How can ChatGPT help working mums save time?

Seriously, it can do anything. Try it!

I am exploring all my curiosities with ChatGPT. It’s so cool and as working mums with barely any time on our hands, not using it to save us time is a wasted opportunity.

Here are a few ways you can use it immediately to save you a good few hours a week.

TL:DR (too long, didn’t read)

• Chat GPT-4 is super advanced, and able to provide human-like expert responses in fractions of seconds (it can pass the law Bar Exam!)

• It can help working mums save time by helping us:

  • Meal planning for the week

    • Recipe providing as per meal plan

    • Shopping list creation as per recipes provided

    • Recommendations of making things with fridge leftovers

  • Helping kids with homework by giving us ideas on how to explain things to them

  • Guiding us how to teach our kids to read with phonics

    • Recommending best books to read!

Details below: Skip to the part most useful for you :)

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What is ChatGPT and what is ChatGPT-4

In super simplistic terms, ChatGPT is an artificial-intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI and launched in November 2022. It has a massive database of information that it can process at supersonic speed and spit out in the language of a human. You can ask it anything, and it will give you a pretty great answer in seconds.

The most recent version of ChatGPT is ChatGPT-4.

This table gives you an idea of the level of advancement in GPT-4 compared to Chat GPT-3

Source: Open AI

And the main difference between Chat GPT-3 and 4, is summarized in this table below:

Summary of differences between GPT-3 and GPT-4

Source: https://fireflies.ai/blog/gpt3-vs-4; Parametres for GPT-4 are likely to be in trillions

Here are some ways Chat GPT can help us in our daily lives:

1. Meal Planning

If it wasn’t for Hello Chef, I would not be able to manage healthy home cooked meals at home. However, now and then we need to take a break from it. This is overwhelming for me because suddenly, what used to be a 1 minute task, now becomes an exercise of planning meals and ordering groceries for the week.

So I asked Chat GPT to do it for me:

My prompt: Can you give me a meal plan for Monday to Friday; for a family of 4 - 2 adults and 2 toddlers. No dietary restrictions. Meals should be quick to prepare and use common ingredients.

Its answer: Sure, here's a meal plan for Monday to Friday that should be quick to prepare with common ingredients and suitable for a family of four with two toddlers:

Monday:

• Breakfast: Banana oatmeal with sliced almonds and honey

• Lunch: Grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup

• Dinner: Baked chicken breasts with roasted vegetables (potatoes, carrots, and broccoli)

Tuesday:

• Breakfast: Yogurt parfait with granola and fresh berries

• Lunch: Tuna salad with crackers and sliced cucumber

• Dinner: Spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread

Wednesday:

• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with toast and fruit salad

• Lunch: Ham and cheese sandwich with apple slices

• Dinner: Beef stir-fry with rice and steamed vegetables (broccoli, snow peas, and carrots)

Thursday:

• Breakfast: Pancakes with bacon and fruit compote

• Lunch: Turkey and cheese roll-ups with baby carrots

• Dinner: Taco salad with ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and salsa

Friday:

• Breakfast: Breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs, cheese, and salsa

• Lunch: Grilled chicken Caesar salad

• Dinner: Homemade pizza with your choice of toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, peppers, etc.)

2. Recipe generation:

Then I asked it to give me recipes for all of the above meals: (Only Monday shown as an example)

My prompt: Can you give me recipes for all of the above meals

Monday

Banana Oatmeal with Sliced Almonds and Honey

• 2 cups water

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed

• 1/4 cup sliced almonds

• Honey, to taste

1. In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil.

2. Add the oats and salt, reduce heat to low, and cook for 5 minutes.

3. Add the mashed bananas and stir to combine. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.

4. Serve with sliced almonds and honey.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Soup

• 8 slices of bread

• 8 slices of cheese

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1 can of tomato soup

• 1 cup milk

1. Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.

2. Butter one side of each slice of bread.

3. Place a slice of cheese between two slices of bread (buttered side out).

4. Grill sandwiches for 2-3 minutes on each side, until cheese is melted and bread is golden brown.

5. In a separate pot, heat the tomato soup and milk together until hot.

6. Serve soup alongside the grilled cheese sandwiches.

Baked Chicken Breasts with Roasted Vegetables

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 1 lb potatoes, diced

• 1 lb carrots, peeled and sliced

• 1 head of broccoli, chopped

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp dried thyme

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides.

3. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish.

4. Toss the vegetables with olive oil, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper.

5. Spread the vegetables around the chicken breasts.

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.

   3. Grocery list preparation

Then I asked it to create me a shopping list for all the items I would need to deliver this meal plan. As you all know, this is a time consuming task and I always forget something.

