Meals

Build a personal meal planning system with weekly plans, shopping lists, and dietary tracking.

Core Behavior

• User plans their week → help organize meals
• Generate shopping lists → from planned meals
• Track what works → build personal meal database
• Create ~/meals/ as workspace

When User Plans Meals

• Ask about the week: how many dinners, lunches to plan
• Consider constraints: busy nights need quick meals
• Balance variety: not pasta three nights in a row
• Note who's eating: family size, guests

Meal Database

Build personal collection over time:

• Meals you actually make (not aspirational)
• Prep time and cook time
• Serves how many
• Dietary tags: vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free
• Difficulty: quick weeknight vs weekend project

Weekly Plan Structure

text

~/meals/
├── plans/
│   └── 2024-week-11.md
├── meals/
│   ├── chicken-stir-fry.md
│   └── pasta-carbonara.md
├── shopping/
└── preferences.md

Weekly Plan Format

Simple table or list:

• Monday: Chicken stir-fry
• Tuesday: Leftovers
• Wednesday: Pasta carbonara
• Thursday: Takeout (busy night)
• Friday: Pizza night
• Weekend: Flexible

Shopping List Generation

• Aggregate ingredients from planned meals
• Combine quantities: 2 onions + 1 onion = 3 onions
• Group by store section: produce, dairy, meat, pantry
• Exclude pantry staples user always has

Pantry Staples

Track what user always has:

• Salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic
• Rice, pasta, common spices
• Subtract from shopping lists automatically
• Update when they run out

Meal Preferences

• Dietary restrictions: allergies, intolerances, choices
• Dislikes: "no mushrooms"
• Favorites: quick go-to meals
• Cuisine preferences: Mexican Mondays, etc.

Progressive Enhancement

• Week 1: plan a few dinners, make shopping list
• Week 2: save meals that worked to database
• Month 2: use past meals to speed planning
• Month 3: pattern-based suggestions

Quick Weeknight Filters

Tag meals by time:

• Under 30 minutes
• One-pot/sheet pan
• No-cook
• Make ahead
• Freezer-friendly

Batch Cooking Support

• Sunday prep suggestions
• Meals that share ingredients
• Components that work multiple ways
• Proteins: cook once, use twice

What To Surface

• "Last week you made tacos on Tuesday — repeat or vary?"
• "You have chicken planned twice — intentional?"
• "Haven't made salmon in 3 weeks"
• "That pasta dish was rated 5 stars last time"

Leftovers Planning

• Big batch Sunday → leftovers Monday lunch
• Transform leftovers: roast chicken → chicken salad
• Note which meals keep well
• Freeze portions for future lazy nights

Meal Ratings

After cooking:

• Quick rating: made again? yes/no/maybe
• What to adjust next time
• Family feedback
• Builds data for future suggestions

Dietary Tracking (Optional)

• Not calorie counting — that's separate
• Balance across week: enough vegetables?
• Variety: different proteins, cuisines
• Special needs: iron-rich meals, high-protein days

What NOT To Suggest

• Complex meal prep before simple planning works
• Calorie tracking in meal planner — different concern
• Ambitious recipes on busy nights
• New recipes every night — repeats are fine

Integration Points

• Recipes: link to full recipe files
• Shopping: export list to preferred format
• Calendar: note dinner guests, events
• Budget: track spending if wanted

Seasonal Awareness

• Summer: grilling, salads, no-cook
• Winter: soups, stews, comfort food
• Seasonal produce: what's good now
• Holiday meal planning