Pre-Made Meal Delivery Frequently Asked Questions

What are FoodZen pre-made meals?

FoodZen offers fresh, chef-prepared meals made weekly in our Cambridge kitchen. Meals arrive fully cooked and ready to heat, making it easier to enjoy a home-style meal without the shopping, chopping or cooking.

Is FoodZen a meal kit?

No. FoodZen pre-made meals arrive fully cooked and ready to heat, no recipe cards, prep or cooking required. If you prefer to cook at home, Rooted Path by FoodZen offers Cook Along Kits with a spice blend, grocery list and step-by-step recipe so you can make the meal yourself.

Does FoodZen deliver pre-made meals in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge?

Yes. FoodZen currently delivers pre-made meals throughout Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge on Wednesdays from 2:00–5:30 PM. We also offer pickup from our kitchen at 12 Queen Street East in Cambridge on Wednesdays from 2:00–5:30 PM.

How much do FoodZen pre-made meals cost?

FoodZen meals start at $14.67 per serving with a subscription. Individual, couple, family and large-family serving sizes are available. Subscriptions save 20% and can be skipped, paused or cancelled anytime.

Is there a delivery fee for FoodZen pre-made meals?

Yes. A 2% delivery fee applies to pre-made meal deliveries throughout Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. Pickup is available at no charge from our kitchen at 12 Queen Street East in Cambridge. If the delivery fee creates a financial barrier, please contact info@foodzen.ca. We may be able to help.

Do I need to be home for my FoodZen pre-made meal delivery?

No, you do not need to be home when we deliver your pre-made meals. If you are not home, we ask that you leave out a cooler for us to put the food in. If you do not have a cooler, please let us know and we will provide you with a cooler bag that is reusable.

Do you deliver pre-made meals to apartments and condo buildings?

Yes! We deliver to apartments and condo buildings throughout our delivery area. Our driver will text you when they are approximately 2-5 minutes away. If you're able to, we ask that you meet your driver at the main entrance of your building.
If you won't be home or are unable to come down, please make sure we can access the building remotely or arrange an alternate drop-off option with us in advance. Our drivers are unable to wait for building access, so having a delivery plan in place helps us keep our Wednesday delivery route on schedule.

How many servings are included in each pre-made meal bundle?

Our Individual bundle includes 1 serving of each meal selected, Couple includes 2 servings, Family includes 4 servings and Large Family includes 6 servings. To reduce packaging waste, meals may be packaged together rather than as individual servings.

What is included in a FoodZen serving?

Each serving includes approximately 5 oz of meat or meat substitute, 5 oz of vegetables and 3–4 oz of a grain or starchy vegetable. These portions are consistent across our menu, including soups and salads, although some meals may look smaller when ingredients are chopped, combined or puréed. For salads, lettuce is additional and does not count toward the 5 oz vegetable portion.

Does FoodZen offer family-size prepared meals?

Yes. FoodZen offers individual, couple, family and large-family serving sizes. Our meals are sold by serving size, so family meals aren't individually packaged into separate portions.

Are FoodZen meals fresh or frozen?

FoodZen meals are prepared fresh each week and delivered fully cooked and ready to heat. Most stay fresh in the refrigerator for approximately 3-6 days, and many can also be frozen for later.

Does FoodZen offer gluten-free and dairy-free meals?

Many FoodZen meals are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, and our weekly menu identifies available dietary options. FoodZen is not a dedicated gluten-free facility, so customers with allergies should review the menu information carefully before ordering.

Does FoodZen offer vegetarian or vegan meals?

Yes, FoodZen offers 2-3 vegetarian options on our pre-made meal menu each week. We do not currently offer vegan options through our weekly pre-made meal service. For customers looking for vegan meals or meals customized to specific dietary needs, our in-home Personal Chef service can accommodate most diets and preferences.

Can FoodZen pre-made meals be customized for allergies or dietary needs?

FoodZen's weekly pre-made meals offer limited customization on select menu items, such as choosing tofu instead of chicken or selecting available sides. These options will be listed on the weekly menu. Beyond these choices, we cannot accommodate additional substitutions. For more customized dietary needs, our in-home Personal Chef service can accommodate most diets.

What dietary needs can FoodZen’s pre-made meals accommodate?

FoodZen favours real, whole ingredients with minimal processing. Many of our meals are naturally dairy-free and gluten-free, and we offer 2-3 vegetarian options each week. All ingredients are listed on our weekly menu.
Our pre-made meals cannot be customized beyond the substitutions and side options offered on the menu. For more specific dietary needs or allergies, our in-home Personal Chef service can accommodate most diets.

Please note: At this time, we are unable to accommodate specific religious dietary practices, such as Kosher and Halal.

How are your pre-made meals packaged?

In an effort to reduce waste, your meals will come in 1 or 2 containers depending on the bundle you selected. This means if you order 3 meals family size, you will receive each meal in 1 container with 4 servings in each instead of 12 individual meals.

How do I order a FoodZen pre-made meal bundle?

Visit our FoodZen Kitchen page and select Order Now. Enter your postal code, choose your serving size and delivery date, then select the meals and available sides you'd like. You can choose a one-time order or subscription before completing checkout.

When do I need to order FoodZen meals?

