Using Tech to Help Plan Your Holiday Menu and Shopping List

Preparing for holiday parties can be overwhelming. My favorite place to start is with planning my menu and making my shopping list. This year, I tried to incorporate tech into my strategy. I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

Plan Your Menu:

This year, many people are turning to tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot to take their holiday menu planning to the next level. While you can still pick up cookbooks from your local library or use one of the thousands of holiday planning guides available online, I found that these new tech tools were creative and produced an interesting menu that was easy to customize. Here are some tips to get the most out of your prompt.

Prompt Tips:

• Be specific and include the number of people and dietary restrictions in your prompt.

• Ask for recipes to be included in your search, and ask for the recipes' origin so you can check for mistakes or options for modification.

• Include what ingredients you have on hand. American families waste up to $3000 a year on food they throw away. Use what you've got!

• Include other details like, I always make dumplings or I need the meal to take less than 2 hours to prepare.

If you want to use pen and paper, we've got you covered. Use this tool from Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Make your Shopping List:

The best shopping list is one that works for you. Use pen and paper, your smartphone, or your smart speaker. All you need to do is make a list of items to buy!

• Step 1: Use your favorite method to create a list of necessary ingredients for the dishes on your menu. Since I used AI to generate a menu this year, I asked the system to put the ingredients on my digital shopping list. It was very easy.

• Step 2: Check your cabinets, pantry, and refrigerator for the items you already have and remove them from your list.

• Step 3: Take your list with you to the store. Shop from your list.

If you’re looking to save even more money, shop from the reduced price or marked down sections. These items are wholesome, but are nearing the point where they need to be frozen or used. You’ll help reduce waste and get a good deal on items that you’re going to consume quickly!