FAQs

Questions for the "Organizer"

Who can view my mealTrain?

Only those who have the unique web address can access the information. This unique address acts like a key and only allows those who enter it to participate. Your mealTrain is not public information.

Can I invite more people to participate after the mealTrain has started?

Definitely! Adding more people can be done a few ways.

The unique mealTrain web address can be forwarded via email, sent via twitter, posted on your facebook page, or printed and passed around.

You can also log into your mealTrain.com account and in the "View My mealTrains" tab, select the mealTrain to edit. Use the "Invite Others" button to include more email addresses and mealTrain.com will automatically send an invitation to the new email addresses.

I would like to set-up a mealTrain for a friend who is pregnant but in not knowing the actual birthday, I don’t know which dates I should make available. Any ideas?

We suggest that you schedule one date 3-4 weeks after the baby’s due date. This nearly ensures that meals don’t arrive before the baby. Then, when the baby arrives, you can add more dates and send out the invitations.

I would like to invite people to the mealTrain that I know do not use email regularly (Grandma Jane, Aunt Beverly, etc.). What should I do?

The organizer can call anyone who does not use email to inform them about the specifics of the mealTrain. Then, the organizer can help the meal giver choose a date and the organizer can book it for them on the online calendar. Just remember to enter who the meal is from in the comments section.

Should I include those who do not live locally?

Yes! Friends and family who do not live nearby may want to participate. They can be involved by having food delivered to the recipient or just wishing the recipient well.

I just realized I have a conflict and need to cancel a day that someone has already committed to?

Log into your mealTrain.com account and in the "View my mealTrains" tab, select the mealTrain to edit. Use the "Cancel Delivery" button and the giver affected by the change will be notified via email. Then use the "Edit Dates" button to remove that date from the calendar of available dates for meal delivery.

What if I want to add dates or edit meal preferences after the mealTrain has started?

Log into your mealTrain.com account and in the "View my mealTrains" tab, select the mealTrain to edit. Use the "Edit Dates" or "Edit Details" buttons to make changes to dates and meal preferences. mealTrain.com will send updates to those affected by the changes.

Can I use mealTrain.com to organize multiple meals per day?

Sure. The best way is to create a separate meal train for each meal. In the recipient's name field, enter your friend's name and then (in the same box) specify the meal (lunch, dinner, etc). Remember, you will need to invite all participants to both meal trains so they have the unique web address.

Questions for the "Giver"

How much does it cost to sign up to deliver meals?

Nothing. mealTrain.com is a free service that simplifies the process of giving and receiving meals to strengthen friendships and communities.

How many meals can I sign up to deliver?

You can sign up for as many meals as you like. It is only limited by your generosity.

How can I find a mealTrain if I misplace the original email?

Log in to your mealTrain.com account. Here, you can view all of the mealTrains to which you have been invited to participate. If you still don’t see it, ask the organizer or friend to send the link again.

What if I realize a few days before my delivery date that I can no longer deliver a meal?

Log in to your mealTrain.com account. Once there, simply select the "Cancel Delivery" button next to the meal that you are no longer able to deliver. The meal recipient will receive notification of the change and the calendar will now show your previously booked date as available.

What if I realize at the last minute that I cannot deliver a meal on the day I planned to?

Call the meal recipient to let them know you won’t be making the scheduled delivery. Then, return to your mealTrain account and book a different day.

I would like to participate but do not live near the recipient. Now what?

Be creative. You can book a night and then schedule food delivery (just remember to pay for and tip in advance). Receiving a meal from a favorite restaurant is sometimes a welcome change. Another option is to send flowers, a small gift, or even an email to let the recipient know you are thinking of them.

I would like to participate but the dates and times don’t fit my schedule.

Offer to drop off a bundle of essential groceries to save the recipient a trip to the store.

I am not the best cook? What should I make?

Your generosity will not be judged. Just try to make something that you would enjoy receiving. Also, meals that can be frozen or heated easily are always appreciated to be used in the future.

I have difficulty finding time to cook but really want to deliver a home cooked meal. Any ideas?

Double a favorite recipe and bring half to the meal recipient. Another option is the next time you make a big meal, freeze half in anticipation of a future mealTrain.

Technical Questions:

How do I change my email address?

Your email address is your unique identifier and can be changed from the My Profile page at any time. If an invitation is sent to an email address other than the one you use to log into mealTrain.com, just click the link and sign in to mealTrain.com with your current account and password. mealTrain.com will automatically link your mealTrain account to the invitation.

Can I search for a mealTrain?

Sorry. In order to protect the privacy of the users, only those who have been invited directly or have the unique web address are allowed to view and participate in a specific mealTrain. Contact the organizer or recipient if you would like to be included.