How To Use AI To Create Meal Plans and Shopping Lists

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Have you ever stood in the grocery store, staring at the endless rows of products, your mind a complete blank despite a stomach growling with anticipation? You know you need groceries, but the specific items that filled your head moments ago have mysteriously vanished – leaving you feeling lost and defeated.

This was my life. Between the constant demands of work and the ever-present whirlwind of family life, planning meals and remembering grocery lists became a distant dream. By 5 pm, I’d be staring into a bare fridge, wondering what to concoct for my hungry (and increasingly cranky) troops. It was time for a kitchen intervention, and I knew just who to call: Artificial Intelligence.

First things first, I tested AI’s ability to handle the basics. Milk, cheese, yogurt, canned goods, vegetables – could it create a simple shopping list to banish my grocery list amnesia? To my delight, it did so with ease, like a seasoned shopping assistant.

But my ambitions stretched further. Could AI, with the power of a thousand recipe databases at its disposal, analyze my chosen dishes and automatically add the necessary ingredients to my list? Could it then categorize them by department, turning me into a grocery store ninja?

And the grand finale: could AI become my personal meal planner, crafting a week’s worth of delicious dishes and translating them into a comprehensive shopping list? If it could achieve this culinary feat, then I knew I had found my kitchen savior.

For this article, I’ll be using Google Bard as my meal plan/shopping assistant.

Weekly Meal Planning

It is important to consider your dietary restrictions, budget, and available time when creating meal plans.

In the following examples, I want the AI to only consider dinner meals.

Prompt:

You are an expert dietitian. I want you to generate a dinner meal-plan list for 5 days. Please consider recipes that are well balanced and include beef, chicken and canned tuna for protein sources. Consider linguini pasta, sweet potato and russet potato for carbohydrate sources. Consider spinach, broccoli and brussels sprouts for vegetables. Please only select recipes that take less than 1 hour to make.
AI Response:

5-Day Dinner Meal Plan with Beef, Chicken, Tuna, and Vegetables (Under 1 Hour)

This meal plan includes a variety of delicious and nutritious dinner options that are perfect for busy weeknights. Each recipe takes less than an hour to make and features balanced proportions of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables.

Day 1: One-Pan Honey Garlic Chicken with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

  • Protein: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Carbohydrates: 2 sweet potatoes, chopped
  • Vegetables: 1 Brussels sprout, trimmed and halved
  • Time: 45 minutes

Day 2: Tuna Noodle Casserole

  • Protein: 2 cans (5 oz each) flaked tuna, drained
  • Carbohydrates: 8 oz egg noodles, cooked
  • Vegetables: 10 oz frozen peas and carrots, thawed
  • Time: 30 minutes

Day 3: Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

  • Protein: 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced
  • Vegetables: 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
  • Carbohydrates: 1 cup cooked brown rice
  • Time: 30 minutes

Day 4: Baked Chicken Breast with Roasted Russet Potatoes and Spinach

  • Protein: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Carbohydrates: 2 russet potatoes, chopped
  • Vegetables: 5 oz fresh baby spinach
  • Time: 45 minutes

Day 5: Tuna Melts with Tomato and Avocado

  • Protein: 1 can (5 oz) flaked tuna, drained
  • Carbohydrates: 2 slices whole-wheat bread, toasted
  • Vegetables: 1 tomato, sliced
  • Time: 20 minutes

This meal plan provides a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables, and it is a great way to incorporate some healthy and delicious meals into your week.

Not bad for a first try! Remember, you can ask the AI to change or remove any items you do not want in your meals. For example, on Day 5 it recommended Tuna Melts with Tomato and Avocado – if I don’t want that, I can ask it to replace Day 5 with another Tuna recipe.

Instructing The AI To Change A Recipe

Prompt:

Replace Day 5 with a different tuna recipe.

For brevity, I’m showing the update for the Day 5 recipe only.

AI Response:

Day 5: Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls with Brown Rice and Avocado

  • Protein: 2 cans (5 oz each) flaked tuna, drained
  • Carbohydrates: 1 cup cooked brown rice
  • Vegetables: 1 cucumber, chopped
  • Other: 1 avocado, diced
  • Time: 20 minutes

This revised meal plan swaps out Day 5’s Tuna Melts for a more exciting and flavorful option – Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls. It’s a refreshing change of pace, perfect for warmer nights or those seeking a lighter alternative. The addition of brown rice provides a complex texture, while the cucumber and avocado add refreshing pops of color and flavor.

