Use ChatGPT for allergy-safe class menus, last-minute ingredient swaps and tactful replies to tricky client requests
Meenu Bhasin, a chef who has run a private cooking-class business in the Bay Area solo for more than 15 years, in Business Insider
ChatGPT helps her build class menus for groups with mixed dietary restrictions and research ingredient swaps, such as alternatives to sesame and soy sauce. When a child with a severe egg allergy was booked an hour before a class, she typed in every ingredient she had on hand and asked for two simple egg-free recipes. She also uses it to think through tricky client requests and draft diplomatic replies, such as when parents asked her to change an advertised camp menu.
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ChatGPT
The problem
Classes mix dietary restrictions, allergies can surface an hour before a class, and with no staff she handles every client request herself.
What happened
"It delivered. Before ChatGPT, that would have been a lot of stress," she told Business Insider. She expects AI recipe brainstorming to give her enough ideas to teach two new recipes a week for the next 10 to 15 years. She tests every recipe herself. Self-reported.
Quoted in the source: Meenu Bhasin, chef and owner of a Bay Area cooking-class business. Source: Business Insider: Two chefs running solo companies tap AI for operational help (2026-04-29) · Added 2026-10-27.
How to set it up yourself
- What Bhasin uses: ChatGPT for menus around dietary restrictions, ingredient swaps, emergency allergy-safe recipes and drafting replies to clients.
- Keep a running list of what's in your pantry and kit so you can paste it in fast when a last-minute allergy comes up.
- Paste the prompt below with the allergy, the ages and what you have on hand. Check every ingredient label yourself; ChatGPT can't see what's in a packaged product.
- For a tricky client request, paste the message and your constraints and ask for a short, friendly reply that offers one option. Edit it in your own voice before sending.
- Cook any new recipe once before you teach it. Her line: it gives her the legwork, and she makes sure it actually tastes good.
Copy-paste prompt
I'm teaching a {CLASS TYPE} cooking class for {NUMBER} {AGE GROUP} in {TIME} minutes. One participant has a severe {ALLERGY} allergy, so the whole class must be {ALLERGY}-free. Here's everything I have on hand: {LIST}. Suggest two simple recipes that use only these ingredients, with steps a {AGE GROUP} can do, and list any ingredient where I should check the label for hidden {ALLERGY}. Don't add ingredients I don't have.We set up one AI automation in your tools, live within 48 hours of getting access, for $197. No call needed. Founding price for our first 10 customers (regular $297).
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Tools used
ChatGPT
General AI assistant for writing, research, brainstorming and analysis.
From Free $0; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro $100/mo (checked 2026-11-03)
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Checked prices: ChatGPT: from Free $0; Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro $100/mo (verified 2026-11-03)
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