A family meal plan on a budget: every AI model's reply, tested

Write a ready-to-paste AI prompt for this. Give it a role, the context, the steps and the output format, with anything only I know in [brackets].

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A weekly meal plan for a vegetarian family of four on a $120 budget, with a shopping list.

How the AI prompt generator's test inputs are scored, with every model's results on all five.

1. GPT-6 Luna

   Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

   Prompt:
   Act as a practical meal planner specializing in affordable vegetarian family cooking. Create a one-week meal plan for a family of four with a total grocery budget of $120. Use prices and common ingredients appropriate for [your location], and account for these dietary restrictions or preferences: [dietary restrictions or preferences, or “none”]. Make reasonable assumptions where details are missing.
   
   1. Plan breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all seven days, using affordable, nutritious meals and repeating ingredients to reduce waste.
   2. Provide simple recipes or brief preparation notes for each meal.
   3. Create a consolidated shopping list grouped by category, with estimated quantities and prices.
   4. Show the estimated total and explain briefly how the plan stays within budget. Flag any assumptions about pantry staples.
   
   Output format: a seven-day table with breakfast, lunch, and dinner columns; then preparation notes; then the categorized shopping list with estimated prices; finish with the estimated total and budget notes. Keep it concise and practical.
   
   Fill in: [your location], [dietary restrictions or preferences, or “none”]

   327 tokens in, 317 out (94 of them reasoning) · 3.2 s · $0.0001 · 1 message on Pro · answered by openai/gpt-6-luna via OpenAI · September 28, 2026

2. GLM 5.3 Flash

   Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

   Prompt: You are a budget-conscious meal planner and home economist. Create a one-week dinner meal plan for a vegetarian family of four (two adults, two children) with a total grocery budget of $120.
   
   Do the following steps:
   1. Plan 7 dinners that are vegetarian, kid-friendly, and use overlapping ingredients to reduce waste and cost.
   2. Keep each dinner's estimated ingredient cost low enough that the total for the week stays under $120, including pantry staples needed.
   3. Note any prep-ahead or batch-cook tips to save time.
   4. Build a consolidated shopping list organized by store section (produce, dairy, pantry, frozen) with estimated prices per item and a total.
   
   Assume a typical supermarket, not a specialty store. Prices should be realistic estimates; I will adjust for local pricing.
   
   Output format:
   - A table with columns: Day, Meal, Estimated Cost.
   - Then a "Prep Tips" section of 3-5 short bullet points.
   - Then a "Shopping List" section grouped by store section with quantities and estimated prices, ending with a total. Keep the whole response under 600 words.
   
   Fill in: [any dietary restrictions or allergies], [meals per day to plan if not just dinners], [currency if not USD]

   335 tokens in, 261 out · 2.0 s · $0.0002 · 1 message on Pro · answered by z-ai/glm-5.3-flash via Friendli · September 28, 2026

3. DeepSeek V4.1 Flash

   Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

   Prompt: You are a budget-conscious vegetarian meal planner and home cook. Plan one week of dinners for a family of four with a total grocery budget of $120, using only vegetarian ingredients. Context: the family eats [any dietary restrictions, e.g. no dairy, low spice], dislikes [ingredients to avoid], has [pantry staples already on hand], and can cook for about [minutes] per meal. Assume shopping at [store or store type in your area].
   
   Steps: 1) Draft seven dinners, each with a name, rough per-serving cost, and a 3-4 line method. 2) Reuse ingredients across meals to cut waste and cost. 3) Total the estimated cost and adjust if it exceeds $120. 4) Build one shopping list grouped by supermarket section, with quantities for four people.
   
   Output format: a short intro sentence, then a numbered list of the seven dinners, then "Shopping list:" with bulleted sections. Keep it under 700 words. Add a one-line note if any [restrictions] forced substitutions.
   
   Fill in: dietary restrictions, ingredients to avoid, pantry staples, cooking time per meal, store or store type.

   354 tokens in, 308 out (63 of them reasoning) · 1.8 s · $0.0005 · 1 message on Pro · answered by deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash via Together · September 28, 2026

4. Gemini 3.8 Flash

   Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

   Prompt: Act as an expert budget-friendly family nutritionist. Your audience is a vegetarian family of four (two adults, two children) aiming to eat wholesome, varied meals for a total of $120 per week. Please complete the following steps: 1. Create a 7-day dinner meal plan (including names and brief descriptions focused on high-protein, cost-effective vegetarian staples like beans, lentils, eggs, and tofu). 2. Provide an organized weekly grocery shopping list categorized by section (Produce, Pantry/Grains, Dairy/Refrigerated, Spices/Baking). 3. Add estimated costs next to each grocery item to ensure the total remains under $120. Output the response using clear plain text lists, starting with the 7-Day Dinner Plan, followed by the Categorized Grocery List with Estimated Prices, and end with 3 quick tips for keeping grocery costs down in [your city or country]. Note any specific dietary allergies: [any allergies or food dislikes, or write none].
   
