How to Use AI in the Kitchen (Without Losing the Joy or the Plot)
Let’s be real—mealtime with kids isn’t always the magical, apron-wearing memory-making moment we want it to be.
Some mornings we’re eating on the go. Lunches are scattered across the day. And dinners?
Well… sometimes they’re chaotic, loud, and beautifully imperfect as we all tumble in from work, after-school activities like skateboarding club, dance, and ninja class—and those “Wait—did anyone feed the chickens?” moments.
But despite the mess and the movement, our kitchen is the heart of our home.
I’m a mom of five—three of my babies I birthed with my husband, and two incredible bonus sons who made me a mother long before I held my first newborn. Our family rhythm isn’t always smooth, but one thing we try to hold onto is intentionality—especially with the food we prepare and share.
I do the breakfasts and lunches, and my husband usually takes on dinner. We sit together when we can, often involving the kids in gathering, cooking, or prepping—whether it’s picking herbs from the garden, grabbing eggs from our hens, or taste-testing something new we found through a quick AI search.
We’re not aiming for perfection. We’re aiming for presence.
And that’s where AI became a quiet little hero in our kitchen.
AI in the Kitchen: How It Actually Helps
I first started using ChatGPT in the kitchen when I was pregnant with my third child. I was navigating exhaustion, food sensitivities (I’m gluten- and dairy-free), and the all-too-familiar “what the heck do I make tonight?” spiral.
What surprised me was how simple and freeing it felt to ask AI for help.
Whether I needed:
A dairy-free pesto recipe
Kid-friendly gluten-free snacks
New ways to season veggies without garlic (thank you, pregnancy aversions)
Or a “what can I make with sweet potatoes, leftover chicken, and half a cucumber?” situation…
AI had my back.
How I Use AI in Real Life (and You Can Too)
Let’s ditch the image of a mom perfectly meal-prepping ten organic bento boxes with matching cutlery. That’s not my life, and probably not yours either. Here’s how I use AI to keep it simple, healthy, and doable:
1. Quick Recipe Ideas When You’re in a Pinch
Open ChatGPT and type:
“Give me 3 gluten- and dairy-free dinner ideas using sweet potatoes and ground turkey.”
Instant inspiration. No scrolling Pinterest for 30 minutes and then giving up.
2. Meal Planning for the Week
I’ll ask:
“Make a 5-day gluten- and dairy-free meal plan for a busy family with a picky 9-year-old and a 6-year-old who loves pasta.”
Then I adjust. I’ll swap in family favorites or use it as a base to build around what’s already in our fridge or growing in our garden.
3. Get Kids Involved
I love involving my kids in the process—it makes them more likely to eat the food and connect at the table.
I’ll say:
“Give me 5 healthy dinner ideas that are fun for kids to help cook.”
Then I let them pick one. We’ve had so many sweet moments from this—my daughter flipping pancakes while my son sets the table with Lego name cards. It's messy and perfect.
4. Stuck With Random Ingredients
This is my favorite:
“What can I make for dinner using kale, eggs, black beans, and salsa?”
It’s like having a personal kitchen assistant who’s chill and nonjudgmental and never says, “Ugh, again?”
For the Moms Who Don’t Love Cooking
This part is for you.
Maybe cooking feels like a chore.
Maybe you’re tired of picky eaters or reheating the same three meals.
Maybe food feels like pressure instead of nourishment.
AI can help take that weight off. It’s not about being fancy—it’s about freeing your brain so you can show up with more ease, joy, or at least less stress.
It gives you space to focus on why you’re feeding your family this way: for health, for connection, for the ritual of being together—even if it’s just for 10 minutes before someone starts bouncing off the walls with post-dinner energy.
Final Thoughts
We grow what we can in our little Montana garden, gather fruit together when it’s in season, and try to honor the energy behind the meals we eat. But we also grab apples or pantry snacks on the go when we’re stretched thin. Both are allowed.
Using AI in the kitchen isn’t about replacing your intuition—it’s about supporting it.
It’s a tool, not a rule. And in the chaos of motherhood, tools that help us breathe deeper and feed our people better? Yes, please.
So if you’ve been feeling burnt out on cooking or stuck in the same three-meal rotation, try this:
Let AI take the wheel for just a minute.
You might be surprised what’s possible when you mix smart tech with soulful motherhood.
