Frequently Asked Questions about the Peas & Hoppy Meal Guides

Interested in becoming a member of the Peas & Hoppy Meal Guides? Find answers to commonly asked questions here!

Questions About Our Customizable Weekly Meal Plans

Peas & Hoppy Meal Guide Membership is a healthy weekly meal planning service. It’s 100% customizable, planned seasonally, and balanced nutritionally according to the plate method.

Every week, Meal Guide members receive a new menu on Thursday in the Meal Guide app, complete with recipes and made-for-you grocery list. Find the app online, in the Apple App Store, or in the Google Play Store.

The Meal Guide menu includes the same meal types every week:

  • 4 Cooked Meal Options:
    • A “challenge” meal to inspire you
    • A “slow-cooker” meal to be ready when you get home
    • A “vegetarian” meal to eat better for the planet
    • A “30-minute” meal when you need dinner fast
  • 2 Grab & Go Meal Ideas for when you’re on the go (one savory & one sweet)
  • 2 Breakfast Yums (one savory & one sweet) to get you out of breakfast ruts
  • 2 snack inspirations (one savory & one sweet)

If there are recipes you don’t need, you can delete them from your plan. If you’re feeding more or fewer people, you can adjust the servings for the recipe. You can even add in extra recipes for hungry eaters.

If your family has a special dietary need, instructions are included with each weekly Meal Guide to customize your menu to make it gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian (lacto-ovo), or vegan.

All the changes you make to your meal guide are automatically updated in your grocery list. You can then review your list and add your family’s staple grocery items and cross off ingredients you already have.

When you join the membership, you gain immediate access to over 800 dietitian-written and approved recipes in the app. You can filter recipes by dietary need, season, or type. In addition, you can search by name of the recipe or ingredient. When you find a recipe you love, tap the heart to save it as a favorite and it will appear at the top of your recipe list.

Watch this short 3-minute video for a look inside the Meal Guides and try it out completely FREE for 2 weeks. If you don’t absolutely love it, you can cancel your membership without charge, no questions asked.

It’s completely up to you how many people each meal feeds! You can adjust each recipe to increase or decrease the number of servings it makes.

Most recipes are originally designed to feed 4-6 people. If you have very hungry eaters (like an active 13-year-old boy), you may want to add a recipe to the meal or double the portions. If you have not-so-hungry eaters (like a toddler or older family member whose metabolism has slowed), you may find the recipes feed more than what they say.

YES! With every Meal Guide you’ll receive a set of instructions to modify your menu to meet these different dietary needs:

  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy-Free
  • Vegetarian (lacto-ovo)
  • Vegan

The meals are all balanced to support healthy blood sugar levels. Carbohydrate amounts in each meal average about 60 grams and come from high-quality sources, such as legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Watch this video to learn how to customize your Meal Guide. As you can see, changes are easy to do. Any recipe substitutions are found at the bottom of the Meal Guide for you to include in your plan instead of taking the time to search for the right recipe.

In the “Recipes” tab of your web or mobile app you can filter recipes by any of these dietary needs, or select multiple dietary needs if desired. For example, you can filter for gluten-free, dairy-free appetizers by selecting these three options (“gluten-free,” “dairy-free,” and “appetizers”).

In addition, you can filter the recipes by FODMAP type. If you’re working with a dietitian to figure out IBS triggers you’ll be able to easily find recipes that work for you. FODMAP types are sorted into fructose, lactose, sorbitol, GOS, fructans, and mannitol so you can specify your exact needs. Find a list on our FAQ page of all the filters available to sort recipes in the Peas & Hoppy Meal Guides.

We provide a nutrition label for all recipes. It includes calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, sugar, cholesterol, sodium, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

If you’re not sure which dietary need is right for you and would like to schedule a 1-1 nutrition coaching session with Dietitian Ann, please request an appointment online.

YES! Before venturing into the world of entrepreneurship, I worked as a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (formerly known as Certified Diabetes Educator) for two different Endocrinology Clinics. As such, I have extensive experience designing meal plans for all types of diabetes and heart-healthy lifestyle.

Diabetes-Friendly: meals are written with a balance of nutrition to support healthy blood sugar levels. Carbohydrate amounts in each meal average about 60 grams and come from high-quality sources, such as legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Vegetarian meals tend to be slightly higher in carbohydrates because plant-based proteins often contain carbs, but these meals are also high in fiber and protein to slow the absorption of glucose and stabilize blood sugar levels. Recipes contain a nutrition label which shows the amount of total carb and fiber if needed to calculate medication dosing. Search for “Low-Carb” recipes, which are tagged if they contain 15 grams of net carbs per serving or less.

