FAQ’s

How do I subscribe?

All subscriptions come with a free 14 day trial so you can try The Dinner Daily risk free.  To get started, click on the “Try It” link at the top of the page and sign up for a free trial by selecting your subscription term and creating your account. Once you have joined, you will be prompted to personalize your plan by:

• • Selecting any dietary needs
  • Choosing your food preferences and the maximum times those foods can appear on your menu each week
  • Selecting your state and grocery store
  • Confirming your family size.

Your first personalized menu and shopping list will then be created in seconds!

How much does it cost?

Dinner Daily memberships pay for themselves over and over again. Having a plan that is based on store sales and that uses basic ingredients will help you save on groceries.  Memberships start at  less than $1/week, depending on the plan you choose:

• $18 for three months
• $48 for a full year

Most of our members save many times the cost each week, because we maximize use of weekly sales at grocery stores across the country.

How does the two week trial work?

All memberships come with a two week free trial. There is no charge until day 15 and you can cancel at any time up to day 15 with no charge.  You can cancel directly on your Account Settings page. There is no need to contact us to cancel.

My store isn’t listed. Will The Dinner Daily work for me?

Yes. If your grocery store isn’t listed, select our “ANY STORE” option.  You will still have all the benefits of membership- you’ll get a weekly meal plan and shopping list you can use at any store to eat better, save time, and have less stress around dinner. The only difference with the Any Store option is your menu will not be based on the weekly sales flyer at your particular store. Also, since you have access to all the store specific menus in your area, you can also try out other store menus too.

Our Any Store plan works well for stores like Costco, Trader Joe’s, and others that don’t have regular weekly sales.

I just subscribed. When can I expect my first menu and shopping list?

When you subscribe, you have immediate access to your plan.  You will also receive an email with links to your new menus at 4PM EST on the first day of the weekly sales cycle of the store you have selected. You can see the menu publishing schedule here .

We also will send you a series of quick emails during the first few weeks of your trial membership to help you make the most of your membership.

TIP: To ensure you receive our emails, please mark emails from thedinnerdaily.com as safe. For instructions on how to do this, please click this link.

Can I customize my menu?

Yes. You can customize your menu in multiple ways.  When you first join, we ask you to specify what kinds of main ingredients you want in your weekly plan (beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, vegetarian).  You can also fine tune your menus for specific dietary needs such as Reduced Carb, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Egg Free, and more.  We also offer a Heart Healthy menu option which aligns with the American Heart Association’s recommendations for daily sodium and saturated fat intake.

Once you are a member, we will send you a pre-planned menu each week that is customized for your food preferences, family size, and the sales at your grocery store.

However, you can always change your plan or look for more options with our easy to use Swap feature.  Just click on the Swap button (or the pencil icon on the phone-watch our quick DEMO here) to swap out a recipe with one of our suggested swap options, your previously favorited recipes, your own personal recipes, or search our database for more options.

Can I access menus and shopping lists for more than one store?

Yes. While we ask you at sign up to select your primary store so we can email you a weekly reminder on the day your menu updates, you always have access to the customized menus for any store in your area. You can also change states as well.   As a member you have access to any state/store menu we create!

How does The Dinner Daily save members money?
Our members save money in a number of ways. First, for over 16,000 grocery stores in all 50 states, we create menus based on the stores’ weekly sales. Our research and testing shows that families can save $1,200 or more a year on groceries just by incorporating weekly sales into the weekly plans. Second, with an organized plan in place, you will know exactly what to buy and how much, so you will save money by not throwing out or wasting food.  Our recipes also follow a strict set of guidelines to keep on-off ingredients to a minimum.  We also know that when our members have an organized plan in place each week, they spend less on take out, over priced meal kits, and restaurant meals. When you have a plan that works, the savings add up.

We also provide links to online manufacturer coupons each week for items on your shopping list and for other useful household items to help you save even more.

The Dinner Daily app has been designed to work equally well on both your phone and your desktop.  We suggest your family download our app on all your devices so you always have easy access to your plan. 

To Download The Dinner Daily App on your Phone:

• • Go to app.thedinnerdaily.com on your phone or tablet browser.  Use the Safari browser on iPhone and Chrome on Android phones.
  • Log into your account using your email and your password.
  • On iPhones or ipads:  tap the Share button    at the bottom of your screen, and then scroll down to select the “Add to Home Screen” option.

