What Should I Eat Today? — All-In-One Guide

Why should we care?

For a young person, this is the all-in-one guide. If you're looking for interesting ways to explore dishes in 2024, this article is for you. I have tried almost 100 apps, websites, and many online resources to bring you the best ones.

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As Gen Z, we are the pickiest eaters and the greatest foodies among all generations. To us, eating is not just about the food itself but also about the experience and the social aspect. We are drawn to visually appealing foods and are attracted to dishes that look great. According to research by The Food Institute, eating is a social activity that shapes our identities. Many of us support organic food and healthy eating habits, which we love to share on social media. Convenience is also a priority; we often opt for online delivery or frozen food from Trader Joe's to save time, similar to how we enjoy watching TikTok reels from the comfort of our beds.

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Given these unique preferences of Gen Z, I've arranged six different approaches to deciding what to eat today, covering various situations in our daily lives, including meal planning, choosing something random, cooking at home, finding authentic information, and exploring new food trends.

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Method 1: Spin the Wheel

This might sound interesting and unusual, but it's a common approach among my friends. They always want to try something different, new, and exotic but often don't know what to eat. What they do is close their eyes, meditate, imagine the feeling of having a perfect meal with something new, and then press the magic button like opening a gate to their destiny.

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I have tried this approach many times and have interviewed friends who use it daily. The best part is, when you press that magic button, you start to realize what you really want to eat, much like flipping a coin when torn between two decisions; it's not the result of the coin flip that matters, but the moment you make the decision.

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Here is a helpful spin-the-wheel tool: Spin the Wheel.

Method 2: Aesthetically Pleasing Platforms

We often judge whether food tastes good or bad just by its appearance. According to an article by Redfin Technology on LinkedIn, food videos are among the most popular categories on TikTok based on search terms. We can find popular dishes through feeds on short-video or image-based platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Yelp , YouTube, and UberEats.

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To know what's trending in food in our area, we can type in the search bar: 'Seattle Food' or 'Food near me,' and check the visuals to make our decisions. From my experience and interviews with young foodies, they prefer Instagram and TikTok for two main reasons: first, these platforms are more visually driven, showcasing food in a dynamic and attractive way. Second, the content on Instagram and TikTok is more user-generated with unique personal stories, making it more trustworthy than just sponsored restaurant posts.

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Method 3: Good Recipe Preparation Software

After examining and trying dozens of good recipe preparation software and collecting many insights from Reddit and other UGC platforms, I found that both Samsung Food and Smitten Kitchen  are excellent options.

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Samsung Food offers a great, comfortable, and smooth UI for young people to interact with in a light-mood vibe. Based on many comments on Reddit, people find it to be a great software with ease of use and convenience for saving recipes from any website and organizing them in one place. This feature saves a lot of time for users. Additionally, Samsung Food has a meal planning feature that helps users organize their meals, saving time and reducing food waste, which are key values for Gen Z.

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Smitten Kitchen is more like an encyclopedia of recipes. Users can easily access the website, choose the categories of the recipes they want to prepare, and then simply follow the recipes. It's nice and easy to use, making it a great resource for finding and preparing meals.

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Method 4: Google’s Emotional AI

Google’s Emotional AI  is a very cool concept. Users can simply describe their emotions, feelings, and contexts, and the AI responds like a digital friend. This aligns with the core values of young people, who seek not just to find food, but to have a meaningful experience. They want technology that truly understands and sympathizes with them, recommending dishes based on their emotions.

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Method 5: Decentralized and Authentic Information

Gen Z values the opinions and experiences of their peers over traditional sources. If you're a young person like us looking for a space where users share honest reviews and personal experiences about different foods and restaurants, I highly recommend Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/) as a great start. After personally skimming through many subreddits and researching which ones may be the best, I've created this list for you to refer to:

r/Cooking. A large community where users discuss everything related to cooking, share recipes, and ask for advice. It's a great place to get inspiration for daily meals.

r/recipes. Focuses specifically on sharing and discovering new recipes. Users can ask for recipes that use specific ingredients or fit certain dietary needs.

r/cookingforbeginners. Ideal for those who are new to cooking. This subreddit offers simple recipes and basic cooking techniques, making it easier for Gen Z to find easy and quick meal ideas.

r/EatCheapAndHealthy. A community dedicated to sharing recipes and tips for eating well on a budget. This is particularly useful for Gen Z, who may be looking for affordable yet nutritious meal options.

r/MealPrepSunday. A subreddit where users share their meal prep strategies and recipes. This can help Gen Z plan their meals for the week, saving time and effort.

r/vegetarian. For those following a vegetarian diet, this subreddit offers a variety of vegetarian recipes and discussions.

r/vegan. Similar to r/vegetarian, but focused on vegan recipes and lifestyle tips.

r/glutenfree. A community for sharing gluten-free recipes and experiences, useful for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease.

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Method 6: Dishcovery Made for You

Introducing Dishcovery, our cutting-edge AI model powered by a Large Language Model (LLM), one of the most advanced technologies in AI today. Dishcovery is designed to create unique dining experiences, especially when you're unsure about what to eat. Here's what makes Dishcovery stand out:

• Perfect for Planning: Whether you're arranging a romantic date or a group outing, Dishcovery helps you plan the perfect meal, ensuring everyone is satisfied.
• Context-Aware Recommendations: Dishcovery understands your dining context—where you are, who you're with, and your budget—better than any other AI, providing personalized suggestions that fit your needs.
• Comprehensive Review Analysis: By aggregating and analyzing comments from platforms like Yelp and TripAdvisor, Dishcovery offers concise and insightful recommendations based on real user reviews.
• Visual Enhancements: Unlike traditional AI like ChatGPT, Dishcovery includes images of dishes, giving you a visual clue to make more informed choices.

To try Dishcovery, simply sign in with your OpenAI account. We've made it easy for you to start exploring and enjoying better dining experiences. Give it a try and discover your next favorite dish!

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In conclusion

We really appreciate you making it this far! As young people passionate about food and technology, we've created an all-in-one guide with 6 interesting approaches to help you decide what to eat when you're feeling confused. Try out these methods and discover exciting new dishes today! If you'd like to share your experience with us, please feel free to contact us.