ChatGPT, an AI tool that can answer questions and complete a variety of tasks, including creating meal plans, has grown in popularity in recent months. However, despite its abilities, dietitian Hannah Whittaker warns that it can miss food groups, potentially leading to nutritional deficiencies. A TikTok user who asked ChatGPT to create an endometriosis-friendly and hormone-balancing meal plan received a week-long plan that she modified to suit her preferences. While it is trained on a wide range of information, ChatGPT is not capable of providing safe meal plans to follow, Whittaker cautions.
When asked to create a 7-day pescatarian meal plan for a daily intake of 1800 calories and 80g protein, ChatGPT only provided three days’ worth of meals. Despite requesting more meal ideas, it overwhelmed the user with too much fish, which could have led to mercury poisoning. Other issues experienced include ChatGPT not removing a disliked ingredient, peppers, despite repeated requests. Whittaker also found that the tool does not ask crucial questions that a dietitian would, such as medical history, micronutrient requirements, and fluid intake. Additionally, ChatGPT only includes information on carbs, protein, fat, fruits, and vegetables but not on iron, calcium, or vitamin D. It also does not inform users about the need for supplements or the dangers of unwanted excess nutrients.
Though Whittaker suggests ChatGPT can be useful as a guide for more balanced meals, she recommends it only as a starting point for those with nutritional knowledge to formulate a tailored meal plan themselves. As ChatGPT does include a disclaimer that users should seek advice from a dietitian or physician before trying any meal plan, Whittaker is concerned that not every user will read and take notice of this and may potentially suffer from nutritional deficiencies.