• • On Android phones or tablets:  the first time you load the app you’ll see an “Add to Home Screen” button at the bottom of your screen. Click this button to add the app to your home screen.

To Download The Dinner Daily App on your Computer:

• • Go to app.thedinnerdaily.com   
  • Log into your account using your email and your password.
  • Click on the Install button that will appear on the bottom of the screen, or bookmark app.thedinnerdaily.com
  • The Dinner Daily will then be available right from your Desktop. Once The Dinner Daily is installed, you will no longer need to go to thedinnerdaily.com and login to access your plan. So easy!

It may also be helpful to read through the FAQ’s related to the app, available from the menu in the upper left corner of the app or by clicking here for our App FAQ’s.

Can I order Dinner Daily ingredients on line?   Do you have links for grocery store delivery or pickup?

Yes. We have “One-Click Ordering” links for Kroger and Kroger-owned stores across the country.  We also plan to add additional online ordering integrations in the near future.

If we do not yet offer an online ordering integration for your store,  you could always use your organized shopping list to manually add items to your store’s online shopping cart. Having an organized list does make online ordering easier and more efficient, and is still quicker than going to the store!

Can I send my items to Kroger for delivery or pickup?
Yes. We now have an integration with Kroger for delivery or pickup. It works with most Kroger stores as well as King Soopers, Frys, Pick n Save, Ralphs, Fred Meyer and others. It does not work for Harris Teeter at this time as they have a separate online ordering system.

Here’s how it works: To use this tool, you must be using our app on either your phone or desktop. See above under “How do I get The Dinner Daily app?”

If you have selected a Kroger or Kroger-owned store, (such as Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Frys or Ralphs) you’ll see an “Order” button on the upper left side of the screen.  Click on the items you wish to order, then click on the Order button.  You will be prompted to sign in to your existing Kroger account or create a new Kroger account if you do not yet have one.  Your items will then be transferred right to your Kroger cart and can now be scheduled for delivery or curbside pick up.

If you have questions on how this works, just contact us at support@thedinnerdaily.com

What will a typical weekly meal plan look like?

Each week your menu will be customized to your food preferences, dietary needs and what’s on sale at the grocery store you select. The more food choices you select the more variety you will have on your weekly menus.   Menus are well balanced across the week and offer a variety of meal types so it never gets boring.   Depending on your preferences, you will see various cusisine types (ie Mexican, Italian, vegetarian etc), cooking styles (ie slow cooker, make ahead, etc), with no single ingredient or set of ingredients repeating too often.

You can see some sample menus on this page.  However, please know that every menu we create is unique for each member and their own set of personal preferences.

What if there is a meal on my menu I don’t want to make?

Easy.  You can change anything on your menu in seconds with our easy Swap feature. On your menu, simply click on the green “Swap” button (or the pencil icon on your phone) right below the recipe name.  You can then select a replacement meal from our list of suggested swap options, your previously favorited recipes, your personal recipes, or from searching our database for more options.  You can use Swap for both mains and sides on your menu, and all changes to your menu will automatically be updated on your shopping list.

You can also delete an entire meal or recipe by clicking the trash can. And if you ever want to go back to your original menu, that is easy too. Just click on the “Restore Menu” link right below your menu.

Can I add my own recipes?

Yes. You can add your own recipes by going to the My Recipes tab.  You can add as much or as little detail as you need. For instance, if you know the recipe instructions by heart, then only enter the ingredients. You can then swap your personal recipes into your plan by clicking on the Swap button (or pencil icon on the phone). Select the My Recipes option on the dropdown and pick the personal recipe you want to add to your plan for the week.  The ingredients will now be added to your shopping list.

Can I search for recipes?

Yes.  When you click on the Swap button (or pencil icon on the phone), click on the drop down box and go to Search. Type in a descriptor for the type of recipe you would like, such as “beef”, or “chicken” or “slow cooker” or “mexican”.   You can use more than one, so you can search for “mexican, chicken” for example. Or you can seach by multiple ingredients such as “chicken, broccoli, onion”. Up to 10 recipes will be displayed.  To add a recipe to your menu in place of another meal, just click on the dish you want and your menu and shopping list will be updated.

