🍽️ Let’s Make Dinner

Neighbors Feeding Neighbors

📊 Initiative Launch Status

Prerequisites for Launch

1. Leadership

2. Cold-Start Funding

3. Resource Allocation

4. Technical Support Services

Want to help launch Let’s Make Dinner? Get involved →

What Is It?

Let’s Make Dinner is a community meal-sharing initiative where neighbors cook for each other on a rotating basis. One family cooks, many families eat. The economics are simple: paying meals fund free meals.

The Grocery Box System

Refrigerator Shelf-Compatible Design

Every Grocery Box is engineered to:

1. Fit standard refrigerator shelves — No reorganizing required
2. Contain pre-cut, pre-measured ingredients — Ready for cooking
3. Include meal chain suggestions — Leftovers from Meal A become ingredients for Meal B
4. Support multiple use modes — Cook yourself, join a group session, or hire a chef

Box Sizes

The Meal Chain Concept

Instead of isolated recipes, Grocery Boxes are designed for meal chains:

Sunday: Roast chicken with vegetables
   ↓ (leftover chicken)
Monday: Chicken sandwiches with fresh greens
   ↓ (chicken bones + vegetable scraps)
Tuesday: Chicken soup with fresh bread

This approach:

• Reduces food waste to near-zero (~5% vs 20-30% traditional shopping)
• Maximizes ingredient utilization
• Creates variety without complexity
• Lowers per-meal costs

Three Ways to Eat

Cost Comparison (Per Meal, Family of 4)

📖 Full details: The Meal Ecosystem

How It Works

For Home Cooks

1. Sign up as a Cook — Register your kitchen capacity
2. Post your meals — What you’re willing to make, when, how many portions
3. Cook on your night — Make extra when you’re already cooking
4. Deliver or host pickup — Your choice
5. Get paid — $5 per plate minus platform fee

For Recipients

1. Browse available meals — See what’s cooking in your neighborhood
2. Order in advance — Reserve your plates
3. Pick up or receive delivery — Depends on the cook’s preference
4. Pay or receive free — Based on your situation

The Magic: Funded Meals

For every 3 paid meals, 1 free meal is funded.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  COOK MAKES 10 PLATES @ $5 EACH             │
│                ↓                            │
│  TOTAL REVENUE: $50                         │
│                ↓                            │
│  BREAKDOWN:                                 │
│  • Cook receives: $40 (80%)                 │
│  • Platform fee: $5 (10%)                   │
│  • Free meal fund: $5 (10%)                 │
│                ↓                            │
│  FREE MEAL FUND ACCUMULATES                 │
│                ↓                            │
│  When fund hits $5: 1 free meal available   │
│                ↓                            │
│  SOMEONE WHO NEEDS IT EATS TONIGHT          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The Economics

For Cooks

Real example:

• You make lasagna for your family (4 portions)
• You make 6 extra portions to sell ($30 revenue)
• You earn $24 for 30 minutes extra work
• 2 free meals are funded

For Buyers

Compare to:

• Fast food: $10-15
• Restaurant delivery: $20-30
• Meal kits: $12-18 per serving

For Free Meal Recipients

Key principle: Nobody can tell the difference between a paid meal and a free meal.

Dignity by Design

No Means-Testing

We don’t ask:

• ❌ Proof of income
• ❌ Welfare status
• ❌ Why you need help

We only ask:

• ✅ Would you like a free meal tonight?

Same Experience for Everyone

Why? Charity that humiliates isn’t charity. It’s performance.

The Rotation System

How Neighborhood Groups Work

1. Form a group — 5-10 households in proximity
2. Each cooks once — Rotate through the group
3. Everyone eats together — Virtually or in person
4. Math works out:
   • 7 households
   • You cook 1 night per week
   • You eat home-cooked meals 7 nights per week
   • Cook once, eat all week

Rotation Benefits

Quality Standards

Kitchen Requirements

• ✅ Standard home kitchen (no commercial license needed)
• ✅ Basic food safety awareness
• ✅ Clean preparation area
• ✅ Proper food storage

We’re Not a Restaurant

This is neighbors helping neighbors, not a commercial operation.

Legal framework: Personal meal sharing (like bringing food to a potluck or a friend’s house)

Feedback System

• Recipients rate meals (1-5 stars)
• Low-rated cooks get coaching
• Persistent issues = removal from platform
• High-rated cooks get featured

Crown Leadership

Maneet Chauhan — Grand Chef Mentor

Who she is:

• Food Network star (Chopped, Tournament of Champions)
• James Beard Award nominee
• Nashville restaurateur (Chauhan Ale & Masala House, The Mockingbird)
• Immigrant success story

Her role:

• Recipe guidance and standards
• Cook training materials
• Quality oversight
• Initiative ambassador

Why her:

“You’ve fed Nashville. Help us feed the world.”

Getting Started

As a Cook

1. Create account
2. Complete food safety acknowledgment
3. Set your availability and meal capacity
4. Post your first meal
5. Start earning while feeding your community

As a Buyer/Recipient

1. Create account
2. Browse meals in your area
3. Order for pickup or delivery
4. Enjoy home-cooked food at restaurant-impossible prices

Start a Neighborhood Group

1. Invite 5-10 neighbors
2. Set up rotation schedule
3. Share cooking responsibilities
4. Build community while eating well

Impact Dashboard

Live stats updated daily

Full transparency: View complete financial breakdown →

FAQ

Is this legal?

Yes. Personal meal sharing between neighbors is legal in all 50 states. We’re not operating a restaurant — we’re facilitating neighborly food sharing.

What about food allergies?

Cooks list all ingredients. Recipients can filter by dietary needs. Common allergens are flagged.

What if I can’t afford $5?

Request a free meal. No questions asked. No proof required.

How do I know the food is safe?

All cooks acknowledge food safety guidelines. The feedback system surfaces any issues quickly. Community self-polices.

Can I tip my cook?

Yes! 100% of tips go directly to the cook.

What if I want to cook but can’t deliver?

Set pickup-only. Recipients come to you.

Join the Movement

Every meal you buy funds a free meal for someone who needs it.

Every meal you cook earns you money while feeding your neighbors.

Start Cooking → | Find Meals Near You →

“Help each other help ourselves.”