Yes. Alēra supports clients with a wide range of diagnosed health conditions and lifestyle goals, including digestive health, hormone balance, performance, energy, body composition, and general wellbeing.

Your assigned Nutritionist is a fully qualified, vetted professional experienced in supporting clients with varying health considerations. While they work within an evidence-based nutritional scope, they are not medical doctors and do not diagnose or replace clinical care.

Alēra is designed to complement — not substitute — medical guidance where appropriate. We are always happy to work alongside your existing healthcare team.

For safety and accuracy, full disclosure of medical history, medications, allergies and intolerances is essential.

Your Nutritionist designs and oversees your personalised Nutrition Blueprint behind the scenes.

You’ll have a structured weekly check-in opportunity to reflect, share feedback and request adjustments. Messaging is available through the platform, and responses are typically provided within 24 hours during working days.

Alēra is designed to feel calm and structured rather than reactive. You won’t receive constant check-ins unless support is genuinely needed.

We aim to maintain continuity with the same Nutritionist throughout your time with Alēra. In rare cases (such as long pauses or availability changes), reassignment may be required and will always be handled thoughtfully.

Meals are freshly prepared by your assigned chef in their home or professional kitchen facility. All chefs are vetted and hold appropriate food safety certifications.

Each week, your chef inputs their availability into the platform. You then select delivery days and time windows that suit you. Delivery spacing determines whether certain meals are delivered refrigerated or frozen to maintain freshness and safety.

Meals typically keep for 2–3 days refrigerated and longer if frozen. Storage and reheating instructions are provided with every delivery.

Alēra can support clients with a wide range of allergies and intolerances, and all declared information is shared with your assigned Chef and Nutritionist from the outset.

Meals are prepared by independent, vetted chefs who take reasonable precautions to minimise the risk of allergen cross-contamination in line with food safety training and industry standards. However, meals are not prepared in certified allergen-free facilities.

If anyone in your household has an allergy or intolerance — even if they only eat the meals occasionally — this must be declared during onboarding. All shared household meals are prepared to accommodate the strictest declared allergy within that household.

For severe or life-threatening allergies, we ask that you contact us before signing up so we can assess whether the service is suitable. In some cases, we may advise that Alēra is not the right fit if the risk cannot be reasonably managed.

Full details on food safety, allergens, preparation standards, and responsibilities can be found in our Allergen & Intolerances Policy, which form part of your agreement with Alēra.

Your Alēra membership covers:

• your dedicated Nutritionist

• weekly meal planning and adjustments

• ongoing nutrition guidance and messaging

• chef coordination and execution briefs

• delivery scheduling, feedback, and refinements

• access to the Alēra app and all admin

Chef services are paid separately, directly to the Chef on a weekly basis. Chef invoices typically cover:

• time spent shopping, cooking, and commuting

• groceries

• delivery-related expenses

Chef costs vary week to week depending on meal volume, ingredient choices, and logistics. Within your membership tier, you can request more or fewer meals each week — your Alēra fee remains the same, while Chef costs adjust accordingly.

Personal Chef rates vary by location, experience, and workload, and typically include an hourly rate plus groceries and delivery expenses. Alēra does not fix Chef rates, but ensures pricing is reasonable and transparent.

The only additional cost to budget for is a one-off charge (up to £150) on your first Chef invoice for reusable glass containers and safe meal transport solutions. There are no hidden fees.

Life happens — and Alēra is built to flex with you.

You can take:

• Short breaks (1–6 consecutive days) — 7 days’ notice required

• Extended breaks (7–14 consecutive days) — 14 days’ notice required

• Pauses (15–28 consecutive days) — 14 days’ notice required

Pauses of 15+ days may qualify for pause pricing, provided eligibility conditions are met (including notice requirements and timing rules).

You can take as many pauses as you wish each year. However, reduced pause pricing is limited to 3 pauses per year. Any additional pauses are charged at your standard membership rate.