Do you have Reduced Carb, Gluten Free, or Dairy Free options? What about common allergy options? 

Yes. You can fine tune your menus to only include Reduced Carb or Gluten Free meals, along with other options like Dairy Free, Nut Free and more.  We will prompt you to make these selections right after you sign up for our Free 14 Day Trial, and you can change them anytime.

Do you have Heart Healthy/Low Sodium options?

Yes, we have a Heart Healthy menu option which was approved by our registered dietician and is aligned with the American Heart Association guidelines for daily intake of sodium and saturated fats.  Specifically, the menus do not contain red meats and each meal (main plus sides) contains less than 800 mg of sodium, which is aligned with the AHA guideline of no more than 2300 mg of sodium daily.  Also, in line with AHA guidelines, the calories from saturated fats are less than 10% of the overall calories for the meal.

How do I sign up for the Heart Healthy option?

The first time you click on Your Weekly Meal Plan after signing up for a Free 14 Day Trial, you will be prompted to select food preferences.  At the top of the food preferences screen, you will see an option to select a Heart Healthy meal plan. Just tick the box and and your menu will now be created in accordance with the heart healthy criteria outlined below:

 

You will then see the Heart Healthy menu choices and begin selecting your mix of meals.  Please note that not all of our dietary filters are available with the Heart Healthy menu plan at this time.

How do you define “Reduced Carb”?

Although there are many variations of what constitutes a reduced carb diet, our definition of reduced carb recipes are free of pasta, couscous, white rice, breads, breading, tortillas, and potatoes. We use minimal amounts of flour as thickener and natural sweeteners. Following the direction of our registered dietitians, we do include nutrient-rich complex carbs such as beans, sweet potatoes, and other legumes in Reduced Carb menus.

How do you define “Gluten Free”(GF)?

Our GF recipes do not use ingredients that commonly contain gluten. While we have many other recipes that could easily be made GF by using gluten-free ingredients, such as gluten-free pasta, we have not included those at this time. Please note we do include in our GF options recipes that use soy sauce (or tamari) and salad dressings as GF versions of these ingredients are widely available.

How often do you repeat recipes?

As a general rule, a main dish recipe will not be repeated on your menu for at least 2 months.  We also continuously add new recipes, so the increasing number of recipes in our database allows us to continually provide our subscribers with new meal ideas frequently, even if you have subscribed for some time.

You can also add your own personal recipes to your account and have those available to swap into your plan.

Can I favorite a recipe? 

Yes. You can “Favorite” any recipe so it will be saved in your account for a future week. Just click on the heart symbol right below the recipe photo and the recipe will now be saved in your account.  Your favorites are always available to swap into your menu by clicking on the Swap button (pencil icon on your phone) and selecting Favorites from the drop down.  Just click on the recipe you want to use, and your menu and shopping list will be updated.

How are your Nutritional Values calculated?

The Nutritional Values (NVs) shown are for one serving of the complete meal – main course and sides. For Family Plan the NVs are based on five servings and for Meals for two, the NVs are based on 2.5 servings.

We calculate NVs using a third party service wherein we input the ingredients for each recipe, the serving size, and other information, and the software returns the nutritional values for that meal. Please note that our NVs are a “ballpark” value for your convenience and serve as a guideline only. These values should not be used as your only measure for important dietary considerations.

Also, our NVs do not include any ingredients listed as “optional”. As explicitly stated in our own Terms and Conditions, we cannot be responsible for any errors that have come from a third-party source or service. Thank you for your understanding and please email us at support@thedinnerdaily.com if you have any questions.

What makes your recipes healthy?

Our recipes are developed with an emphasis on whole fresh foods.   You will find our recipes focus on lean proteins with lots of fresh produce, and use limited amounts of minimally processed foods. We also consult with registered dietitians to ensure our recipes are appropriate and utilize healthy cooking methods.

Can I print the recipes and shopping list? 

Yes.  You can print both the daily recipes and shopping list from your computer (app.thedinnerdaily.com).  Just look for the print icon on the upper right of the teal bar to print.

Can I buy a Dinner Daily Gift Subscription for someone else?
Yes. The Dinner Daily makes a wonderful gift that will bring your gift recipient joy every week.  When you order a gift subscription we will provide a certificate you can provide to your recipient that will also tell them how to set up their Dinner Daily account. Click here to view our Gift Subscriptions Page.

