One step closer to solving hunger and food insecurity, thanks to AI

I just came one step closer to solving hunger and food insecurity, using ChatGPT!!! (this deserves 10 exclamation points)!!!!!!!

I did this in SheetMagic (an AI spreadsheet tool), after getting inspired while playing with prompts to give me a weekly meal plan from my household food inventory. The benefit of using SheetMagic is that I'm able to connect to ChatGPT4 via the api, for lengthier responses and input.

I've long had this idea, as GroceryMarketKit, to address specific issues of food insecurity including:

• accessibility and reading comprehension levels: each recipe/meal card will have 16 point font and be written at a 3rd grade level, with illustrations and videos (people in poverty are disproportionately elderly and disabled, and in too many circumstances kids need to make meals themselves)
• require minimal resources: each meal will be able to be cooked with one pot or pan, and usually with multiple methods (microwave, one pot or pans, substitutions etc) – no blenders, electric mixers or anything more complicated will be needed to prepare these meals
• cost will be $5 per serving or less, this will help people budget their SNAP benefits and stretch them furthest
• by helping make SNAP budgeting and meal planning stress-free, these kits address the fact that impoverished people are often stressed out and that stress affects the ability to reason and plan, adding to the cycle of poverty.

Here are my prompts towards creating SNAP eligible recipes that are nutritious, easy to make, use minimal equipment, written at a 3rd grade level, and use leftovers.

(where a2:a58 is the list of food already in my pantry and fridge):

• =gpt4long("give me 10 easy recipes which can be cooked in only one stovetop pot or pan using only these ingredients, and which consecutively make use of leftovers from the previous recipes: ", A2:a58)
• =gpt4long("give me 10 easy recipes for a family of four which can be cooked in only one stovetop pot or pan for $5 or less per serving, using only SNAP eligible food items from https://schnucks.com/shop - include the itemized pricing for each ingredient and keep it at a 3rd grade reading level")
• =gpt4long("give me 10 easy, healthy, recipes for a family of four which can be cooked in only one stovetop pot or pan for $5 or less per serving, using only SNAP eligible food items from https://schnucks.com/shop - include the itemized pricing and exact name for each ingredient and keep it at a 3rd grade reading level")
• =gpt4long("give me 10 easy, healthy, recipes for a family of four which can be cooked in only one stovetop pot or pan for $5 or less per serving, using only SNAP eligible food items from https://schnucks.com/shop - include the itemized pricing and exact name for each ingredient and keep it at a 3rd grade reading level, make use of leftovers from previous recipes when possible")
• =gpt4long("give me 10 easy, healthy, recipes for a family of four which can be cooked in only one stovetop pot or pan for $5 or less per serving, using only SNAP eligible food items from https://schnucks.com/shop - include the itemized pricing and exact name for each ingredient and keep it at a 3rd grade reading level. When possible Make use of leftovers from previous recipes, and utilize food in my fridge from this list first", A2:a58)

If you read no further, I'd love to collaborate or give away what I've done so far on this project. I still have my slides and research from my 1 Million Cups pitch that I threw together last year. I have been limited by not having time to throw myself into launching GroceryMarketKit.

Results: 10 realistic recipes using a mix of food already in my fridge and SNAP eligible items.

=gpt4long("give me 10 easy, healthy, recipes for a family of four which can be cooked in only one stovetop pot or pan for $5 or less per serving, using only SNAP eligible food items from https://schnucks.com/shop - include the itemized pricing and exact name for each ingredient and keep it at a 3rd grade reading level, make use of leftovers from previous recipes when possible")

1. Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

Ingredients: 1 sweet potato, 2 cans Schnucks black beans ($0.89 each), 1 can Schnucks diced tomatoes ($0.89), 1 chili seasoning packet, 1 frozen diced onion.

- Cut the sweet potato into cubes & sauté in oil with the frozen onions. Add the beans, tomatoes, and chili packet. Cook until everything is heated.

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2. Turkey Burger Soup

Ingredients: 4 frozen turkey burgers, 1 can Schnucks kidney beans ($0.89), 1 can minestrone soup ($1.49), 1 can diced tomatoes ($0.89), frozen mixed peas, corn, and carrots.

- Sauté the burgers, then add the soup, beans, tomatoes, and vegetables. Cook until heated.

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3. Chicken & Quinoa Stir-Fry

Ingredients: 1 can chicken, 1 cup quinoa, frozen asparagus, sweet peppers, and onions for grilling, soy sauce.

- Cook the quinoa. In another pan, cook the chicken & vegetables in some soy sauce. Mix together.

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4. Enchilada Casserole

Ingredients: 1 can chicken, 1 can Schnucks enchilada sauce ($1.49), 1 can black beans ($0.89), 1 can diced tomatoes ($0.89), corn chips, cheese.

- Layer the chicken, sauce, beans, tomatoes, and chips in a pan. Top with cheese and bake until melted.

