Do you have the dreaded “what’s for dinner” woes? This befalls us all at the end of a long workday, and when you don’t know what will hit the spot, consider turning to artificial intelligence for a bit of help! Tools like ChatGPT can scour the internet for many tasty ideas based on your craving, your dietary restrictions, what you already have at home, or just a smattering of ingredients you’re willing to stop by the grocery store for.
Whether you’re looking for a romantic night in, fun appetizers with friends, a dinner party extravaganza, or a simple weeknight meal for your family, artificial intelligence is your friend! Let’s get started on how to use this fantastic tool to jumpstart your culinary prowess in the kitchen.
Start With What You Have
Look in the fridge first and then the pantry—what’s in there? Whether it be the odds and ends of produce or a big bag of lentils, you can craft a yummy meal with some help from modern tech. Once you’ve gathered the goods, ask ChatGPT to create a recipe for you with a prompt as simple as “What hot meal can I make from celery, water, lentils, a white onion, a green onion, and spices?”
From there, the magic of artificial intelligence will write you a recipe for a delicious stew chockful of restorative spices such as turmeric and paprika and a hearty assortment of whatever veggies you might have around.
This technique is great for people on a budget who need to consume what they already have at home, those who are just about to leave for vacation and have a mostly empty fridge, or busy individuals who need a quick and easy meal that’s mindless to make but yummy to eat.
Make Your Shopping List
For an easy shopping experience, have ChatGPT organize your list or even write one for you! If you know what you have and it’s just scribbled on an old receipt, enter the items into ChatGPT. From there, ask the tool to organize your list so items found together in the store are listed together.
That way, you don’t have to go through the entire produce section to end up in the frozen foods section and realize you forgot cherry tomatoes! When your list is organized, your shopping experience can be super streamlined and efficient. It is great for moms with kids in tow, people who need to avoid the temptation of spontaneous purchases, and those trying to save money and time.
If you’re stumped for ideas beyond your normal staples, ask ChatGPT to suggest some new foods you can purchase. This could even be an inspiration for visiting a store different than your average run-of-the-mill Safeway. If you want to browse the Asian grocery store, Middle Eastern selections, or other less familiar food, ChatGPT can help. When asked, “What are some different vegetables I can buy at an Asian grocery store to switch up my diet?” ChatGPT suggests a veritable bounty of greens and other goods. Try bok choy, daikon, enoki mushrooms, water spinach, taro root, lotus, and much more. Better yet—ChatGPT can even help you cook them with recipe suggestions!
Consider Dietary Restrictions
If you are trying to avoid gluten or cooking for a vegan crowd, ChatGPT is your very own personal chef when it comes to creating special meals for those with allergies or other dietary restrictions. This can be especially helpful if you want to make yourself some in-office lunches that fit your routine and will stay good throughout the week.
Type a command like “Give me three gluten-friendly recipes that will keep throughout the week,” and you’ll be supplied with mouthwatering meals like quinoa and roasted vegetable salad, stuffed bell peppers, and stir-friend gluten-free noodles with garlic, green onions, and ginger. Yum!
Artificial intelligence can also plan an entire dinner party that’s sure to accommodate everyone and knock their socks off at the same time. Describe your circumstances (think “upscale but fun dinner party with friends), and then be sure to include the parameters such as “vegan, lactose-intolerant, and meat eaters.” Just as Costco tailors to families and businesses and MGM, your one-stop online casino, tailors to gamblers, ChatGPT has got you covered for everything food-related.
The last thing to add to this prompt is how much cooking you’re willing to do—by being specific about the number of appetizers, mains, sides, and desserts, ChatGPT will have an easier time crafting a particular meal and flavor profile that pleases all palates.
Meal Prep
ChatGPT can also help with meal prep whether you’re plotting out your lunches and dinners for fitness reasons or you just don’t want to have to think about what you’re eating from day to day.
Again, putting in specific ingredients you want to eat or caloric contents you want to hit for the day will help ChatGPT give you the correct measurements for a week’s worth of food. It can also help you plan some things to cook and then freeze so you don’t have to do all the work every single week. This is a great model for those who enjoy eating the same thing regularly or consume food for strict exercise routines. Set it and forget it!
Conclusion
Now it’s worth saying—take all ChatGPT’s recipe suggestions with a grain of salt—literally and figuratively! Artificial intelligence isn’t perfect (yet), and it makes mistakes. Be especially careful in your follow-up research when it comes to cooking meals for diners with allergies or when you’re monitoring your caloric and nutritional intake. It’s always good to do a little extra research into the tool’s suggestions so you can be sure that your breakfast, lunch, or dinner is going to be just right.
Elevate your kitchen prowess, accommodate diverse dietary preferences, make shopping a breeze, master meal prep, and much more with your brand-new sous chef, ChatGPT. Happy cooking!