How does the coupon feature work?

Each week we provide a list of available coupons (with the link to download the coupon) for ingredients commonly used across our recipes, along with other commonly used household items such as cleaning products, paper goods, and pet products.

Please note this is a search only feature-you will still need to click on the link to print the coupon or download it to your store’s loyalty card. 

How much will the coupons save me?

On average, we will find between $6 to $10 in online coupons each week for items that you will actually need to prepare your dinners. If you take advantage of this feature just once or twice a month, our service will essentially be free.

Must I register for manufacturers coupons?

It depends on the manufacturer.  We offer links to manufacturers’ coupons and reputable coupons sites. Some manufacturers may ask you to sign in to their site or provide your email to download the coupons.  We are trying to make  “couponing” easier for you and we’re working on improving this feature.

Who should contact if I have questions?

Your questions and concerns are important to us and we pride ourselves on our quick turnaround to get your issue resolved quickly or your question answered promptly.

If you have any questions related to billing, website access, or other more technical questions, please contact our support desk at  support@thedinnerdaily.com or through the Live Chat feature on our website during business hours.

IF YOU THINK A CHARGE IS IN ERROR, PLEASE CONTACT US BEFORE DISPUTING A CHARGE. 

If you have questions related to offering The Dinner Daily as a Corporate Wellness benefit for your company, please email info@thedinnerdaily.com

My needs have changed, how can I cancel my membership?

We’d be sorry to see you go! However, if you want to cancel your membership, you can do that right from your Account Settings page on our website. You do not need to contact us to cancel your membership. Your membership will continue until the last day of your current membership period but will not auto renew.

I love my membership to Daily Dinner and was wondering if I could upgrade from to a longer subscription and the lower cost?

Of course. Just contact us and let us know and we’ll take care of it and any remaining value on your current subscription will be applied to your longer one.

Can I change my selected menu preferences, store or family size after my subscription starts?

Yes. You can easily change your preferences at anytime.  To change your food preferences, just click on the Food Preferences or Dietary Needs link to make adjustments.  You can also change your state, store, or family size as often as you need.

I am having a dinner party and have no time to plan! Can you help with that?

We love to plan dinner parties! Log in to your account on our website. Once on the Dashboard, scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see our fun feature  called “Dinner Party Plans”.  We provide a one page menu, complete with the starter, main meal and sides, and the shopping list for all of the ingredients.  You can also see our past menus Dinner Parties as well.

How did the business get started?

Our founder, Laurin Mills, started The Dinner Daily to solve her own “nightly dinner dilemma” as a result of being a working mom with three kids. Despite a demanding job and a long commute, one of the most stressful parts of the day was trying to figure out dinner every night. So she created a system where she planned out a week of meals, utilizing her store’s weekly specials, and went shopping once a week. And now we make that same money, time and stress-saving solution available to thousands of people in all 50 states.

How are you different than other meal planning services and the large recipe websites?

We are specifically focused on making dinner less time consuming, more affordable, and less stressful for busy families and couples. Other meal planning services and recipe sites typically require the user to do all the work of searching and selecting recipes to put together a plan for the week.

At The Dinner Daily, we do all the planning work for you by providing a pre-planned weekly dinner menu that is customized to you and the specials at your grocery store.  When you join The Dinner Daily, you won’t have to search for recipes, pair mains with sides, and hope it all comes together in a way that works.  We ensure your plan is well balanced in terms of cooking style and flavors and that specific ingredients do not repeat too often. We even ensure mains and side dishes never appear on your menu with different oven temperatures.  There is a great deal of thought and care that goes into putting together your plan each week so it solves dinner in the easiest way possible.

Where do your recipes come from?

Our recipes are created and tested by The Dinner Daily team which includes professional chefs, registered dieticians and home cooks. We strive to make sure our recipes will be well-received by your family before they ever go on a menu.

What do you mean when you say all the thinking, all the planning, is done for you?

We mean that we do all the planning work for you.  All you need to do is simply check out the menus and shopping lists provided to you each week (on our app or printed) and go. There is no need to scroll through endless recipes to put together a menu, select side dishes to go with each meal, and then hope it all works. Our service saves you time and money while keeping your family eating healthy in the process.