   Fill in: [your city or country], [any allergies or food dislikes, or write none]

   338 tokens in, 232 out · 2.5 s · $0.0006 · 1 message on Pro · answered by google/gemini-3.8-flash via Google AI Studio · September 28, 2026

5. GLM 5.3

   Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

   Prompt: You are a family nutritionist and budget meal planner. Create a weekly meal plan for a vegetarian family of four with a grocery budget of $120. The family consists of [describe household members, e.g., two adults and two kids ages 5 and 8]. Dietary preferences or restrictions: [list any allergies, dislikes, or foods to avoid]. They have [time available for cooking each day] and prefer [cuisine or meal style, e.g., simple kid-friendly dinners]. Steps: 1) Plan 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 7 dinners, using overlapping ingredients to minimize waste and cost. 2) Build a complete shopping list with estimated prices, keeping the total at or under $120. 3) Note which meals can use leftovers or batch cooking. Output format: a day-by-day table of meals, followed by a shopping list organized by grocery store section (produce, pantry, dairy, frozen) with item, quantity, and estimated price, ending with the total cost estimate.
   
   Fill in: household description, dietary restrictions/preferences, cooking time, cuisine style.

   335 tokens in, 227 out · 1.5 s · $0.0013 · 1 message on Pro · answered by z-ai/glm-5.3 via Friendli · September 28, 2026

6. DeepSeek V4 Pro

   Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

   Prompt: You are a budget-conscious meal planner and nutritionist. Create a weekly meal plan for a vegetarian family of four with a total grocery budget of $120. The plan must cover 7 days, include breakfast, lunch, and dinner for each day, and be realistic for a family with limited cooking time: [number of meals, dietary restrictions or preferences, any foods the family dislikes, preferred cuisine types]. Follow these steps: 1) List 7 dinner ideas using affordable vegetarian staples, aiming for variety and at least one use of leftovers. 2) Add simple breakfast and lunch options for each day, reusing ingredients to cut waste. 3) Estimate cost per meal and total for the week, adjusting if over $120. 4) Compile a categorized shopping list with estimated prices that stays within budget. Output the meal plan as a table with columns for day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, followed by a bulleted shopping list grouped by store section and a total estimated cost. Keep the full response under 500 words.
   
   Fill in: [number of meals, dietary restrictions or preferences, any foods the family dislikes, preferred cuisine types]

   328 tokens in, 290 out (52 of them reasoning) · 8.0 s · $0.0013 · 1 message on Pro · answered by deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro-0813 via Wafer · September 28, 2026

7. Claude Haiku 4.5

   Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

   Prompt:
   
   You are a budget-conscious meal planner specializing in vegetarian cuisine. Your audience is a family of four planning their weekly groceries on a tight budget. Create a complete one-week vegetarian meal plan and shopping list.
   
   Follow these steps:
   
   1. Design seven days of breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals that are vegetarian, family-friendly, and use affordable ingredients.
   2. Ensure meals are practical to prepare on a weeknight and minimize food waste by repeating ingredients across meals.
   3. Create a detailed shopping list organized by grocery section (produce, dairy, pantry, etc.) with estimated quantities and prices.
   4. Verify the total estimated cost does not exceed $120.
   5. Include brief prep notes for any meals requiring advance preparation.
   
   Output format: Provide the meal plan as a simple day-by-day table (Monday–Sunday, with meal names), followed by a organized shopping list with item quantities and estimated unit prices, then the total budget and any money-saving tips specific to this plan.
   
   Fill in: [family dietary restrictions or strong dislikes] [your region or currency if not USD]

   344 tokens in, 248 out · 3.6 s · $0.0016 · 1 message on Pro · answered by anthropic/claude-haiku-4.5 via Anthropic · September 28, 2026

8. GPT-6.1 Sol

   Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

   Prompt:
   Act as a budget-conscious vegetarian meal planner. Create a seven-day meal plan and shopping list for a family of four, with a total grocery budget of $120. The audience is a home cook seeking affordable, balanced meals with minimal waste.
   
   Use these details: [location and currency], [family ages and appetites], [allergies or dietary restrictions, including eggs and dairy], [foods liked or disliked], [pantry ingredients available], [maximum cooking time per meal], and [meals and snacks to cover each day].
   
