If you’re anything like me then you have thought of AI as something that is used to cheat or take the easy way out of assignments and work, but it can help with so much more. Doing research and even using ChatGPT AI can help with dieting and even create a different view and methods that help with dieting, food waste, and talked about in one of my recent posts which is food noise.
With 7 simple questions regarding meal preferences, health goals, budget, and lifestyles to get a better understanding of where I want to be when it comes to my eating and how I can get there. AI recommends fast, easy, and budget-friendly recipes using ingredients I already had that are perfect for dorm living or small kitchens. With my answers, AI created a 3-day meal plan + a grocery list, a weekly planner, and a tracker designed just for me!
Other ways AI can help with dieting…
- Apps use AI to suggest recipes based on what’s left in your fridge or pantry, reducing food waste and saving money.
- Apps like MyFitnessPal or Yazio use AI to estimate calories and nutrients when you log your meals, even from photos or barcodes.
- AI can track progress, send reminders, and cheer you on to help build healthier habits.
- Some platforms offer AI-powered support that mimics a coach, offering encouragement or even mood check-ins to help stay on track.
- AI can help you focus on mindful eating and tracking habits visually.
- AI uses psychology and coaching alongside AI to help shift eating behaviors.
Being a college student and having easy resources such as ChatGPT to help with my lifestyle and goals makes life easier and cheaper for me as I don’t have to pay a dietitian or go through the process of scheduling an appointment, AI it a fast-acting and free way to make a change in your life!
I wanted to give you guys a quick look into what some of the meal that were given to me from the short questionnaire looked like.
Day 1
- Meal 1 (Brunch):
- 2 eggs + 1 slice whole wheat toast
- ½ avocado
- Greek yogurt (plain, low-fat) with honey + berries
(Approx. 500-550 cal)
- Snack:
- Baby carrots + 2 tbsp hummus
(Approx. 120 cal)
- Baby carrots + 2 tbsp hummus
- Meal 2 (Dinner):
- Grilled chicken breast (5–6 oz)
- ½ cup brown rice
- Steamed broccoli + olive oil drizzle
(Approx. 600-650 cal)
- Snack:
- 1 rice cake with peanut butter
(Approx. 180 cal)
- 1 rice cake with peanut butter
Day 2
- Meal 1:
- Oatmeal (½ cup oats) made with almond milk
- 1 tbsp peanut butter + banana slices + cinnamon
(Approx. 450 cal)
- Snack:
- Low-fat cheese stick + apple
(Approx. 200 cal)
- Low-fat cheese stick + apple
- Meal 2:
- Turkey or tuna wrap (whole wheat tortilla, spinach, tomatoes, mustard)
- Side salad w/ olive oil & vinegar
(Approx. 600 cal)
- Snack:
- Greek yogurt or protein bar
(Approx. 180–200 cal)
- Greek yogurt or protein bar
Day 3
- Meal 1:
- Scrambled eggs (2) + sautéed spinach & mushrooms
- ½ sweet potato (microwaved)
(Approx. 500 cal)
- Snack:
- Popcorn (air-popped, 2–3 cups) or trail mix (¼ cup)
(Approx. 150–200 cal)
- Popcorn (air-popped, 2–3 cups) or trail mix (¼ cup)
- Meal 2:
- Stir fry: tofu or chicken + frozen veggie mix + low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup rice or noodles
(Approx. 600–650 cal)
- Snack:
- Cottage cheese + pineapple or a boiled egg
(Approx. 150 cal)
- Cottage cheese + pineapple or a boiled egg
I agree with you that this a great use for AI, my girlfriend often uses Chatgpt for recipes and she swears by it. Also, since Chatgpt remembers past conversations, when you ask it for different recipes it’ll keep in mind food restrictions like gluten or dairy which I think is pretty cool. Definitely easier than looking for a recipe online and having to read their life story before you get to the recipe
So, reading Cross’s comment, I suddenly see something kind of ironic and maybe sad about this, the way all these food bloggers believe they should humanize their recipe projects with little personal stories, building their brands, presenting their identities.
And then the actual real people out there, they just want food. And so they turn to artificial intelligence, to chat GPT, which essentially puts the whole history of food writing on the internet into a blender and turns it all into an (hopefully tasty and nutritious) Everything Smoothie….
I actually love this idea. I have no idea why I’ve never thought of it and even if not used for dieting, I definitely want to use it to create me a recipe so I can get straight to cooking. At first when I read this meal plan that AI made, I thought it was definitely not for me because it was way too healthy. But I quickly realized that I can ask AI to personalize it to what I want.
I think this is a better way to utilize AI. However, I often times turn to Reddit to hear from people who have been there and done that, I enjoy hearing from a personal experience.
I find that it is useful, but the dieting has to come from within, personally, chatgpt doesn’t recommend recipes or diets to me, rather it holds me accountable to the decisions I make.
I used to do this, but haven’t in a while. It was very helpful, I just got out of the routine of it. I agree with Mark’s point that you have to hold yourself to it as well.