Here is our meal plan list:

  • Day 1: One-Pan Honey Garlic Chicken with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
  • Day 2: Tuna Noodle Casserole
  • Day 3: Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry
  • Day 4: Baked Chicken Breast with Roasted Russet Potatoes and Spinach
  • Day 5: Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls with Brown Rice and Avocado

Getting The Recipes!

Now that we have a list of meals for the week, we need to know how to prepare them!

It is important to include how many services you want the recipes sized for.

Prompt:

Please provide the recipe for One-Pan Honey Garlic Chicken with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts. Size for 2 servings.
AI Response:

One-Pan Honey Garlic Chicken with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts (2 servings)

This recipe is a simple and flavorful way to prepare a complete meal in just one pan. The chicken is tender and juicy, the sweet potatoes are caramelized and sweet, and the Brussels sprouts are roasted to crispy perfection.

Ingredients:

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
  • 1 cup Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. In a large bowl, toss the chicken with olive oil, honey, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  3. Add the sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts to the bowl and toss to coat in the sauce.
  4. Spread the chicken, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts evenly on a large baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender and browned.
  6. Serve immediately.

Tips:

  • You can use any type of sweet potato for this recipe. Orange sweet potatoes are the most common, but you can also use white or purple sweet potatoes.
  • If you don’t have Brussels sprouts, you can substitute them with other vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, or green beans.
  • For a spicier dish, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
  • This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a larger crowd.

Additional Notes:

  • This recipe is naturally gluten-free and can be made dairy-free by using dairy-free honey and soy sauce.
  • The nutritional information for this recipe will vary depending on the specific ingredients you use. However, a single serving can provide approximately 30 grams of protein, 40 grams of carbohydrates, and 10 grams of fat.

Enjoy this delicious and easy-to-make one-pan meal!

Great, now let’s see if the AI can provide recipe instructions for the remaining 4 meals on our list.

Prompt:

Great! Now provide recipes for the rest of the meal list. Size each for 2 servings.
AI Response:

Day 2: Tuna Noodle Casserole (2 servings)

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz egg noodles, cooked
  • 1 can (5 oz) flaked tuna, drained
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
  • 1/2 cup cream of chicken soup
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tablespoon chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook the egg noodles according to package instructions.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the tuna, peas and carrots, soup, milk, and cheese.
  4. Add the cooked noodles and stir to coat.
  5. Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  6. Add the onion to the tuna mixture and stir to combine.
  7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish.
  9. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.
  10. Serve immediately.

Day 3: Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry (2 servings)

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 pound flank steak, thinly sliced
  • 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
  • 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce and cornstarch. Add the beef and toss to coat.
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
  3. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  4. Add the beef and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until browned.
  5. Add the broccoli and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until tender-crisp.
  6. Pour in the soy sauce mixture and water and stir to combine.
  7. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened.
  8. Serve the stir-fry over the cooked brown rice.

Day 4: Baked Chicken Breast with Roasted Russet Potatoes and Spinach (2 servings)

Ingredients:

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 5 oz fresh baby spinach
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  3. Spread the potatoes evenly on a baking sheet.
  4. Place the chicken breasts on top of the potatoes.
  5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender.
  6. Add the spinach to the baking sheet and toss to combine.
  7. Bake for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted.
  8. Serve immediately.

Day 5: Spicy Tuna Poke Bowls with Brown Rice and Avocado (2 servings)

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (5 oz) flaked tuna, drained
  • 1 cup cooked brown rice
  • 1/2 cucumber, chopped
  • 1/2 avocado, diced
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chopped green onion
  • Sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the tuna, brown rice, cucumber, and avocado.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the sriracha, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and pepper.
  3. Pour the dressing over the tuna mixture and toss to coat.
  4. Garnish with the green onion and sesame seeds.
  5. Serve immediately.

Enjoy these delicious and easy-to-make recipes!

Please note that these recipes are estimates and may require adjustments depending on the specific ingredients used and individual preferences.

The AI has generated recipe instructions for each meal on the 5 day list. I understand, there may be some tweaking needed for each recipe but that’s what makes it fun! Now, let’s see if the AI can remember all the ingredients we need.