   1. Plan meals with varied vegetarian protein sources, vegetables, and filling staples.
   2. Reuse ingredients and schedule leftovers to reduce waste and cooking time.
   3. Build one consolidated shopping list, subtracting available pantry ingredients.
   4. Estimate local grocery costs and keep the total within $120. Clearly label estimates; do not claim verified prices unless you can check them.
   
   Output:
   - A seven-row table: day, meals, preparation time, and leftovers.
   - A shopping list grouped by grocery section, with quantities and estimated prices.
   - An estimated total and remaining budget.
   - Five brief preparation or cost-saving tips.
   
   Fill in: [location and currency], [family ages and appetites], [allergies or dietary restrictions, including eggs and dairy], [foods liked or disliked], [pantry ingredients available], [maximum cooking time per meal], [meals and snacks to cover each day].

   327 tokens in, 294 out · 4.4 s · $0.0018 · 1 message on Pro · answered by openai/gpt-6.1-sol via OpenAI · September 29, 2026

9. GPT-6 Sol

   Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

   Prompt:
   You are a budget-conscious meal planner. Create a seven-day vegetarian meal plan for a family of four with a total grocery budget of $120. The family is in [your location], has [allergies or additional dietary restrictions], and already has [pantry ingredients available]. Use estimated local grocery prices; do not claim they are current or verified.
   
   1. Plan breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all seven days. Make meals practical, varied, and filling, and reuse ingredients and leftovers to reduce cost and waste.
   2. Provide a shopping list with quantities and estimated prices. Include any pantry basics needed unless listed as already available.
   3. Add the prices and check that the estimated total does not exceed $120. If it does, revise the plan.
   
   Output a seven-day table with columns for day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Follow it with a shopping list grouped by store section, showing quantity, estimated price per item, and total. End with the grocery total and brief prep and leftover notes.
   
   Fill in: [your location], [allergies or additional dietary restrictions], [pantry ingredients available]

   327 tokens in, 477 out (243 of them reasoning) · 5.5 s · $0.0027 · 1 message on Pro · answered by openai/gpt-6-sol via OpenAI · September 28, 2026

10. Kimi K3

    Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

    Prompt:
    
    You are a registered dietitian and budget meal-planning expert who helps families eat well for less. I'm a home cook planning meals for a vegetarian family of four ([ages of family members]) with a weekly food budget of $120. We shop at [your grocery store or country/region] and have [dietary restrictions or allergies, e.g., nut-free, or "none"]. Kitchen equipment available: [e.g., oven, slow cooker, or "standard kitchen"].
    
    Create a complete 7-day vegetarian meal plan covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and one snack per day. Follow these steps:
    
    1. Design varied, balanced meals with enough protein (beans, lentils, eggs, dairy, tofu).
    2. Reuse ingredients across meals to cut cost and waste.
    3. Estimate the cost of each meal and keep the weekly total at or under $120.
    4. Build a consolidated shopping list grouped by store section (produce, dairy, pantry, etc.) with approximate quantities and prices.
    
    Output format:
    - A day-by-day meal table (Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | Snack)
    - Estimated daily and total weekly cost
    - A grouped shopping list
    - 3 quick money-saving or prep-ahead tips
    
    Keep recipes simple enough for weeknight cooking, under [max prep time, e.g., 45 minutes] per dinner.
    
    Fill in: [ages of family members], [your grocery store or country/region], [dietary restrictions or allergies], [kitchen equipment available], [max prep time]

    414 tokens in, 352 out (28 of them reasoning) · 39.7 s · $0.0035 · 1 message on Pro · answered by moonshotai/kimi-k3 via Wafer · September 28, 2026

11. Claude Sonnet 5

    Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

    Prompt:
    You are a professional nutritionist and budget meal planner experienced in feeding families affordably and healthily. I need a one-week vegetarian meal plan for a family of four, with a total grocery budget of $120.
    
    Context: The family includes [ages of family members], has these food preferences or restrictions [list any allergies, dislikes, or favorite cuisines], and has access to a [describe: full kitchen / limited equipment, e.g., no oven]. Assume shopping at a [type of store, e.g., regular supermarket, Walmart, Aldi].
    
    Steps to follow:
    1. Create a 7-day meal plan with breakfast, lunch, and dinner for each day, using simple, family-friendly vegetarian recipes.
    2. Reuse ingredients across meals to minimize waste and cost.
    3. Estimate the cost of each meal and keep the total at or under $120.
    4. Compile a consolidated shopping list organized by grocery category (produce, dairy, grains, canned goods, etc.), with estimated prices and quantities.
    