If notice requirements aren’t met and your chef’s availability is materially affected, holding fees may apply.

The simplest way to avoid fees?
Let us know as early as possible through the platform.

See our Terms of Service for more info

Yes.

You may switch between Core 5, Core 7, Pro 5, and Pro 7.

Tier changes:

• require 14 days’ notice

• take effect at the start of the next billing cycle

• are limited to two changes per rolling 12-month period

This structure ensures consistency for your chef and nutritionist while still allowing flexibility when your needs evolve.

If a delivery is missed, Chef costs still apply. In some cases, an alternative delivery may be possible, depending on availability and food safety.

Delivery updates are shared through the app, and if you’re unexpectedly unavailable, you may be able to arrange delivery to a neighbour or alternative location.

Membership requires one month’s notice to cancel.

Cancellation:

• Must be submitted directly to Alēra in writing

• Takes effect one month from receipt

• Aligns with your billing cycle

Your membership remains active during your notice period.

We aim for smooth, respectful transitions — if you’re considering cancelling, we’re always open to a conversation first.

Most of our current operations are in London, but we have networks across many major UK cities and a team dedicated to sourcing Chefs locally.

If you split your time between locations or move, please let us know as early as possible. We’ll do our best to arrange Chefs in multiple locations to work with your remote Nutritionist and maintain continuity.

Alēra is currently UK-based, with plans to expand internationally in the future.

Yes. We’re happy to work with clients who already have a Chef, provided the Chef agrees to work in partnership with Alēra and meets our standards and terms. This ensures your Nutritionist and Chef can collaborate properly and maintain consistency across your meals.

Your chef is an independent professional, but we always plan for continuity.

Our aim is for you to have the same chef throughout your time with Alēra, but where changes are unavoidable, we will find you an appropriate new chef and co-ordinate a handover between chefs to ensure minimal disruptions to service and a smooth transition.

If your chef becomes temporarily unavailable:

• We will assess whether your schedule can be adjusted

• Where needed, we may arrange a temporary replacement chef

• Your nutrition plan remains consistent, and additional nutritionist support may be provided

For short absences (5 days or fewer), we do not usually replace the chef, instead we will up nutritionist support where necessary to help you find replacement meals in the meantime.

For longer planned absences, we will endeavour to arrange a suitable replacement. If no appropriate solution can be found within 14 days, we may reduce membership fees, pause the service, or suspend service until availability resumes.

Our number one priority is to always provide a consistent, professional and streamlined service — so please rest assured any changes to your service will be handled with the utmost care and efficiency.

Yes. Alēra is designed to support households, not just individuals.

You can add additional household members (such as children or partners) to your account at any time. Each additional user is added once and remains on your account unless removed.

Additional users do not receive their own bespoke nutrition plan unless they are added as a full adult profile. Instead, they receive portions of meals from an existing meal plan, tailored by portion size and preferences.

When your Nutritionist submits your weekly meal plans, you’ll approve each meal inside the Alēra app.

At the point of approval, you’ll be asked whether you’d like to add portions for any additional household members — for example:

• a child

• a partner eating the same meals

• a household member who only eats with you occasionally
  

You can choose:

• who receives a portion

• which meal they receive it from

• on which days
  

This allows household members (including children) to eat from the meals that suit them best — without requiring separate meal plans or unnecessary food waste.

If a household member doesn’t need meals in a given week or on certain days, you simply don’t add a portion for them.

For each additional household member, we record only what’s necessary to keep meals safe and appropriate, such as:

• name

• portion size (adult / child)

• allergies or intolerances

• strong food preferences
  

This ensures chefs can prepare meals safely while keeping the service flexible.

Your membership tier is based on the structure of your plan (Core 5, Core 7, Pro 5, Pro 7).

Adding additional household members does not automatically change your tier, but it may:

• increase total portions

• affect chef capacity

• require updated health information

If your household needs significantly increase, we may recommend adjusting your plan to ensure the service remains smooth and sustainable.

