John and Nicky have never eaten spaghetti and would give anything for the occasional bowl of chips or piece of chocolate cake. But they live with their rather strange and grumpy aunt who insists upon the most uncompromising of health food diets. When they decide to use some birthday money to go out for lunch, they experience the delights of spaghetti and decide that they simply have to have more. A competition offers them just such an opportunity, not to mention something of an adventure, which results in their mealtimes changing for good.