Heart-Healthy: meals and recipes favor the Mediterranean lifestyle approach. They include a moderate amount of fat and focus on healthy sources such as plant oils (olive, canola), nuts, seeds, avocado, fatty fish, and dairy. Menus also include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes which contain soluble fiber and plant sterols, which are powerful cholesterol-lowering compounds.

A nutrition label is provided for all recipes which includes calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, sugar, cholesterol, sodium, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

If you would like to discuss your individual nutrition needs further, you can schedule a 1-1 nutrition coaching session with Dietitian Ann.

Every week, Meal Guide members receive a new menu on Thursday which includes 10 pre-planned meals.

The meal types are the same every week to help you get into a rhythm of meal planning and include:

  • 4 Cooked Meal Options:
    • A “challenge” meal to inspire you
    • A “slow-cooker” meal to be ready when you get home
    • A “vegetarian” meal to eat better for the planet
    • A “30-minute” meal when you need dinner fast
  • 2 Grab & Go Meal Ideas for when you’re on the go (one savory & one sweet)
  • 2 Breakfast Yums (one savory & one sweet) to get you out of breakfast ruts
  • 2 snack inspirations (one savory & one sweet)

If there are recipes you don’t need, you can delete them from your plan. If you’re feeding more or fewer people, you can adjust the servings for the recipe.

You can also add in as many extra recipes as you want from our database of over 800 recipe options! You can search by category, name of the recipe, or ingredient to find exactly what you need to add to your plan.

I’m so excited for you to join us at the table! You can start your FREE 2-week trial today. After your trial, your membership will automatically renew for $14.99 per month.

Once you sign up, you’ll use the username and password you create at checkout to access the Meal Guide website online or on mobile with the Android or Apple app.

You’ll find the most recent Meal Guide in the “meal plans” tab, which you can then customize by adding or deleting recipes, adjusting the servings depending on the number of eaters you have, and then flipping over to the “shopping list” tab to finalize your grocery list. Watch: How to Customize your Meal Guide

Watch this short 3-minute video to see what’s included and please reach out to me if you have any questions.

Are you a current member with technical questions? Visit our Member FAQ Page

Questions About the Recipes in our Meal Plans

Absolutely! As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and mom of two growing boys, it’s extremely important to me the meals are balanced nutritionally.

This means you may find yourself buying more vegetables than you’re used to, but it DOESN’T mean you have to look for a bunch of weird ingredients. The recipes focus on using real food in a balance according to the Plate Method. A nutrition label is provided for all recipes which includes calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, sugar, cholesterol, sodium, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

I also believe strongly that “eating healthy” is more than just nutrients – it’s about enjoying the food you eat. Yes, that means there is sugar in some of the recipes and you’ll add salt to your vegetables! The key is to find the balance between “soul food” and “fuel food” so you can properly nourish your body AND your soul.

Read more about my food and nutrition philosophy.

In addition to being able to search by ingredient or name of the recipe in the Meal Guides, you can also sort recipes using one of the 38 pre-set filters.

In the “Recipes” tab of your web or mobile app you can sort recipes using any of these features or select multiple if desired. For example choose the filters “gluten-free,” “Mexican,” and “appetizers” – and then also type “avocado” in the ingredient search to find exactly what you need.

Filters to sort recipes include:

Meal Type

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Snack

Dietary Need

  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy-Free
  • Low-Carb
  • Low Fructan
  • Low GOS
  • Low Lactose
  • Low Mannitol
  • Low Fructose
  • Low Sorbitol

Lifestyle

  • Vegetarian
  • Pescatarian
  • Vegan

Cooking Preference

  • 30-Minute
  • Slow-Cooker
  • Challenge
  • One Dish
  • Holiday

Season

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter

Cuisine

  • Mexican
  • Asian
  • Mediterranean

Meal Component

  • Soup
  • Salad
  • Side
  • Appetizer
  • Vegetable

Protein

  • Seafood
  • Pasta
  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Chicken

If you’d like to explore the app further, start a free 2-week trial to see how it works!

The recipes on the Meal Guides are simple and require only a handful of kitchen items. Even if you’re brand-new to cooking, you won’t have to spend thousands of dollars on specialty items.

Every recipe lists the cooking equipment needed so you can double-check you have what you need before you’re in the middle of a recipe!

I’m a minimalist at heart and apply the principles to my kitchen, as well: if I can’t use an item for multiple purposes, I don’t buy it. These are the items you’ll want to have if you sign up for the meal guides:

For more kitchen essentials recommendations, check out my full collection.

