Initiatives

The Meal Ecosystem What if dinner was already figured out? Liana Banyan’s meal ecosystem transforms how families eat through three integrated initiatives: Let’s Make Dinner — The marketplace and coordination hub The Family Table — Group cooking and potluck networks Let’s Get Groceries — Cost+20% ingredient sourcing The Core Innovation: Grocery Boxes Refrigerator Shelf-Compatible Design Every Grocery Box is engineered to: Fit standard refrigerator shelves — No reorganizing required Contain pre-cut, pre-measured ingredients — Ready for cooking Include meal chain suggestions — Leftovers from Meal A become ingredients for Meal B Support multiple use modes — Cook yourself, join a group session, or hire a chef Box Sizes Size Serves Dimensions Meals Included Single 1 Standard shelf 3-4 meals Couple 2 Standard shelf 3-4 meals Family 4 Standard shelf 3-4 meals Extended 8 Two shelves 3-4 meals The Meal Chain Concept Instead of isolated recipes, Grocery Boxes are designed for meal chains: ...

Potluck Pod vs Meal Node: Legal Distinction Why the distinction matters — and how to stay on the right side of the line. Executive Summary Liana Banyan’s meal ecosystem operates in two distinct legal lanes: Structure Legal Status Money Flow Compliance Burden Potluck Pod Non-commercial sharing No money changes hands Minimal (disclosure only) Meal Node Commercial operation Paid transactions Full (licensing, insurance, inspections) Critical principle: You cannot blur these lines. A Potluck Pod that starts accepting payments becomes a Meal Node and must comply with commercial food regulations. ...

State Compliance Checklist: Meal Operations Know your lane before you launch. Overview This checklist helps members identify the appropriate compliance tier for their jurisdiction. States fall into three categories: Category Description States Cottage-Food Friendly Expanded home-based food sales allowed TX, CA, WY, UT, ND, and others MEHKO States Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations permitted CA, UT (and expanding) Strict States Commercial kitchen required for most paid meal prep NY, NJ, and others Tier Classification by State Tier A: Cottage-Food Friendly States These states have expanded cottage food laws allowing significant home-based food sales. ...