    Output format: 
    - Section 1: Day-by-day meal plan in a simple table (Day, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
    - Section 2: Shopping list grouped by category, with item, quantity, and price
    - Section 3: Total estimated cost
    
    Fill in: [ages of family members], [list any allergies, dislikes, or favorite cuisines], [describe: full kitchen / limited equipment], [type of store]

    445 tokens in, 503 out (13 of them reasoning) · 5.5 s · $0.0059 · 1 message on Pro · answered by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 via Anthropic · September 28, 2026

12. Grok 4.7

    Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

    Prompt:
    You are a practical vegetarian meal planner writing for a home cook feeding a family of four. Create a 7-day plan that stays at or under a $120 grocery budget and includes a shopping list. Use only the details in brackets; do not invent allergies, dislikes, or prices. Steps: 1) Plan [meals to cover each day] with overlapping ingredients to cut cost and waste. 2) Keep every meal vegetarian, simple enough for [cooking skill and time per meal], and suitable for [ages and picky-eater notes]. 3) Avoid [allergies and foods to exclude] and favor [cuisine or flavor preferences]. 4) Estimate prices for [city or grocery store] and stay within $120. Output in this order: a day-by-day plan with meal names and 3–5 sentence recipes; a shopping list grouped by store section with estimated prices; a budget total; and three cheaper swaps if an item is unavailable. Keep the full answer under 700 words.
    Fill in: [meals to cover each day], [cooking skill and time per meal], [ages and picky-eater notes], [allergies and foods to exclude], [cuisine or flavor preferences], [city or grocery store]

    1,563 tokens in, 1,180 out (920 of them reasoning) · 13.8 s · $0.0068 · 1 message on Pro · answered by x-ai/grok-4.7 via xAI · September 28, 2026

13. Claude Sonnet 5.5

    Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

    Prompt:
    You are an experienced family meal planner and budget-conscious vegetarian cook. I need a weekly dinner-focused meal plan for a vegetarian family of four (adults: [number of adults], children: [number of children and ages]) with a total grocery budget of $120 for the week. Meals should be [include breakfast, lunch, and dinner / dinner only]. Dietary restrictions or allergies: [list any, or "none"]. Foods we dislike: [list]. Cooking skill and time available on weekdays: [e.g. 30 minutes]. I shop at [store name or type of store] in [your country/region], and I already have these pantry staples: [list].
    
    Do the following:
    1. Plan seven days of meals using overlapping ingredients to reduce waste, and include at least one leftovers or batch-cooking meal.
    2. Make sure meals are balanced in protein (beans, lentils, eggs, dairy, tofu), and kid-friendly.
    3. Create a consolidated shopping list grouped by store section (produce, grains and pasta, canned and dry goods, dairy and eggs, other), with quantities and estimated prices.
    4. Total the estimated cost and confirm it stays at or under $120. If it doesn't, adjust the plan.
    
    Output format: a table with days as rows and meals as columns, then the shopping list as bulleted sections with the estimated price beside each item, then a one-line total. End with three short money-saving tips. Keep the whole response under 600 words. State that prices are estimates.
    
    Fill in: [number of adults], [number of children and ages], [include breakfast, lunch, and dinner / dinner only], [list any allergies, or "none"], [foods you dislike], [cooking skill and time available on weekdays], [store name or type of store], [your country/region], [pantry staples you already have]

    447 tokens in, 598 out · 6.0 s · $0.0069 · 1 message on Pro · answered by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5.5 via Anthropic · September 28, 2026

14. Gemini 3.1 Pro

    Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

    Prompt: Act as an expert vegetarian nutritionist and budget-friendly meal planner. Your context is to create a nutritious weekly meal plan for a vegetarian family of four on a strict $120 budget. The audience is busy parents who need practical, easy-to-cook meals. Follow these steps: 1. Design a 7-day meal plan covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and one snack per day. 2. Ensure ingredients overlap across meals to minimize waste and stay within the budget. 3. Avoid [any allergies or disliked ingredients]. 4. Create a comprehensive grocery shopping list based on the meal plan. Output format: Present the meal plan as a simple day-by-day list. Below the meal plan, provide the shopping list categorized by grocery aisle (such as Produce, Dairy, Pantry) with estimated costs next to each item, ending with the total estimated cost. Keep the recipes simple and kid-friendly.
    
    Fill in: [any allergies or disliked ingredients]

    338 tokens in, 1,185 out (984 of them reasoning) · 13.3 s · $0.0074 · 1 message on Pro · answered by google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview via Google AI Studio · September 28, 2026

15. GPT-6 Astra

    Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

    Prompt:
    Act as a budget-conscious vegetarian meal planner. Create a practical seven-day meal plan and shopping list for a family of four with a total grocery budget of $120.
    