Note: the links provided include affiliate links for which I earn a commission if you purchase. To be honest, I’d rather you go to your local kitchen store to find these items and support your local economy, but if you’re in a pinch these links are here to help you out.

It’s completely up to you how many people each meal feeds! You can adjust each recipe to increase or decrease the number of servings it makes.

Most recipes are originally designed to feed 4-6 people. If you have very hungry eaters (like an active 13-year-old boy), you may want to add a recipe to the meal or double the portions. If you have not-so-hungry eaters (like a toddler or older family member whose metabolism has slowed), you may find the recipes feed more than what they say.

The recipes are EASY to make! I’m not a trained chef and you don’t need to be, either.

I write and test the recipes in my own kitchen to make sure the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Most members rate the difficulty of the recipes as either a 1 or 2 out of 5. Even if you don’t feel very comfortable in the kitchen, you’ll be able to follow these recipes.

All of the recipes are written using easy-to-find ingredients. You don’t need to have a specialty store near you or make multiple grocery store runs. Menus are planned seasonally to encourage you to visit your local farmer’s market in the summer and enjoy fresh, local produce.

I grew up on a farm in Kansas and understand the limits of rural grocery stores; if there is an ingredient which I know won’t be found in my hometown grocery store, I provide a link to where you can buy it online (for example: Nutritional yeast for vegan recipes).

You’ll also find “Pro Tips” on every recipe and meal guide, which are bite-sized pieces of information to help you become a more savvy cook each time you make a meal.

Each recipe lists the total, prep, and cook time so you know what you’re getting into before you start. You’ll also find the cooking equipment listed for each recipe, instructions for how to store leftovers, as well as a description of how to prep the vegetables in the recipe if you find something new to you.

If you have a question about cooking or need an adjustment for a recipe, join the Peas & Hoppy Community Facebook group and post your request there.

If you’d like to explore the recipes, try the Meal Guides completely FREE for 2 weeks. If you don’t absolutely love it, you can cancel your membership without charge, no questions asked.

Time is of the essence when you’re trying to get dinner on the table! That’s why every recipe lists the total time, prep time, and cook time – so you can know what you’re getting into before you get started.

Most recipes take 30 minutes or less of prep time for experienced cooks. If you’re newer in the kitchen or don’t feel as comfortable prepping veggies, expect the meals to take a little longer than what’s listed on the recipe.

Every week you get a 30-minute meal on your meal guide: meaning from start to finish you can get dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less! An example of a 30-minute meal is this Lemon Pesto Penne with Broccoli & Bursted Cherry Tomatoes.

You also get two “grab & go” meals every week – which are meals you can either prep ahead OR which you can quite literally grab from the fridge and throw together in 10 minutes or less. I think of these as “back-up” meals if things got a little crazy and you ended up without the time you thought you would have to cook. This blog post about Meal Planning for People in a Hurry explains a little about the process of creating easy grab & go meals.

Slow-cooker recipes are usually quick to prepare and then designed to cook all day long – perfect for if you’re busy during the day and need dinner ready when you get home. An example of a slow-cooker meal is this Creamy Butternut Squash Soup.

“Challenge” meals take the longest to make; these meals are usually fun to try if you want to have a “date day” in the kitchen with your spouse or children. Even these meals usually take less than an hour from start to finish to make. An example of a “challenge” meal is this Pizza with Homemade Crust or this recipe for Curried Red Lentils with Fried Cauliflower and Peanuts.

If you’d like to explore the recipes, try the Meal Guides completely FREE for 2 weeks. If you don’t absolutely love it, you can cancel your membership without charge, no questions asked.

Ohhh picky eating can be so challenging and frustrating! The phase *usually* happens between the ages of 1-5, but it can also extend well into adulthood.

All of the meals and recipes are designed to be full of flavor and use cooking techniques that bring out the best in veggies. For example, this 3-Step Roasted Vegetable process uses high cooking temperatures to help cut the bitter flavor in these types of veggies.

But picky eating is more than just using the right recipes; it’s all about the mindset of both you AND your picky eater. Read more about 7 Tips to Help Your Picky Eater Like More Foods and know that preventing – and reversing – picky eating is a process!

If you’d like more support in navigating picky eating, you can reach out to schedule a 1-1 nutrition coaching session with Dietitian Ann.

YES! When you join the membership, you gain immediate access to over 800 dietitian-written and approved recipes in the app, as well as the four most recent weekly Meal Guides.

You can filter recipes by dietary need, season, or type; or you can search by name of the recipe or ingredient. When you find a recipe you love, tap the heart to save it as a favorite and it will appear at the top of your recipe list.

Sign up for a free 2 week trial to check out all the recipes!

