The Granola Kid

Zamaan Jivraj doesn’t just like baking—-he loves it! He’s been cooking with his mom, Shein, since he was 4 years old. One of his favorite foods to make has always been granola. Back in 2020, when the Covid pandemic hit, Zamaan found himself at home with extra free time. So he and his mom started making their own granola for fun and experimenting with different ingredients. “My brother Keyaan said it was so good that I should sell it,” says Zamaan. Keyaan also came up with the name “The Granola Kid.”

Once Zamaan got the idea, he began researching. He learned that he couldn’t make the granola at home if he wanted to sell it. So he applied for a license and rented a commercial kitchen. Zamaan also set up an online store where he sells his three regular flavors of granola: plain, nutty, and coconut. He also sells limited edition seasonal flavors, like cranberry and chocolate.

Zamaan Jivraj doesn’t just like baking. He loves it! He’s been cooking with his mom, Shein, since he was 4 years old. One of his favorite foods to make is granola. During the Covid pandemic, Zamaan had extra free time at home. In 2020, He and his mom started making granola for fun. They experimented with different ingredients. “My brother Keyaan said it was so good that I should sell it,” says Zamaan. Keyaan came up with the name “The Granola Kid.”

Zamaan began researching. He learned he couldn’t make the granola at home if he wanted to sell it. He applied for a license and rented a commercial kitchen. Then he set up an online store. He sells three regular flavors of granola: plain, nutty, and coconut. He also sells limited-edition seasonal flavors like cranberry and chocolate.

All the granola is made in the commercial kitchen, where it is also packaged. First, Zamaan preps and mixes his ingredients for the day’s batch. Next, he bakes the granola in the oven and then lets it cool. Finally, he packs the granola, seals the packs, and ships it out to his hungry customers! Zamaan works for about 6 hours each day.

Each batch of granola makes about 84 bags. Zamaan makes the granola to order based on demand from the online store. But he always makes a little extra to sell in person at the farmer’s market in Vancouver. “Running a business is hard work,” says Zamaan. “You need money for start-up costs, and you need help to keep it running.”

All the granola is made in the commercial kitchen. It is also packaged there. First, Zamaan preps and mixes his ingredients for the day’s batch. Next, he bakes the granola in the oven and lets it cool. He packs the granola and seals the packages. Finally, he ships it to his hungry customers! The whole process takes about 6 hours each day.

Each batch of granola makes about 84 bags. The amount Zamaan makes depends on demand from the online store. But he always makes a little extra. He sells that in person at a farmer’s market in Vancouver, Canada. “Running a business is hard work,” says Zamaan. “You need money for start-up costs, and you need help to keep it running.”

Zamaan has a genetic condition called Down syndrome. Typically, people have 46 chromosomes in each of their cells. People with Down syndrome have 47, and that extra chromosome can cause physical and intellectual differences. But Zamaan doesn’t want it to define him as a person.

“What is really important is for people to realize that just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you are limited in what you can do in your life,” Zamaan says. “I want to get to a point where a story like mine is not inspiring and feels more commonplace, and anyone with Down can run a business.”

Zamaan has a genetic condition called Down syndrome. Typically, people have 46 chromosomes in each of their cells. People with Down syndrome have 47. That extra chromosome can cause physical and intellectual differences. But Zamaan doesn’t want it to define him as a person.

“Just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you are limited in what you can do in your life,” Zamaan says. “I want to get to a point where a story like mine is not inspiring and feels more commonplace, and anyone with Down can run a business.”

Key Math Idea:

Calculating Tips with Percents

The Granola Kid accepts tips, which they donate to the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation. Tips can be added as a percent of the total order.

Tip = (percent tip × order amount)

To find the tip, replace the variables “order amount” and “percent tip.” Rewrite the tip as a decimal by dropping the % sign and dividing by 100.

Key Math Idea:

Calculating Tips with Percents

The Granola Kid accepts tips, which they donate to the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation. Tips can be added as a percent of the total order.

Tip = (percent tip × order amount)

To find the tip, replace the variables “order amount” and “percent tip.” Rewrite the tip as a decimal by dropping the % sign and dividing by 100.