We’ll always discuss this with you first — no surprises.

Yes.

During the weekly meal approval process, you can:

• approve or decline specific meals

• disclose days you don’t need meals

• adjust portion quantities

• allocate meals to additional household profiles

This allows flexibility for travel, schedule changes, or family needs.

These adjustments do not change your membership tier — they simply refine your weekly plan within your existing structure.

If changes are made after planning deadlines and materially impact chef availability, holding fees may apply in line with the Pause & Holding Policy.

There are two separate payments:

Alēra

• £350 joining fee (paid on enrolment, non-refundable)

• Monthly membership fee

• Membership is charged on the last Friday of each month

• Fees remain consistent unless approved pause pricing applies

Your Chef

• Chefs invoice weekly

• Invoices cover meals already prepared and delivered

• Payment terms are shown on the invoice

If a chef invoice remains unpaid beyond 5 days, a £25 late fee may apply.

If a membership payment fails:

• We will attempt collection again

• A £25 admin fee may apply after a second failed attempt

• Ongoing non-payment may result in temporary suspension

If something ever looks incorrect, contact us first — we’ll review it quickly and calmly.

Each week, your proposed menu is sent for the following week.

If approval or feedback isn’t received within the required timeframe, and we have attempted to contact you to no avail, we may proceed with the proposed menu to avoid disruption to shopping, preparation and delivery schedules.

This protects your chef’s reserved time and ensures your meals arrive as planned.

If you ever feel overwhelmed or travelling, just let us know in advance — we can guide you.

Yes — although this is rare.

All of the chefs at Alēra are meticulously handpicked with our clientele in mind. We are dedicated to finding the best, most adaptable, most talented, most personable chefs, and this is reflected in how rarely chef/client re-matching is necessary.

However, if something truly isn’t working, we encourage our clients to raise it with us. In most cases, adjustments can be made without changing your chef.

If a reassignment is appropriate, Alēra will coordinate the transition carefully to maintain continuity and minimise disruption.

Chef reassignments are not something we take lightly and are not done casually. We will always endeavour to rectify the issue before we reassign a chef.

If you relocate within our operating areas, we will:

• Assess chef availability in your new location

• Arrange a reassignment if required

• Maintain continuity of your nutrition plan

If you split time between two locations, we can discuss feasibility in advance.

Availability may vary by area.

If you extend, shorten or delay a return:

• We assess chef availability

• Notice requirements still apply

• Holding fees may apply if notice thresholds are not met and chef availability is materially affected

The earlier we’re informed, the smoother it is to adjust without cost implications.

Alēra requires chefs to provide appropriate qualifications/certifications within UK law required for this type of service.

All chefs are independent professionals responsible for:

• Safe food preparation

• Appropriate storage and transport

• Compliance with local food hygiene regulations

Meals are designed for optimal freshness. Where freezing is required, meals are structured to maintain quality and nutritional integrity.

We recommend following storage and reheating instructions provided with delivery.

Very little. All chef-prepared meals are logged in the app by your Nutritionist, with calories and macros automatically calculated.

You only need to log meals or snacks you prepare yourself (if you choose to), as well as exercise or hydration if relevant to your goals. Most clients spend around 5–10 minutes per day using the app.

The app is required, as it allows your Nutritionist to support you properly and track progress over time.

What am I paying Alēra for, and what am I paying the Chef for?

Your Alēra membership covers:

• your dedicated Nutritionist

• weekly meal planning and adjustments

• ongoing nutrition guidance and messaging

• chef coordination and execution briefs

• delivery scheduling, feedback, and refinements

• access to the Alēra app and all admin

Chef services are paid separately, directly to the Chef on a weekly basis. Chef invoices typically cover:

• time spent shopping, cooking, and commuting

• groceries

• delivery-related expenses

Chef costs vary week to week depending on meal volume, ingredient choices, and logistics. Within your membership tier, you can request more or fewer meals each week — your Alēra fee remains the same, while Chef costs adjust accordingly.