A new menu is released each Friday. Orders close Sunday at 5 PM for Wednesday delivery or pickup.

Can I subscribe to FoodZen meal delivery?

Yes. FoodZen subscriptions save 20% compared with one-time ordering. You can skip weeks, pause your subscription or cancel anytime.

How do I choose my meals each week with a FoodZen meal subscription?

To make your meal selections, log in to your account and go to the Orders tab. Click on Details beside the upcoming delivery week to expand your order and click on Choose Meals. NOTE - If you don't see any orders, your Subscription may be on pause. Go to the Subscriptions tab and click on Details to expand your subscription and click Resume to unpause your subscription.

Can I change the number of meals in my FoodZen subscription?

Yes, you can go from 3 meals to 5 meals or vice versa by logging into your account and going to the subscription tab. Click edit. 

Can I change the size of my FoodZen pre-made meal bundle?

Yes, you can update your bundle size by logging into your account and going to the subscription tab. Click edit.

Can I skip a week or pause my FoodZen meal subscription?

Yes, you can skip a week or several by logging into your account and going to the Skip Days tab. Choose the dates you would like to skip. 

What happens if I don’t select my FoodZen meals on time?

Meal selections are due on Sundays by 5:00 pm. FoodZen knows that life gets busy and sometimes unexpected circumstances happen. If we do not receive your meal selections by Sunday at 5:00 pm, we will not automatically select them for you. Instead, we will skip the week on your behalf and not charge you for that week.

When can I cancel my FoodZen meal subscription?

For our pre-made meal delivery service, you can cancel your subscription anytime. You can cancel your subscription by logging into your account, going to the Subscription tab and click Unsubscribe.

Where can I view FoodZen’s menu?

A new pre-made meal menu is posted every Friday on our website and social media channels. Orders and meal selections are due Sunday at 5:00 PM for Wednesday delivery or pickup. Personal Chef menus are customized to each client's tastes and dietary needs.

Where are FoodZen's meals prepared?

For our pre-made meal delivery service, FoodZen meals are prepared in our certified commercial kitchen space at 12 Queen Street East, Cambridge. For FoodZen's personal chef service, the food is prepared in your home. 

In-Home Personal Chef Frequently Asked Questions

Why hire a FoodZen personal chef?

A personal chef is a great way to save time and money. As a personal chef, we am here to bring balance to your life on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. We will work with you to customize your meals, prepare them for you and leave you with detailed reheating instructions. Hiring a personal chef is a great way to stick to a healthy lifestyle and help bring down the costs of eating out. It’s also a great way to get that restaurant experience, without leaving your home.

What areas does FoodZen’s in-home personal chef service cover?

For our in-home personal chef service, we currently serve the Waterloo Region and surrounding areas.

Is FoodZen licensed and insured?

Yes, we have an Ontario Master Business License and general liability insurance.

What does FoodZen’s weekly in-home personal chef schedule look like? 

The Weekly Meal Service is scheduled for one day a week from Monday to Thursday. The average schedule includes groceries at 8:00 AM and in-home meals are cooked from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. If needed, times can be slightly adjusted to meet your needs.

What does FoodZen’s bi-weekly in-home personal chef schedule look like?

The Bi-Weekly Meal Service is scheduled for one day every second week from Monday to Thursday. The average schedule includes groceries at 8:00 AM and in-home meals are cooked from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. If needed, times can be slightly adjusted to meet your needs.

How does FoodZen’s monthly batch and freezer meal personal chef service work?

The Monthly Batch / Freezer Meal Service is scheduled for one day every four weeks from Monday to Thursday. The average schedule includes groceries at 8:00 AM and in-home meals are cooked from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. If needed, times can be slightly adjusted to meet your needs.

Do I need to be home while my FoodZen personal chef prepares my meals?

No, similar to a cleaning service FoodZen wants to cause the least disruption to your schedule. We are happy to come in on days that you are not at home. You will need to provide a key or house code for us to enter.

How much do groceries cost for FoodZen’s in-home personal chef service?

Groceries will vary based on your preferred grocery store, product preferences (i.e. organic vs non-organic) and menu. Up to this point, the average cost of groceries for the Weekly Meal Service has been between $60 and $120 and the Bi-Weekly Meal service is about $100 to $200 per service.

Does FoodZen provide containers for storing my personal chef meals?

For our pre-made meal delivery service, we provide the containers. Our containers for the most part are reusable and recyclable. For our in-home personal chef service, we do not supply the containers. We work with clients to make sure they have the necessary containers needed to store their food in each week. On your first visit, we can include the containers as part of the grocery shopping bill.

Do I need to provide any kitchen tools or equipment for my FoodZen personal chef?

For the most part, we will be using our own tools; knives, pots, pans, cutting boards and utensils. We may need to use some of your tools depending on the recipe. We will need access to your fridge, stove, bbq, oven and microwave for most meals.

Will my FoodZen personal chef use ingredients I already have at home?

Yes. We'll work with you to determine what ingredients you already have on hand, so staples like salt and pepper don't need to be purchased each time. We're also happy to incorporate ingredients you'd like to use up.

What is FoodZen’s personal chef cancellation policy?

For our in-home personal chef service, you can cancel anytime with 2 weeks notice.