Technical Questions About Our Meal Planning Service

Peas & Hoppy Meal Guide Membership is a healthy weekly meal planning service that’s 100% customizable, planned seasonally, and balanced nutritionally according to the plate method.

Every week, Meal Guide members receive a new menu on Thursday in the Meal Guide app (available online, in the Apple App Store, or in the Google Play Store), complete with recipes and made-for-you grocery list.

The Meal Guide menu includes the same meal types every week:

  • 4 Cooked Meal Options:
    • A “challenge” meal to inspire you
    • A “slow-cooker” meal to be ready when you get home
    • A “vegetarian” meal to eat better for the planet
    • A “30-minute” meal when you need dinner fast
  • 2 Grab & Go Meal Ideas for when you’re on the go (one savory & one sweet)
  • 2 Breakfast Yums (one savory & one sweet) to get you out of breakfast ruts
  • 2 snack inspirations (one savory & one sweet)

If there are recipes you don’t need, you can delete them from your plan. If you’re feeding more or fewer people, you can adjust the servings for the recipe. You can even add in extra recipes for hungry eaters.

If your family has a special dietary need, instructions are included with each weekly Meal Guide to customize your menu to make it gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian (lacto-ovo), or vegan.

All the changes you make to your meal guide are automatically updated in your grocery list, which you can then review and add your family’s staple grocery items and cross off ingredients you already have.

When you join the membership, you gain immediate access to over 800 dietitian-written and approved recipes in the app. You can filter recipes by dietary need, season, or type; or you can search by name of the recipe or ingredient. When you find a recipe you love, tap the heart to save it as a favorite and it will appear at the top of your recipe list.

Watch this short 3-minute video for a look inside the Meal Guides and try it out completely FREE for 2 weeks. If you don’t absolutely love it, you can cancel your membership without charge, no questions asked.

It’s completely up to you how many people each meal feeds! You can adjust each recipe to increase or decrease the number of servings it makes.

Most recipes are originally designed to feed 4-6 people. If you have very hungry eaters (like an active 13-year-old boy), you may want to add a recipe to the meal or double the portions. If you have not-so-hungry eaters (like a toddler or older family member whose metabolism has slowed), you may find the recipes feed more than what they say.

Every week, Meal Guide members receive a new menu on Thursday which includes 10 pre-planned meals.

The meal types are the same every week to help you get into a rhythm of meal planning and include:

  • 4 Cooked Meal Options:
    • A “challenge” meal to inspire you
    • A “slow-cooker” meal to be ready when you get home
    • A “vegetarian” meal to eat better for the planet
    • A “30-minute” meal when you need dinner fast
  • 2 Grab & Go Meal Ideas for when you’re on the go (one savory & one sweet)
  • 2 Breakfast Yums (one savory & one sweet) to get you out of breakfast ruts
  • 2 snack inspirations (one savory & one sweet)

If there are recipes you don’t need, you can delete them from your plan. If you’re feeding more or fewer people, you can adjust the servings for the recipe.

You can also add in as many extra recipes as you want from our database of over 800 recipe options! You can search by category, name of the recipe, or ingredient to find exactly what you need to add to your plan.

A monthly subscription to the Peas & Hoppy Meal Guides is $14.99 per month. Sign up for an annual subscription for $149 per year and get two months free!

You can try it out completely free with a 2 week trial. At the end of your trial you’ll automatically be charged for the membership.

When you join the membership, you’ll use the username and password you create at checkout to access the Meal Guide website online or on mobile with the Android or Apple app.

Every week on Thursday when a new meal guide is published, you’ll receive an email* with a printable version of the meal guide. You’ll also get a notification via the app if you have it installed and the notification settings turned on.

*Please note that if you purchase your membership directly through the app instead of our website, you will not receive the weekly email.

I’m so excited for you to join us at the table! You can start your FREE 2-week trial today. After your trial, your membership will automatically renew for $14.99 per month.

Once you sign up, you’ll use the username and password you create at checkout to access the Meal Guide website online or on mobile with the Android or Apple app.

You’ll find the most recent Meal Guide in the “meal plans” tab, which you can then customize by adding or deleting recipes, adjusting the servings depending on the number of eaters you have, and then flipping over to the “shopping list” tab to finalize your grocery list. Watch: How to Customize your Meal Guide

Watch this short 3-minute video to see what’s included and please reach out to me if you have any questions.

Look inside the Peas & Hoppy Meal Guides

Peas & Hoppy Meal Guides

You’re busy taking care of everyone around you; let the Meal Guides take the burden of meal planning off your shoulders.

Get Your FREE 14 Day Trial Now!

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