Nine Hundred and Thirty-One Million Dollars in my account? No, it’s less. Observations in my dataset? No, but I wish!
This number signifies the million tons of food that have gone to waste 3 years ago worldwide. Per a United Nations report on sustainability, 931 million tons of food went to waste in 2021, and that number has not decreased. The United States alone makes up 3% of this value (at 24.76 million tons), which does not seem like a lot, but are ranked #2. The gold medal goes to Nigeria, with 24.79 million tons.
Although this number is quite high, we rank near the 50th percentile when it comes to per-capita wastage, with a value of 161 pounds. The majority of this food loss comes from consumers buying or cooking more than they need and throw out whatever is left (per a USDA source), and as sad as it is to say, about all of us here have contributed to this statistic. Whether we throw out food due to our impulsive grocery shopping decisions (that we later regret), leftovers that we are sick and tired of eating, or our mothers telling us to take certain ingredients and dishes when we visit home (since they apparently hate the sight of seeing chicken broth and rotisserie chicken, ingredients that THEY BOUGHT, MIND YOU). (Mom, if you are reading this, I am referring to someone else’s mom).
We all can help solve this food waste problem.
To potentially pioneer a solution and help reduce the amount of food gone to waste, I have looked to generative AI (ChatGPT and Gemini in this case) to create recipes based on these ingredients in my fridge:
Bok Choy
Cream Cheese
Cooked Rotisserie Chicken Breasts
Can of diced tomatoes
Chicken Stock
Noodles
A crazy basket of ingredients, right? To obtain a recipe, I asked Generative AI this prompt:
I have bok choy, cream cheese, cooked rotisserie chicken breasts, can of diced tomatoes, chicken stock, and hella noodles. Give me a recipe I can make with these ingredients and any other ingredients you think I should add in
I asked both ChatGPT and Gemini the same prompt, as well as a couple of variations, such as the current measurements and weights of that ingredient, removing the phrase “other ingredients I should add in”, and adding in “generate a list of recipes” (as opposed to just the one). I found that the edited prompt used was the most effective. Additionally, adding in the measurements helps with getting rid of specific ingredients fully, but could end up scaling the dish (a double-edged sword, imo). Removing the “other ingredients” phrase doesn’t add in aromatics or spices and generates a list gives ideas that are quite… interesting.
I then added some modifiers to the prompt, such as an “Asian-related dish,” alternatives to ingredients to fit dietary restrictions, extra veggies and meats that I could additionally add-in, and asked it to finalize the recipe, in which I obtained this:
Asian-Style Creamy Chicken Noodles with Bok Choy Ingredients:
Fresh cilantro or Thai basil (optional, for garnish)
Instructions:
Cook the Noodles:
Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Sauté the Aromatics:
In a large pan or wok, heat sesame oil over medium heat.
Add minced garlic and ginger, and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
Cook the Vegetables:
Add the sliced bell peppers, carrots, and mushrooms to the pan. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until they begin to soften.
Add the chopped bok choy and cook for another 3-4 minutes until wilted.
Prepare the Sauce:
Stir in the canned tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
Add the cream cheese, stirring until fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
Stir in soy sauce, rice vinegar, and hoisin sauce.
Combine Chicken and Noodles:
Add the shredded chicken to the pan, stirring to coat with the sauce.
Toss in the cooked noodles, making sure they’re evenly coated with the sauce and mixed with the vegetables.
Season and Serve:
Taste and adjust seasoning with more soy sauce or chili flakes if desired.
Serve the creamy chicken noodles in bowls, garnished with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro or Thai basil.
Enjoy your delicious, Asian-inspired creamy chicken noodles!
After following the recipe (with the subtraction of some ingredients), here is the final product:
Now as someone who would like to say they are some what experienced in the kitchen, I have to admit, this does not look at all that appeasing, however, generative AI did make a fairly nutritious meal with minimal waste! However, there are some changes I would incorporate, such as when to add the vegetables and emulsifying the tomatoes with the broth.
But why use generative AI instead of looking for recipes online? Besides being able to maximize the amount of ingredients used, generative AI reduces the amount of time to find a recipe, finds almost the perfect ratios and temperatures for cooking, and almost removes the necessity to think about a recipe. Now in terms of which generative AI to use, the world is your oyster. Personally, I found that ChatGPT gave better results, but Gemini works a lot faster.
Whether it be ingredients that are close to expiration, ingredients you want to finally get rid of, or that creative cooking block that happens quite a lot, Generative AI is a great step in reducing consumer food waste. Although the recipe provides a blueprint on what to make with your current ingredients, human involvement and creativity is much needed to bring it to the next level.
