Anonymous wrote:Is this his idea?

If yes, let him plan this out and market it.

If not, why are you inserting yourself like this? It’s his college experience. It’s his skill set. It’s on him to choose how to make money.

Let him pursue opportunities and have a college experience without you hovering.

I agree with this.

If it hasn't occurred to him, I helped out a friend on her catering gigs and it was a lot of fun. Fancy cooking, plus the same excitement as being in a play. I learned a lot, too.

I bet he could market himself to students living off campus who don;t want to cook. He needs to find those with $$$ families to fund, Alternatively can he just live off campus and have his own kitchen?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who runs a home care business, which helps senior citizens stay in their homes and they help out with tasks such as cooking, driving them to the grocery store, etc.

Maybe this could be a job for him one day a week?

Oooh he would love that. That is a good idea.

My parents have someone coming in and they do help with meals but there are a lot of restrictions. They can’t eat spicy. My dad is diabetic and needs a special diet plus he has a food allergy. I think cooking for the very old is maybe not what this teen has in mind.

I do think some people would pay for this but I’m not sure if really solves his problem. My kid is at a college where her dorm has gorgeous fill kitchens on every floor. She can’t really eat the dining hall food so goes to target or TJs and buys stuff she can make quickly.

You had indicated he would do it for free, but you were interested in seeing if it could be monetized. Why not let him have his first year of adjustment to himself, with access to a common area if he wants to develop or keep up his skills? That's not for monopolizing or starting up a business, but surely he can pursue that on his own in the second year off campus, if he wants to himself.

A lot of dorms have kitchens in the common areas even if they are otherwise just regular freshman dorm halls.

The better option is for him to go to a commuter school so he can live at home with access to a kitchen. Otherwise, he needs to suck it up for one year before he can move off campus.

Anonymous wrote:Is this his idea?

If yes, let him plan this out and market it.

If not, why are you inserting yourself like this? It’s his college experience. It’s his skill set. It’s on him to choose how to make money.

Let him pursue opportunities and have a college experience without you hovering.

This.

Is this his idea?

If yes, let him plan this out and market it.

If not, why are you inserting yourself like this? It’s his college experience. It’s his skill set. It’s on him to choose how to make money.

Let him pursue opportunities and have a college experience without you hovering.

Lots of college dorms have kitchens, so he could consider that when deciding where to go. But he'd still need to be on a meal plan

When I was in high school, I was a parents' helper: I arrived at a family's house before the youngest kid got home from school and watched him while I made dinner. But I had to commit to four afternoons a week for the duration of the school year. Less would not have been helpful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure there is no kitchen on campus? Many of the dorms we toured had a shared central kitchen you could use. If it’s that important to him I would prioritize it.

There is most likely a communal kitchen in the dorm. I have 2 in college and both have communal kitchens. The state of them varies wildly (one I wouldn’t use even if I was starving) and you need to have your own pots/pams etc.

Also you can't be monopolizing it for your "business". And you need to meet Health Department codes if you are going to be selling food.

Or get someone sick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FmuM5LXRV8

Does he like/work well with kids? He could advertise himself as a mothers helper that can teach kids to cook simple things. Have a minimum age (8 or 9) and make sure he has guidelines for handwashing and if the kids are sick, etc. parents buy the ingredients and he teaches them basic cooking skills while parents are home (but not having to hover). He does all the in/out of the oven, etc. I would have paid for this when my kids were young.

PP. Also, google the words popup chef college student and you might get some ideas.

I also think senior care/concierge services may exist. Look on the web for services in the town he's heading to. He could maybe get a part-time job for spring semester.

Fall semester he should concentrate on school and socialization.

At all the schools I attended, it would have taken an hour minimum to get to a real grocery store and pick up fresh ingredients on foot or by bus.

After his first year, he might be able to find a room living with a senior citizen and providing some daily check-ins or household assistance for pay or a rent subsidy.

Just get a job in the kitchen of a restaurant.