Using AI for meal planning

Culture, Media, General
1

Got this idea from an article in WSJ about using AI to generate meal ideas for a toddler.

I put in a sample search and got some decent results but you can see that further refinement is necessary unless I want lots of ingredient repetition. Kinda fun to play with. Anyone else trying this?

Me: write a meal plan for 4 days for 3 adults that uses some of these ingredients: Delicata squash, bean burgers, cabbage, tofu, green onions

ChatGPT said:

Here’s a four-day meal plan for three adults that incorporates Delicata squash, bean burgers, cabbage, tofu, and green onions. I’ve included a variety of dishes to keep things interesting, using these ingredients in different ways.

Day 1

Breakfast:

  • Tofu Scramble with green onions, bell peppers, spinach, and a side of whole-grain toast.
    Lunch*:
  • Bean Burger Bowls: Crumble the bean burgers and serve over a bed of mixed greens with diced tomatoes, shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers, and a sprinkle of green onions. Drizzle with tahini or a lemon vinaigrette.
    Dinner:
  • Roasted Delicata Squash and Cabbage Stir-Fry: Roast Delicata squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. In a separate pan, stir-fry shredded cabbage with garlic, ginger, and green onions, then combine with the roasted squash and serve with rice.

Day 2

Breakfast:

  • Veggie Tofu Breakfast Wraps: Sauté tofu with chopped green onions, spinach, and bell peppers, and wrap in a whole-wheat tortilla. Serve with salsa on the side.
    Lunch:
  • Cabbage and Bean Burger Stir-Fry: Slice bean burgers into strips, and stir-fry with shredded cabbage, garlic, and green onions. Serve with a drizzle of soy sauce and sprinkle of sesame seeds.
    Dinner:
  • Delicata Squash and Tofu Curry: Cook cubed tofu, Delicata squash, and diced tomatoes in a coconut milk curry sauce. Season with curry powder, turmeric, and garlic, and garnish with green onions. Serve with brown rice.

Day 3

Breakfast:

  • Cabbage and Tofu Breakfast Hash: Sauté shredded cabbage, cubed tofu, green onions, and diced potatoes. Season with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Serve with avocado on the side.
    Lunch:
  • Roasted Delicata Squash Salad: Toss mixed greens with roasted Delicata squash, green onions, cherry tomatoes, and a lemon-tahini dressing.
    Dinner:
  • Bean Burger Sliders with Cabbage Slaw: Serve bean burgers on small whole-grain buns with a side of cabbage slaw (shredded cabbage, green onions, and a light vinegar dressing). Serve with sweet potato fries.

Day 4

Breakfast:

  • Green Onion and Tofu Scramble: Sauté tofu with green onions, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes. Serve with a side of toast and fruit.
    Lunch:
  • Delicata Squash and Cabbage Wraps: Roast slices of Delicata squash and add to whole-wheat wraps with shredded cabbage, green onions, and a drizzle of tahini.
    Dinner:
  • Tofu and Veggie Stir-Fry: Stir-fry tofu with cabbage, green onions, bell peppers, and broccoli. Serve over brown rice with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Each day balances the ingredients in new ways and introduces different flavors to keep meals varied and satisfying. Let me know if you’d like ideas for side dishes or snacks to go with this!

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2

interesting - but we make up a menu plan and then I go buy/obtain the ingredients to make it happen.
actually, seems a bit more intelligent than dreaming up a batch of ingredients ‘to be used’

3

I was aiming to list the stuff I already have on hand with willingness to augment with veggies as needed. Just to get some new ideas

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4

yup - I did get that ‘impression’ - but it does get back to the question…
“and exactly why these ingredients are on hand and looking for a dish?”

not trying to ‘dis’ anything/body/habit - certainly at some point “Houston, we have leftovers” does happen. I’m just more focused on ‘buying to plan’ - but indeed!!! given the mega-size/quantity of so many supermarket items . . . certainly not a thing that one winds up with a fridge full of “say whot?”

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5

What an interesting idea! I tried it too…

Prompts: gluten-free meal plan for three adults using chicken or turkey (we’re trying to eat less red meat, and seafood is +/- around here)

Day 1

Breakfast:

  • Scrambled eggs with spinach and tomatoes
  • Fresh fruit salad

Lunch:

  • Grilled chicken salad with mixed greens, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and a lemon vinaigrette

Dinner:

  • Herb-roasted turkey breast
  • Quinoa pilaf with vegetables
  • Steamed broccoli

Day 2

Breakfast:

  • Smoothie with banana, spinach, almond milk, and protein powder
  • Almond butter on gluten-free toast

Lunch:

  • Chicken lettuce wraps with bell peppers, carrots, and a sesame ginger dressing

Dinner:

  • Baked lemon garlic chicken thighs
  • Cauliflower rice
  • Roasted asparagus

Day 3

Breakfast:

  • Greek yogurt with honey, walnuts, and berries

Lunch:

  • Turkey and avocado roll-ups (turkey slices wrapped around avocado and cucumber)
  • Side of carrot sticks and hummus

Dinner:

  • Chicken stir-fry with bell peppers, broccoli, and gluten-free soy sauce
  • Brown rice

Snacks (for any day):

  • Mixed nuts
  • Rice cakes with hummus
  • Sliced veggies with guacamole
    ——-

It was pretty literal about gluten free, and (obviously) doesn’t take preferences into account, but… it was interesting, and worth further exploration!

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