a food enterprise. There's a food-related job suited to every taste and ability-- whether it's mixing up a batch of trail mix or a pitcher of lemonade. The best way to attract new customers? Offer free samples! Simply bag a mouthwatering taste, tie it to a business card tag, and make the neighborhood rounds. Word of mouth is sure to generate more business than you can shake a spoon at.
JOB IDEAS
• Trail Mix Master
Although you may want to help your child develop the basic recipe for this trail mix business, chances are he'll have more than enough energy to take over from there. The mix might include these chocolate-covered pretzels: melt white or milk chocolate chips in the microwave, spread the pretzels out on a waxed-paper-covered cookie sheet, drizzle the chocolate on top, cool, then add them to the mix. Pack portions into eco-friendly paper lunch bags and sell at a busy point on a bike or hiking trail.
• Designer Lemonade
Here's a twist on the classic lemonade stand that will set your child's beverage business apart from all the others. In addition to a tasty, tangy, refreshing recipe, offer extras like fresh strawberries or raspberries for a fruitier flavor.
• Gourmet Dog Treats
Making dog biscuits is the perfect business for a kid who loves cooking and dogs. Your child can try recipes from dog care books until she finds one that'll have dogs wagging their tails. (Test them on your own dog or ask a friend if her dog can help.) Packaging idea: dip a dog-shaped or bone-shaped cookie cutter in tempera paint, then stamp the cutter on a paper lunch sack to make dog- or bone-shaped prints. Fill the bags with biscuits and sell them at popular dog walking spots.
