TV chef's meal planning app now free for Suffolk residents

Why it matters: Premium membership for FiveDinners usually costs £86 per year, but anyone living in the county can currently use the service for free, with organisers highlighting the summer holidays as a particularly useful time to sign up.

The details: FiveDinners creates a personalised meal plan complete with a weekly shopping list and step-by-step instructions. The platform offers meal suggestions which are affordable, family-friendly and can take less than 20 minutes to cook, alongside a dedicated summer recipe category.

• Residents set their own preferences, including the number of people they are feeding and any allergies, and receive a new personalised meal plan and shopping list every week
• The service is designed to save time and money and reduce food waste
• More than 2,000 people from Suffolk are already using the service
• You do not have to be a parent to use it – it is open to anyone in Suffolk

Who's behind it: FiveDinners was founded by Theo Michaels, a TV chef and presenter who appeared on MasterChef and was the regular chef on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch for over two years, with regular appearances on ITV and BBC. He is an award-winning author with nine published cookbooks.

What they're saying: Theo Michaels said: "As a father of three and working full-time, I know how hard it can be for many families and individuals to figure out what to cook every night – it is a faff! By working with Feel Good Suffolk, we're making it easier for families to enjoy delicious, affordable, home-cooked meals together while helping them save money and cut food waste. And because the plans are personalised, residents set their preferences, [including the] number of people they are feeding, allergies, etc. and get a brand-new personalised meal plan with a complete shopping list every week."

Georgina Howe, strategic manager for Feel Good Suffolk, added: "We've been delighted to partner with FiveDinners to provide this great resource to our communities. It's a practical, positive way to support healthier lifestyles, reduce the stress of meal planning, and help households manage costs during challenging times. Summer can be a particularly challenging time for families so we're reminding everyone ahead of the holidays. It's free and easy to get started so why not sign up today!"

For context: Feel Good Suffolk is a partnership between Suffolk's county, district and borough councils and Abbeycroft Leisure, working closely with the NHS Suffolk and Norfolk Integrated Care Board. The service supports people to make positive changes to their health and wellbeing, focused on managing a healthy weight, giving up smoking and becoming more active.

FiveDinners is trusted by over 40,000 users, councils, NHS Trusts and organisations nationwide, and offers tailored meal plans, including menopause-friendly, mums-to-be, gluten-free and calorie-controlled options.

What's next: Residents can sign up for free at FiveDinners.com/MyCommunity by selecting their district council – Babergh, East Suffolk, Ipswich, Mid Suffolk or West Suffolk.

The bottom line: With school meals off the table during the holidays, Suffolk families and individuals can now access a normally paid-for meal planning service at no cost, aimed at easing the pressure of feeding a household over summer.

Don't forget: If you enjoy our content, please add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google so you can easily find more of the content you value.

This article cost us ~£14 to produce

It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them.