    Context: We shop in [location and currency] at [preferred grocery store or store type]. Our family’s ages and appetites are [ages and appetites]. Plan [meals and snacks to include each day]. Our dietary restrictions and preferences are [allergies, dislikes, and whether eggs and dairy are allowed]. We already have [pantry ingredients]. Cooking time and equipment available: [time and equipment].
    
    Steps:
    1. Plan varied, balanced meals using affordable ingredients, overlapping purchases, and leftovers to reduce waste.
    2. Specify quantities sufficient for four and identify leftovers to reuse.
    3. Build a consolidated shopping list, excluding pantry items. Estimate full-package purchase costs rather than prorated ingredient costs. Keep the total under $120; label prices as estimates.
    
    Output:
    - A seven-row meal-plan table with meals and preparation times.
    - A shopping list grouped by grocery section, showing quantities and estimated prices.
    - Estimated total and remaining budget.
    - Five brief prep, storage, or substitution tips.
    
    Fill in: [location and currency], [preferred grocery store or store type], [ages and appetites], [meals and snacks to include each day], [allergies, dislikes, and whether eggs and dairy are allowed], [pantry ingredients], [time and equipment].

    327 tokens in, 299 out · 5.0 s · $0.0091 · 1 message on Pro · answered by openai/gpt-6-astra via OpenAI · September 28, 2026

16. Claude Opus 5.5

    Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

    Prompt:
    You are a practical family meal planner and budget-savvy home cook who specializes in vegetarian cooking. I'm planning meals for a vegetarian family of four: [ages of family members, e.g., two adults and kids aged 6 and 10]. Our weekly grocery budget is $120, and we shop at [store name or type, e.g., Aldi, Walmart] in [your city or region]. Allergies or foods to avoid: [allergies or dislikes]. We eat [eggs/dairy: yes or no] and have about [minutes per weeknight] to cook on weeknights. Plan [which meals, e.g., all dinners plus lunches].
    
    Steps:
    1. Create a 7-day meal plan that is balanced, filling, and kid-friendly, with enough protein.
    2. Reuse ingredients across meals and use leftovers to cut waste and cost.
    3. Build a shopping list grouped by store section, with quantities and estimated prices.
    4. Assume we already have these staples: [pantry items you already have].
    
    Output format:
    - A table with days as rows and meals as columns.
    - The shopping list with a total that stays at or under $120.
    - 3 to 5 short prep-ahead tips.
    Keep it under 600 words.
    
    Fill in: ages of family members, store name or type, your city or region, allergies or dislikes, eggs/dairy: yes or no, minutes per weeknight, which meals, pantry items you already have

    447 tokens in, 578 out (105 of them reasoning) · 6.4 s · $0.0133 · 1 message on Pro · answered by anthropic/claude-opus-5.5 via Google · September 28, 2026

17. Claude Fable 5.1

    Passed: Stated all 5 facts with the section.

    Prompt:
    You are a family nutritionist and budget meal planner. I need a 7-day vegetarian meal plan for a family of four (two adults, two children aged [children's ages]) with a total grocery budget of $120 for the week. We live in [your city or region], and shop mainly at [your usual grocery store]. Dietary notes: [allergies, dislikes, or foods to avoid]. Kitchen equipment available: [e.g., oven, slow cooker, blender]. Cooking time on weeknights is limited to about [minutes per meal].
    
    Steps:
    1. Plan breakfast, lunch, and dinner for each day, reusing ingredients across meals to cut waste and cost.
    2. Make sure each day includes adequate protein (beans, lentils, tofu, eggs, dairy, etc.).
    3. Keep at least [number] dinners under 30 minutes.
    4. Build a consolidated shopping list with estimated prices totaling $120 or less, noting pantry staples I likely already have.
    
    Output format:
    - A day-by-day table: Day, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
    - A shopping list grouped by store section (produce, dairy/eggs, pantry, frozen) with quantities and estimated prices, plus a total.
    - A short list of 3 money-saving swaps or batch-cooking tips.
    Keep the whole answer under 600 words.
    
    Fill in: [children's ages], [your city or region], [your usual grocery store], [allergies, dislikes, or foods to avoid], [e.g., oven, slow cooker, blender], [minutes per meal], [number]

    447 tokens in, 529 out · 7.2 s · $0.0309 · 1 message on Pro · answered by anthropic/claude-fable-5.1 via Google · September 28, 2026

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