I created a group meal prep event. AMA

I hosted a small experiment that turned out way better than I expected, so figured I’d share and answer questions.

We brought together a group of strangers + a chef and did a kind of hybrid:
part cooking class, part meal prep, part dinner party.

I was tired of meal prepping alone and wanted to remove the biggest barriers that people have: planning, shopping and cleanup. Plus, instead of doing it alone – chatting and chopping with new people.

I got in touch with a local café that rents our their kitchen on weekends afternoons and we built it out – 10 people paid $85 and showed up, and walked home with plenty of portions, plus we had dinner together.

Here’s how it worked:

• 10 people split into 3 groups
• Each group worked on different dishes led by culinary staff
• Chef-led, but hands-on
• At the end of prep, we all ate dinner together
• Everyone left with multiple meals for the week

So instead of doing meal prep alone on Sunday, it became social, structured and fun!

The menu was plant-based but most people who showed up were omnivores. And the dishes we delicious (taken from Chef Kathy's recipe book):

Ginger Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potato – Roasted sweet potato, stuffed with roasted chickpeas seasoned with sesame, garlic, and ginger, and drizzled with a sesame sauce made with tahini, ginger, garlic, and a splash of spicy sriracha.

Vegetable Paella – roasted carrots, potatoes, and parsnips are slowly cooked with short grain rice in a saffron-tomato sauce. Finished with a sprinkling of sweet peas.

Roast Cabbage with Lemon-Tahini dressing

Aniston whole grain salad – brown rice & quinoa, chickpeas, red onion, fresh herbs, lemon vinaigrette.

I survey people after the event, at 9 of 10 said they'd do it again.

I’m curious:

• Would you ever do meal prep like this with a group?
• What would make it more appealing / less appealing?

Happy to answer anything about: cost, logistics, recipes, whether it’s actually worth it vs normal meal prep – or anything else.