Using AI Chatbots to Create Healthy Meal Recommendations

Show an image of a healthy meal. Have students name the foods and describe why the meal is healthy.

Show an image of an unhealthy meal. Have students names the foods and detail why the meal is unhealthy. Ask what could happen to a person if they ate this type of meal every day.

Facilitate a brief discussion about the importance of healthy eating habits and the challenges of meal planning. 

Engage students by asking them to share their favorite healthy meals or ingredients they enjoy cooking with.

Have students discuss food and nutrition in small groups with the "Food and Nutrition Conversation Questions." Optionally, if you are teaching in-person, cut the questions into strips and have students mingle and ask one question repeatedly to classmates and report back the most interesting answer to the whole class.

Tell students that they are going to learn how to use a generative artificial intelligence tool for healthy meal planning.

Ask students what some concerns or nutritional features of foods we should pay attention to. List their responses (e.g., sodium levels, vitamins, sugar levels, nutrients and nutritional values). 

Note: You can use the FDA Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels website for information or assign students to search the site.

Assign individuals or pairs to search online (or use a large language model such as ChatGPT) to find answers to an assigned question on the handout "Online Research - Nutrition." Have students share their answers and take notes on classmates answers.

Vocabulary:

Teach words that describe foods. Have students brainstorm:

Flavor words

Texture words

Opinion words

Or have students categorize the following words and then list one or more foods that match the descriptive word.

Acidic 

Appetizing

Bitter 

Bland 

Buttery 

Citrusy 

Comforting 

Creamy

Crunchy

Delicate

Delicious

Fishy 

Flaky

Flavorful 

Fresh 

Fruity 

Hearty

Juicy

Mouthwatering

Nutty 

Peppery 

Piquant 

Refreshing

Rich

Robust

Salty

Savory

Sour

Spicy

Sweet

Tangy

Tasty

Tender

Yummy

Zesty

Grammar:

Teach students comparative and superlative forms of adjectives. Use the handout "Comparative & Superlative Adjective Note-Taking Form."

Then have students complete the handout "Comparative and Superlatives Forms Worksheet." Check the answers together as a whole class.

Introduce the concept of using ChatGPT or similar large language models to generate recommendations for healthy meals.

Explain the task: Students will work in small groups to input three ingredients into the LLM (such as ChatGPT) and receive meal recommendations. They will then discuss and choose the best meal option based on criteria such as nutritional value, simplicity, and taste.

Demonstrate how to use the LLM to generate meal recommendations by inputting three example ingredients and discussing the results with the class.

Provide guidance on evaluating meal options, including considering factors such as dietary restrictions, cooking time, and availability of ingredients.

Divide students into small groups (3-4 members per group).

Instruct each group to choose three ingredients from a provided list or suggest their own. For example:

• Group 1: chicken, rice, green beans
• Group 2: salmon, peas, spaghetti
• Group 3: macaroni, meatballs, broccoli
• Group 4: pinto beans, tomatoes, olives
• Group 5: bread, canned tuna, celery
• Group 6: potatoes, cheese, spinach

Model the prompt: Provide three recipes for a family of # with the following ingredients: (list).

Allow groups time to input their chosen ingredients into the chatbot and review the meal recommendations. 

Model the next prompt asking the chatbot which meal is healthiest and why.

Show students how to copy the selected chatbot recipe and nutritional information into a document or slideshow.

Encourage discussion within each group to decide on the best meal option and reasons for their choice, reminding students to use the comparative and superlative adjectives that describe food.

Have students present their meal choice to the class with the recipe, an image found online or generated with an AI image generator. Students will explain their choice. Provide a frame for the the presentations:

We chose this recipe for a family of # because it is the ____________ and _______________. The ingredients are ... This recipe is the healthiest / most nutritional because...

Provide feedback on the justification provided by each group, focusing on the clarity of reasoning and consideration of relevant factors. Optionally also provide feedback to the group on content and language using a checklist or rubric, as desired.

Have students reflect on the lesson by answering the following questions:

1. What did you find most challenging about using the AI tool to generate meal recommendations?

2. How did your group decide on the best meal option? Was it difficult to reach a consensus?

3. What criteria did you consider when evaluating the meal options?

4. How confident do you feel about using chatbots or similar tools for future language learning or practical tasks?

5. How can you apply the skills and knowledge gained from this activity to your daily life?

Conclude the lesson by discussing how students can apply the skills they learned in real-life situations, such as meal planning for themselves or their families. Ask students how they can use chatbots such as ChatGPT or similar tools to support their language learning and daily activities.