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Have you heard of ChatGPT? It has been around for a little while, but most people I know haven’t given it a try to see what it can do. It might sound to you like something only computer programmers or “nerds” would use. Well, I’m here to abolish that myth.
ChatGPT is an AI (artificial intelligence) platform that can “talk” to you when you ask it questions or give it prompts. It does have some limitations, such as finding real-time information (like when the next showing of a movie is). The best way I’ve found to use it is almost as a summary of a Google search that I would do on my own. For example, you can ask it DIY questions and it will scan the Internet and give you an easily readable response that saves you from clicking on multiple links.
There are so many ways to use it, from coming up with ideas for a rainy day, to asking it for vacation ideas. But one of the most practical ways I found is to use ChatGPT for meal planning. The first step will be to make a free ChatGPT account. Once you do that, it will save all your questions so you can go back and refer.
You may have to experiment with prompts. Sometimes ChatGPT doesn’t understand exactly what you’re asking, but you can always clarify your question and it will generate a new response. Also, it can make mistakes, so if the information you’re looking for is very important, make sure you double check the answer!
I’m going to share the top 3 simple ways to use ChatGPT to meal plan.
3 Ways to Use ChatGPT to Meal Plan
Shop from the pantry first — type in all the major ingredients you have in your freezer and ask ChatGPT to find recipes that fit those ingredients
Do you have old produce that you want to use up quickly? Do you have an overstocked freezer and want to start cleaning it out? You can ask ChatGPT to make a list of dinner (or other meal) ideas based on whatever ingredients you input.
Here’s the prompt I used: “I need 5 dinner ideas for a family of 6 that will help me use up the following ingredients: chicken thighs, asparagus, lemons, rice, tomato sauce, pasta, frozen meatballs, deli meat ham, American cheese, heavy cream, yogurt, barbecue sauce, ground turkey.”
And here’s what ChatGPT came up with:
If there are any of these meals that you don’t like, you can tell it and it will come up with some different ideas (without having to redo the prompt).
Give ChatGPT a list of all your family’s favorite recipes and it will make a meal plan from them
Another idea is to let ChatGPT come up with a weekly rotation. You can list all your favorite meals and it can come up with a rotation based on them. I used this prompt:
“Here are 20 of our favorite recipes: Please come up with a 4-week rotation without having any of the same meals on the same week.”
Here’s what ChatGPT came up with:
Input any dietary or allergy needs and get a list of meals that will fit (make sure to check to make sure info is correct!)
Another great way to use ChatGPT for meal planning is to give it restrictions about meals and let it do the hard work for you. For example, I used this prompt:
“I need a weeks’ worth of dinner ideas that don’t include nuts, dairy, or gluten.”
Here’s what ChatGPT came up with:
Or maybe you’ve having a couple over for dinner who are on a vegan diet. Use this prompt: “I need a dinner main dish, sides, and desserts for someone on a vegan diet”
It came up with a main dish, two sides and a dessert that included the recipe!
Other Ideas
If this isn’t the kind of help you need, what about using of these prompts?
- Lunch ideas that don’t have to be reheated
- Make ahead breakfast ideas
- Appetizer ideas for a themed party
- Kid friendly, healthy snack ideas
Have you tried to use ChatGPT to meal plan? Let us know in the comments!
See my January 2024 meal plan!
