🍽️ Let’s Make Dinner
Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
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.
How It Works
For Home Cooks
- Sign up as a Cook — Register your kitchen capacity
- Post your meals — What you’re willing to make, when, how many portions
- Cook on your night — Make extra when you’re already cooking
- Deliver or host pickup — Your choice
- Get paid — $5 per plate minus platform fee
For Recipients
- Browse available meals — See what’s cooking in your neighborhood
- Order in advance — Reserve your plates
- Pick up or receive delivery — Depends on the cook’s preference
- 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
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price per plate | $5.00 |
| Cook receives | $4.00 (80%) |
| Platform + Free Meal Fund | $1.00 (20%) |
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
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Home-cooked meal | $5.00 |
| Delivery (optional) | $2.00 |
| Total | $5-7 per meal |
Compare to:
- Fast food: $10-15
- Restaurant delivery: $20-30
- Meal kits: $12-18 per serving
For Free Meal Recipients
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Same meal everyone else gets | $0.00 |
| Same packaging | (No stigma) |
| Same delivery | (Dignity preserved) |
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
| Aspect | Paid Meal | Free Meal |
|---|---|---|
| Food quality | Same | Same |
| Packaging | Same | Same |
| Delivery method | Same | Same |
| Pickup experience | Same | Same |
| Treatment by cook | Same | Same |
Why? Charity that humiliates isn’t charity. It’s performance.
The Rotation System
How Neighborhood Groups Work
- Form a group — 5-10 households in proximity
- Each cooks once — Rotate through the group
- Everyone eats together — Virtually or in person
- 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
| Traditional | Let’s Make Dinner |
|---|---|
| Cook 7 nights | Cook 1 night |
| 7 grocery trips | 1 bulk shop |
| 7 cleanup sessions | 1 cleanup |
| Repetitive meals | Variety every night |
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
- Create account
- Complete food safety acknowledgment
- Set your availability and meal capacity
- Post your first meal
- Start earning while feeding your community
As a Buyer/Recipient
- Create account
- Browse meals in your area
- Order for pickup or delivery
- Enjoy home-cooked food at restaurant-impossible prices
Start a Neighborhood Group
- Invite 5-10 neighbors
- Set up rotation schedule
- Share cooking responsibilities
- Build community while eating well
Impact Dashboard
Live stats updated daily
| Metric | This Month | All Time |
|---|---|---|
| Meals served | TBD | TBD |
| Free meals funded | TBD | TBD |
| Active cooks | TBD | TBD |
| Neighborhoods served | TBD | TBD |
| Cook earnings | TBD | TBD |
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.”