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5. Gluten-Free Pasta Salad

Ingredients: Gluten-free rotini, 1 can kidney beans ($0.89), 1 can diced tomatoes ($0.89), olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper.

- Cook the pasta. Mix with beans, tomatoes, oil, lemon juice, and seasoning.

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6. Pancake Apple Rings

Ingredients: 2 Fuji apples, Kodiak flapjack and waffle mix, cinnamon, sugar.

- Slice the apples into rings. Dip into pancake mix and cook. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.

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7. Chicken Tenders & Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients: Frozen gluten-free breaded chicken breast tenders, 1 sweet potato, olive oil, salt.

- Bake the chicken. Slice the sweet potato into fries, toss with oil and salt, and bake until crispy.

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8. Popcorn with a Twist

Ingredients: popcorn kernels, nutritional yeast, olive oil, salt.

- Pop the kernels. Toss with yeast, oil, and salt.

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9. Taco Bean Soup

Ingredients: 1 can chicken, 1 can black beans ($0.89), 1 can diced tomatoes ($0.89), 1 taco seasoning packet, frozen diced onion.

- Cook chicken with onions. Add beans, tomatoes, and taco seasoning. Cook until heated.

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10. Apple Butter Oatmeal

Ingredients: Old fashioned oatmeal, apple butter, cinnamon, sugar.

- Cook oatmeal. Mix in apple butter, cinnamon, and sugar.

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Recipes that use leftovers consecutively

from the prompt =gpt4long("give me 10 easy, healthy, recipes for a family of four which can be cooked in only one stovetop pot or pan for $5 or less per serving, using only SNAP eligible food items from https://schnucks.com/shop - include the itemized pricing and exact name for each ingredient and keep it at a 3rd grade reading level, make use of leftovers from previous recipes when possible")

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Recipe 1: Vegetable and Bean Soup

Ingredients: Canned mixed vegetables ($1.00), canned black beans ($0.50), canned tomato sauce ($0.50), Schnucks salt and pepper ($1.00). Total: $3.00

Steps: Open cans. Pour veggies, beans, and sauce into pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook on medium heat until hot.

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Recipe 2: Breakfast Scramble

Ingredients: Schnucks large eggs ($0.50 per egg x 8 = $4.00), leftover mixed veggies from Recipe 1 ($0.00). Total: $4.00

Steps: Crack eggs into pan. Add veggies. Cook on medium heat, stirring, until eggs are done.

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Recipe 3: Pasta with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients: Schnucks spaghetti ($1.00), leftover tomato sauce from Recipe 1 ($0.00), Schnucks salt and pepper ($0.00). Total: $1.00

Steps: Cook spaghetti in pot. Drain. Stir in sauce. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

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Recipe 4: Beans and Rice

Ingredients: Schnucks long grain rice ($1.00), leftover black beans from Recipe 1 ($0.00), Schnucks salt and pepper ($0.00). Total: $1.00

Steps: Cook rice. Stir in beans. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

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Recipe 5: Scrambled Eggs and Rice

Ingredients: Schnucks large eggs ($0.50 per egg x 6 = $3.00), leftover rice from Recipe 4 ($0.00). Total: $3.00

Steps: Crack eggs into pan. Add rice. Cook on medium heat, stirring, until eggs are done.

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Recipe 6: Vegetable Stir Fry

Ingredients: Schnucks frozen stir fry vegetables ($2.00), Schnucks soy sauce ($1.00), leftover rice from Recipe 5 ($0.00). Total: $3.00

Steps: Cook veggies in pan. Stir in soy sauce and rice.

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Recipe 7: Spaghetti with Vegetables

Ingredients: Leftover spaghetti from Recipe 3 ($0.00), left over stir fry vegetables from Recipe 6 ($0.00), Schnucks salt and pepper ($0.00). Total: $0.00

Steps: Heat spaghetti and veggies in pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

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Recipe 8: Rice and Beans

Ingredients: Leftover rice from Recipe 7 ($0.00), leftover beans from Recipe 4 ($0.00), Schnucks canned tomato sauce ($0.50). Total: $0.50

Steps: Heat rice and beans in pot. Stir in tomato sauce.

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Recipe 9: Vegetable Soup

Ingredients: Leftover stir fry vegetables from Recipe 7 ($0.00), leftover tomato sauce from Recipe 8 ($0.00), Schnucks salt and pepper ($0.00). Total: $0.00

Steps: Put veggies and sauce in pot. Cook on medium heat until hot.

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Recipe 10: Fried Rice

Ingredients: Leftover rice from Recipe 8 ($0.00), leftover scrambled eggs from Recipe 5 ($0.00), leftover stir fry vegetables from Recipe 9 ($0.00), Schnucks soy sauce ($0.00). Total: $0.00

Steps: Heat rice, eggs, and veggies in pan. Stir in soy sauce.

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Please note: Prices are estimates and may vary.