Making The Shopping List

Now for the easy part: making the list. We’ve worked with the AI to create a 5 day meal-plan and then we prompted the AI to create preparation and cooking instructions for each meal. Theoretically, the AI should have enough information in its context to generate a complete shopping list to cover all 5 meals.

Keep in mind, we prompted the AI to size the recipes for 2 servings.

Now, we ask the AI to create the shopping list:

Prompt:

Generate a shopping list from the 5 recipes
AI Response:

Shopping List for 5-Day Meal Plan (2 Servings/Recipe):

Protein:

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 cans (5 oz each) flaked tuna, drained
  • 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced

Carbohydrates:

  • 2 sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup brown rice (dry)
  • 8 oz egg noodles
  • 2 russet potatoes

Vegetables:

  • 1 Brussels sprout
  • 1 head broccoli
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 avocado
  • 5 oz fresh baby spinach

Other:

  • 1 onion
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
  • 1/2 cup cream of chicken soup
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped green onion
  • Sesame seeds, for garnish
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Optional:

  • 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes (for Tuna Melts recipe on Day 5)
  • 2 slices whole-wheat bread (for Tuna Melts recipe on Day 5)

Notes:

  • This list is based on the provided recipes and assumes you have some basic pantry staples like flour, sugar, baking soda, etc.
  • You may need to adjust the quantities depending on your specific needs and preferences.
  • Be sure to check your pantry and fridge before shopping to avoid buying duplicates.

Additional Tips:

  • Look for pre-cut vegetables to save time on preparation.
  • Buy ingredients in bulk when possible to save money.
  • Plan your meals around grocery store sales and promotions.

Enjoy your delicious and nutritious meals!

Organizing The Shopping List

We would like the shopping list to be organized by department to make our shopping experience as efficient as possible. We can ask the AI to arrange the items on the shopping list such that they are grouped by their location in the grocery store.

All stores are arranged differently, so we can only expect the AI to provide generalized-level grouping here.

Prompt:

Re-arrange the items on the shopping list to be grouped by their location in the grocery store, respectively.
AI Response:

Shopping List for 5-Day Meal Plan (2 Servings/Recipe) – Grouped by Location

Produce:

  • 1 Brussels sprout
  • 1 head broccoli
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 avocado
  • 5 oz fresh baby spinach
  • 2 sweet potatoes
  • 2 russet potatoes
  • 1 onion

Meat & Seafood:

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 cans (5 oz each) flaked tuna, drained
  • 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced

Dairy & Eggs:

  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 eggs (for Tuna Noodle Casserole)

Baking Goods & Spices:

  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • Sesame seeds, for garnish
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Canned Goods:

  • 1/2 cup cream of chicken soup
  • 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes (optional, for Tuna Melts recipe on Day 5)

Pantry:

  • 1 cup brown rice (dry)
  • 8 oz egg noodles
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chopped green onion
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • Flour, sugar, baking soda (if needed)

Bakery:

  • 2 slices whole-wheat bread (optional, for Tuna Melts recipe on Day 5)

Additional Notes:

  • This list is based on the provided recipes and assumes you have some basic pantry staples.
  • You may need to adjust the quantities depending on your specific needs and preferences.
  • Be sure to check your pantry and fridge before shopping to avoid buying duplicates.

Enjoy your delicious and nutritious meals!

Conclusion

Conclusion: AI – Your Partner in Home Productivity

Hopefully, you enjoyed this article that explains how to use AI to increase your home-productivity. In today’s fast-paced world, meal planning and grocery shopping can feel like daunting tasks. But with the power of AI, you can transform your kitchen into a haven of culinary creativity and efficiency. By utilizing AI tools like Bard, you can:

  • Generate personalized meal plans: Simply tell AI your dietary preferences, desired dishes, and time constraints, and it will craft a tailored plan for the week, ensuring delicious and fulfilling meals.
  • Discover new recipes: Unleash your inner chef with AI’s vast recipe database. Explore cuisines, experiment with ingredients, and discover exciting dishes that satisfy both your taste buds and nutritional needs.
  • Create a comprehensive shopping list: No more wandering aimlessly through the grocery aisles. AI analyzes your meal plan and generates an organized shopping list, grouping items by category for a smooth and efficient shopping experience.

So, ditch the stress and embrace the convenience of AI-powered meal planning. With its vast capabilities and user-friendly interface, AI empowers you to cook delicious meals, manage your time effectively, and enjoy a more organized and healthy lifestyle. Bon appétit!

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