7 Days of Delicious: How AI Helped Plan a Healthy Meal Week

I Asked ChatGPT to Prepare a Healthy Meal Plan for the Week ...

Using AI for healthy meal planning saved me time and money, and it may have even helped the planet. ChatGPT created seven dinners that could be cooked in less than 45 minutes each. In my endeavor to become a better — and more consistent — cook, I've begun meal planning. I've been interested in this process as a way to save money and encourage myself to try new meals, but especially as a way to reduce food waste and my overall carbon footprint (more on this later).

Exploring AI for Meal Planning

While I could look up recipes and create a meal plan on my own, it can be time-consuming. So, as an editor, I wondered whether artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, could help. If this generative AI application can be used for various tasks, could it help with something as simple as meal planning, too? I decided to find out.

The Meal Plan

I asked ChatGPT to create a seven-day healthy dinner meal plan for me, with few parameters. Here's how it went.

Prompt: "Hi, ChatGPT. Can you provide me with a seven-day meal plan for quick and healthy dinners for two people?"

ChatGPT: "Certainly! Here's a seven-day meal plan for quick and healthy dinners for two people. Each meal is designed to be simple and fast to prepare."

The meals provided included Lemon garlic chicken with roasted vegetables, Beef stir-fry with broccoli and rice, Veggie tacos, Baked chicken with quinoa and spinach, Pasta primavera, Chicken-and-vegetable skewers, and Easy turkey chili.

Cooking and Adjustments

I made slight tweaks to some of the recipes based on personal preferences and past experiences. For example, adjusting cooking times and adding extra seasonings to enhance flavors.

Favorte Recipes

One of the simplest recipes of the week, the Baked chicken with quinoa and spinach, became a favorite due to its simplicity and taste. Adjustments such as cooking quinoa in broth can add more flavor to the dish.

Meal Variations

While ChatGPT recommended veggie tacos, I ended up making quesadillas instead based on ingredient availability. Making slight adjustments to the recipes was easy and allowed for personal preferences.

Ending on a Delicious Note

The turkey chili was a delightful way to end the week, offering a hearty and comforting meal for the fall season.

Efficient Grocery Shopping

One of the highlights of using ChatGPT for meal planning was receiving an accompanying grocery list, making shopping quick and convenient.

Reducing Food Waste

In a week of following the meal plan, I managed to minimize food waste significantly by utilizing leftovers for subsequent meals. This not only saved food but also contributed to a more sustainable approach to meal planning.

Environmental Impact

Reducing food waste is crucial in minimizing the environmental impact of food production and consumption. By avoiding over-purchasing and utilizing leftovers effectively, we can reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable food system.

Read more about sustainable living and reducing food waste on CNET.