Frequently Asked Questions

Meal Prep Questions

Wait, you cook in MY kitchen?

Yes! While other meal prep services offer a limited selection of premade meals for delivery, we create a personalized menu specifically for YOU. Cooking in your home allows us to select groceries and menu items that fit your budget and nutritional needs. It also helps us to confer cost-savings to you since we don’t need to rent or maintain a commercial kitchen. And we help the environment by utilizing your own reusable storage containers! Oh, and we’ll leave your kitchen sparkling clean ;) it’s a win-win-win-win.

Can I afford a personal chef?

Probably. Tell us your budget, and we’ll try our hardest to create a plan that works for you. Unlike other meal prep services, we offer a huge variety of menu items, grocery sources, and schedules to provide a service that fits your finances. Maybe a weekly service isn’t for you- we’re happy to chat about bi-weekly or monthly options as well! Or perhaps you’d like to go in on a meal prep plan with a neighbor or friend. We’ll get creative so you can get fed.

Everyone in my family eats different food. Is meal prep right for us?

It sure is, at least when you book with Camellia! Our dietitian and trained chefs have the knowledge and creativity to build menus that work for the WHOLE family. It’s just one of the many reasons we’re better than most delivery services. We pride ourselves on being able to make tasty food for even those with the most complex needs.

I’m gluten-free/vegan/have serious allergies/adjusting to a new medical diagnosis.

We won’t bat an eye. Having a dietitian at our helm means we’re equipped to tailor your meal prep to your exact medical needs. We’ve cooked for folks undergoing cancer treatment, learning to live with diabetes, and battling complex kidney disease. Let us help you heal with food!

Dietetic Counseling Questions

Do you work with kids or adults?

Both! While we specialize in pediatric feeding challenges, Celeste also works with adults looking to improve their nutrition and food knowledge, as well as those with Binge Eating Disorder.

Do you take insurance?

We are in-network with NC Medicaid, but otherwise private pay. We use a service called Reimbursify to help you submit claims to your insurer for out-of-network services.

How much does it cost?

We think nutrition counseling should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we work with Medicaid, and also why we only charge the minimum amount mandated by the state of North Carolina for dietetic counseling. Initial assessments are $125.84/hour, and follow-up appointments are $109.08/hour. Reach out to us about sliding scale fee options if you’re not sure you can afford counseling.

Will you make me a meal plan?

No. We will never tell you exactly what or how much to eat. In fact, if you find a dietitian/personal trainer/life coach who offers to do this for you, we think you should run in the other direction. This is because our individual needs vary every single day based on innumerable factors, including our activity level, how well- (or poorly-) rested we are, the temperature outside, our mood, whether or not someone made us a delicious birthday cake… you get the idea. We WILL, however, work with you to build your nutrition knowledge, sharpen your skills in the kitchen, and strengthen your awareness of your body’s hunger and satiety cues.

Will you tell me to lose weight?

Never. We are a Health at Every Size (HAES)-aligned practice, and we think your weight is one of the least interesting things about you.

*For pediatric patients who are undernourished or undergoing a tube wean, we track weight in an invisible-to-them way to ensure patient safety and nutritional adequacy.