My prompt: Can you prepare a shopping list for me, for all the ingredients I will need for the recipes you listed for Monday to Wednesday

Certainly, here is a shopping list for the ingredients you'll need for the meals I listed for Monday to Wednesday:

Produce

• Bananas (2)

• Broccoli (1 head)

• Carrots (1 lb)

• Garlic (2 cloves)

• Onions (1)

• Potatoes (1 lb)

• Tomatoes (1 can)

• Lettuce (1 head)

Fruit

• Fresh berries (2 cups)

Dairy

• Sliced cheese (8 slices)

• Shredded cheese (1/4 cup)

• Butter (2 tbsp)

• Milk (1 cup)

• Parmesan cheese (1/4 cup)

Meat

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (4)

• Ground beef (1lb)

Canned Goods

• Tomato soup (1 can)

• Spaghetti sauce (1 jar)

Bakery

• Bread (1 loaf)

Pantry

• Rolled oats (1 cup)

• Honey

• Sliced almonds (1/4 cup)

• Olive oil (2 tbsp)

• Salt and pepper

• Garlic powder

• Dried thyme

Note: This list only includes the ingredients for the meals I listed for Monday to Wednesday. You'll need to add additional ingredients for the meals on Thursday and Friday. Also, make sure to check your pantry to see if you already have some of these items before heading to the store. (Thanks GPT-4 :)

4. Making use of leftovers:

I hate it when food is wasted; and often it takes ages to find a decent recipe of something you can make from leftovers in your fridge. So I thought I’d ask Chat GPT:

My prompt: What can I make with my fridge's leftovers? It includes celery, cauliflower, carrots, chicken breast, rice, peas, and yoghurt

With the ingredients you listed, you can make a delicious and healthy chicken and vegetable stir-fry with rice! Here's a recipe:

Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry with Rice

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp oil

• 2 chicken breasts, cut into small pieces

• Salt and pepper

• 1 cup cauliflower, chopped into small florets

• 1 cup carrots, sliced

• 1 cup celery, sliced

• 1 cup frozen peas

• 1/4 cup soy sauce

• 1/4 cup chicken broth

• 1 tbsp cornstarch

• Cooked rice, for serving

• Yoghurt, for serving

Instructions:

• In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil over high heat.

• Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.

• Add the cauliflower, carrots, celery, and peas to the skillet. Stir-fry for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender but still crisp.

• In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch.

• Pour the soy sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes, until the sauce thickens.

• Serve the stir-fry over cooked rice and top with a dollop of yoghurt.

5. Helping with homework:

I often hear other mums talk about struggles with homework. I am not there yet, so I’m not sure exactly what help is needed, but I’m sure ChatGPT can help in some way. A random example:

Prompt: Can you help me explain refraction to my 5 year old daughter

Sure, I'd be happy to help!

Refraction is the way that light bends or changes direction when it goes through something like water, glass or even air.

When light travels through something like water, it slows down, and that makes it bend or change direction. It's a bit like when you try to run through water at the pool and it slows you down and makes you change direction.

So, when light travels from the air into the water, it slows down and bends towards the surface of the water. That's why objects in water look like they're in a slightly different place than they actually are.

It's a really cool thing that happens with light, and it's something that scientists study to learn more about how light works.

6. Teaching my daughter to read using phonics

My daughter is learning to read at the moment, and it’s all phonics based. To be able to reinforce that learning at home, I need to understand how to use phonics myself. The school gives handouts and I can attend webinars, but I really don’t have the time or patience. So I asked ChatGPT:

Prompt: How can I teach my 4 year old to read with phonics

Teaching phonics is a great way to help your child learn how to read. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Start with the basics: Teach your child the alphabet, the sounds that each letter makes, and how to recognize and write each letter.

2. Introduce simple words: Once your child knows the sounds of each letter, start introducing simple words that use those sounds. You can use flashcards or picture books to help your child learn to recognize these words.

3. Break words into sounds: Help your child break down words into their individual sounds. For example, the word "cat" can be broken down into the sounds "c", "a", and "t". This will help your child learn to sound out words on their own.

4. Practice, practice, practice: The more your child practices reading with phonics, the better they will become. Encourage your child to read simple books, signs, and labels whenever possible.

5. Make it fun: Reading should be enjoyable for your child, so make sure to make phonics lessons fun and engaging. Use games, songs, and activities to keep your child interested and motivated.

And then of course I asked it what books should I read with my daughter

Prompt: What are the best books for a 5 year old to start reading

There are many wonderful books that are perfect for 5-year-olds who are just beginning to read. Here are some great options to consider:

1. "Elephant and Piggie" series by Mo Willems: These books are funny, engaging, and easy to read, making them perfect for young readers.

2. "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss: This classic story is full of fun rhymes and silly characters, and it's a great choice for children who are just starting to read on their own.

3. "Frog and Toad Are Friends" by Arnold Lobel: This book features two lovable characters who go on adventures together, and it's a great choice for children who are just beginning to read chapter books.

4. "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss: Another classic story from Dr. Seuss, this book is filled with whimsical illustrations and silly rhymes that will captivate young readers.

5. "Little Bear" by Else Holmelund Minarik: This book features a lovable bear and his adventures with his family and friends, and it's a great choice for children who are just beginning to read longer stories.

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This is just a simple example of how ChatGPT or generative AI can help us save time. I encourage you to try it. If you are based n the UAE, you need to buy a subscription to access it ($20 per month); I have not been able to access it without one.

Tip: The better your prompt (be as specific as you can), the better responses you are going to get.

Are any of you using ChatGPT or any generative AI tools? What are you using them for? Please share I would love to know! Reply to this email or leave a comment below.

Have a great weekend.

All my love,

Abha