I am the first to admit that I definitely do a better job of organizing kitchens and pantries than actually preparing meals. But meal planning and grocery shopping are important pieces of our daily lives that require great thought and organization. That’s where my guest blogger Logan Ferree comes in. Not only is Logan a fabulous wedding photographer in Colorado, but she is also highly efficient and organized.

Here are her helpful tips and recommendations to consider when using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create custom meal plans for your family each week. Plus you can copy and paste her AI meal planning prompt to try it out!

Take the Guesswork out of Dinner and Get on With Your Life

By Logan Ferree

Ever stand in front of your fridge at 5 PM wondering what to make for dinner? Again? The daily dinner decision struggle is real. We’re all trying to balance healthy eating with busy schedules, dietary preferences, and that ever-present question of “what should I make?” I used to spend hours trying to perfect my meal planning by scrolling through all types of recipes and making very detailed shopping lists – only to end up ordering takeout.

Then I had a lightbulb moment. I was already using the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to streamline my business tasks of writing emails, creating content and organizing my schedule, so why wasn’t I using it in my everyday life?

AI isn’t a scary robot to fear; it’s simply a tool that can make our lives easier. Just like you use a calculator for math or GPS for directions, AI can be your personal meal planning assistant. It can take your specific preferences, dietary needs, budget, and schedule to create custom meal plans that actually work for your life. No more staring at the fridge. No more last-minute takeout. Just simple, practical meal planning that gives you back your time and peace of mind.

The Magic AI Meal Planning Prompt

Here’s all you need to transform your meal planning. Simply copy this prompt, fill in your details, and watch the magic happen:

• Hi! I need help creating a meal plan for ( ) people for ( ) days, with ( ) meals per day. I want each meal to take no longer than ( ) minutes to prepare.
• My dietary goals are: (example: low-carb, high-protein, vegetarian, etc.)
• My weekly grocery budget is ($), and I usually shop at ( )
• Foods I love and want to include:
• Flavors and cuisines I enjoy:
• Foods I’m allergic to:
• Foods I strongly dislike:
• My kitchen equipment:
• Please create a meal plan that includes recipes and a grocery list. I prefer meals that take ( ) minutes or less to cook.

See it in Action:

How I used the prompt this week:

• Hi! I need help creating a meal plan for 2 people for 7 days, with 2 meals per day. I want each meal to take no longer than 30 minutes to prepare.
• My dietary goals are low-carb, high protein. My weekly grocery budget is $150, and I usually shop at Kroger.
• Foods I love and want to include: chicken, beef, steak, eggs, alfredo, chipotle flavors
• Flavors and cuisines I especially enjoy include: Mexican, Italian, spicy foods, orange chicken, birria, tacos, enchiladas
• Foods I’m allergic to: blue cheese
• Foods I strongly dislike include: mushrooms, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, buffalo chicken
• My kitchen equipment: standard kitchen setup with pots and pans, crockpot, and air fryer
• Please create a meal plan that includes recipes and a grocery list. I prefer meals that take 30 minutes or less to cook.

Get Started Today

Alright! You’ve got your AI meal planning prompt ready to go – now let’s make sure you get the most out of it. I’ll show you exactly where to plug in your prompt, how to get better recipes (because let’s be real, the first suggestion isn’t always perfect), and some game-changing tips to make this work in your real life. Coming Soon: “How to Get AI to Do Your Dishes” … just kidding … unfortunately, you’ll still need to handle that part yourself!

Where To Use Your AI Meal Planning Prompt

Your best options for meal planning are:

• ChatGPT – Free, popular, and user-friendly
• Claude – Free and fantastic with dietary needs

Just create a quick account, paste your filled-in prompt, and you’re ready to go! Once your AI output is complete, you can copy and paste into a Google document to save to your computer or screenshot for your phone.

Tips For Better Recipes With This Prompt

AI can help make your meals even more perfect if you also say things such as:

• “Can you make this faster, cheaper and/or more spicy?”
• “What items can I prep ahead on Sunday?”
• “Can you give me different options for that meal?”
• “Can you organize the grocery list by store section?”
• “How can I modify this to include enough for leftovers?”

Making It Work In Real (Your) Life

Take it beyond just recipes by asking:

• “What ingredients can I buy in bulk to save money?”
• “Which meals can use similar ingredients to help reduce waste?”
• “What’s the best order to cook these meals based on ingredient freshness?”
• “Can you give me a timeline for when to thaw things?”
• “Are there options for repurposing leftovers?”

Many thanks to Logan for sharing her wisdom. Be sure to check out Mrs. Ferree Photography to see her awesome work and follow her podcast The Sundae Best for more tips about life and business!