goals.

Yes, please inquire.