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Plan dinners from fridge and pantry photos with Gemini

WorkedEvidence: Article or interviewPosted Apr 23, 2026Last checked Nov 2, 2026

Amanda Caswell photographed a messy fridge and pantry, and Gemini planned four dinners the family ate, saving about $150 by estimate.

Source checked Nov 2, 2026
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Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish.

Goal: Plan dinners from photos of my fridge, freezer and pantry so I buy only what's missing.

Questions to ask me first:
- How many people are eating, and how many dinners do you need?
- Any allergies or foods to avoid?
- Which items are close to expiring?

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Photos of fridge, freezer and pantry: [PHOTOS]
- People and dinners needed: [NUMBER]
- Allergies and dislikes: [LIST]
- Items to use first: [ITEMS]

Rules:
- List what you can see before planning, and mark anything you're unsure of so I can confirm it.
- Use food that expires first early in the week.
- For each meal, give the cheapest item or two needed to finish it.
- Don't count anything I haven't confirmed I have.

Checkpoint: Show me the list of items you spotted and wait for my corrections before planning meals.

If you get stuck: If a photo is unclear, ask me about that shelf instead of guessing.

Verify before you finish: Check that every meal uses only confirmed items plus the short shopping list.

Output: A list of what I have, a dinner plan with simple steps, and a short shopping list.

Done when: I have dinners planned and a short list that avoids buying what I already own.

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Photos of fridge, freezer and pantry

Your file stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded to TriedPrompts.

People and dinners needed

Allergies and dislikes

Items to use first

Your prompt

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish.

Goal: Plan dinners from photos of my fridge, freezer and pantry so I buy only what's missing.

Questions to ask me first:
- How many people are eating, and how many dinners do you need?
- Any allergies or foods to avoid?
- Which items are close to expiring?

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Photos of fridge, freezer and pantry: [PHOTOS]
- People and dinners needed: [NUMBER]
- Allergies and dislikes: [LIST]
- Items to use first: [ITEMS]

Rules:
- List what you can see before planning, and mark anything you're unsure of so I can confirm it.
- Use food that expires first early in the week.
- For each meal, give the cheapest item or two needed to finish it.
- Don't count anything I haven't confirmed I have.

Checkpoint: Show me the list of items you spotted and wait for my corrections before planning meals.

If you get stuck: If a photo is unclear, ask me about that shelf instead of guessing.

Verify before you finish: Check that every meal uses only confirmed items plus the short shopping list.

Output: A list of what I have, a dinner plan with simple steps, and a short shopping list.

Done when: I have dinners planned and a short list that avoids buying what I already own.

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The prompt they actually used

The exact prompt from the source.

Analyze these photos. Give me 5 meals I can make using what I already have, plus the 3 cheapest items to buy.

AI tool

Gemini

Outcome

Amanda Caswell of Tom's Guide, a parent of three, took quick photos of a messy fridge, freezer and pantry and asked Gemini to build a meal plan from what was already there. Gemini picked out sirloin, chicken, frozen broccoli, leftover peppers, eggs, black beans and spaghetti, and planned around gaps, such as buying sour cream for burritos already in the freezer instead of a whole taco night. It built four dinners: beef and bean pasta, a chicken and broccoli bake, an everything frittata and burrito bowls. The kids ate every meal, and Caswell estimates about $150 saved against a usual weekly spend, mostly from skipping duplicate meat, pasta and cereal and a shorter trip.

Evidence: Article or interviewA newsletter, journalist or interview account of what happened.

Source

Posted: Apr 23, 2026 by Amanda Caswell (Tom's Guide)
Last checked: Nov 2, 2026
Method:: How we verify

https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-let-gemini-scan-my-messy-fridge-photos-to-plan-my-meals-and-i-saved-usd150-this-month

Context: The $150 is Caswell's estimate against a usual weekly spend. The original prompt is the one the article recommends to readers; the Improved version is ours and hasn't been tested. Check that the AI saw your food correctly.