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n8n Meal Assistant: Ingredient Cost Tracking, Leftover Recipes & Nutrition Diary

Receive a dish name via Webhook → AI Agents analyze ingredients, leftovers, and nutrition → Write to Google Sheets → Generate diary entry and push Twitter DM

Some experienceStepsWorkflowPrompt
Who
Home cooks, small restaurant owners, or anyone looking to reduce food waste and track nutrition
You get
Enter a dish and automatically get an ingredient list with costs, three leftover recipes, a nutrition diary entry, and a social media post ready to share
You need
n8n · google-sheets · twitter

Constraints

Requires an n8n instance, a Google account with Sheets enabled, an OpenRouter API key, and a Twitter/X developer account able to send DMs. Import the workflow JSON into n8n, then configure the Webhook, Google Sheets document (with three sheets), OpenRouter credentials, and Twitter credentials. Adjust Agent prompts as needed.

What they did

Author takuma published a workflow template on n8n.io. After a user sends a dish name via Webhook, four chained AI Agents process it in sequence: the Menu Agent analyzes ingredients and costs with structured output to Google Sheets; the Leftovers Agent suggests three leftover recipes and writes to Sheets; the Nutritionist Agent generates a nutrition diary entry and appends it to Sheets; the Post Agent turns the diary into a Twitter post and sends it via the Create Direct Message node.

How it went

The source reports this template serves as a comprehensive culinary assistant for cost tracking, leftover management, nutrition logging, and social media promotion (author_report). The template is publicly listed on n8n.io with 562 views.

Worth knowing

1. This site has not tested the workflow; reproduction=not_tested. 2. Twitter/X DM requires developer access, which may not be available on standard accounts. 3. OpenRouter usage incurs API costs depending on model and call volume. 4. The template shows the Japanese label 「レシピ」 for the recipe sheet in dropdowns; use the corresponding English or custom name in practice. 5. Replacing Twitter with Mastodon/Discord requires updating the Post Agent system message and downstream node type. 6. The Structured Output Parser JSON Schema is tightly coupled to the Menu Agent output; changing one requires updating the other.

n8n workflow template

Structure checked · Not run-tested

Use “Import from File” in n8n, or copy the JSON and paste it into the editor. Connect your own accounts, then try test data. The template is inactive by default.

Download JSONOriginal template

Setup and test checklist

Credentials to connect

  • After import, connect your own credentials on auth-required nodes; author secrets are not included.

Configuration to replace

  • Source template is n8n public workflow #10967 (~18 nodes). Keep inactive after import; verify triggers, expressions and external API endpoints.
  • Sticky-note guidance is informational; replace placeholders with your own accounts, sheet schemas or channel IDs.

Test input and expected output

  • Manually run the main path once in a test workspace and confirm credentialed nodes authenticate without errors.
  • Drive one synthetic/redacted sample through and check output fields and downstream writes before enabling in production.

Template changes

  • Author credential bindings, webhookId and execution data are removed; the workflow is inactive. Nodes, connections and original prompts are preserved. Not run-tested in n8n.
  • No business-logic edits; verify keys, quotas and privacy compliance before use.

Template retrieved: 2026-10-24

Steps

  1. Configure the Webhook trigger

    Open the template in n8n and locate the Webhook node. Copy the Webhook URL; you will POST dish names or recipe descriptions to this URL. Ensure the HTTP method is set to POST.

  2. Create Google Sheets and configure three append targets

    Create a new Google Sheets document (e.g., "Recipe List") with three sheets: - "Recipe" (レシピ): columns Date, Item, Ingredients, Ingredient Cost, Unit Price, Quantity, Total, Cost, Leftover Ingredients - "leftovers": columns Date, Ingredients - "diary": column Diary In the three "Append row in sheet" nodes, replace the Document ID with your sheet ID and select the correct Sheet Name (recipe / leftovers / diary) from the dropdown. Set up a Google Sheets credential in n8n first.

  3. Configure OpenRouter and structured output

    Set your OpenRouter API key credential in the four "OpenRouter Chat Model" nodes. The Menu Agent uses a "Structured Output Parser" with a JSON Schema example defining: Date, Item, Ingredients, Ingredient Cost, Unit Price, Quantity, Total, Cost, Leftover Ingredients. If you change the Menu Agent output format, update this Parser accordingly.

  4. Configure Twitter/X direct message

    In the "Create Direct Message" node, configure your Twitter/X credential. Specify the receiving username (typically your own Twitter handle or a test account). The node sends the Post Agent output as a DM.

  5. Customize AI Agent prompts (optional)

    System prompts for the four Agents can be edited in their respective nodes. Current source originals: - Menu Agent: extract ingredients and costs - Leftovers Agent: list leftovers and suggest three recipes - Nutritionist Agent: generate a nutrition diary entry - Post Agent: turn the diary into a Twitter post If adjusting dietary focus or switching social platforms, update the corresponding system message and downstream node.

    Execution prompt · Source text。Menu Agent node System Message field

    You are a housekeeper. From the searched content, output the necessary ingredients and costs. You do not need to show the cost per use for seasonings. Costs should be shown as both the total amount for one shopping trip and the unit price. Include units for ingredients and prices.

    Execution prompt · Source text。Leftovers Agent node System Message field

    You are a specialist in utilizing unused ingredients effectively. List leftover ingredients. Suggest three recipes that can be cooked with the remaining ingredients. You do not need to describe the cooking method.

    Execution prompt · Source text。Nutritionist Agent node System Message field

    You are a nutritionist specialist. Create a diary-style entry with dietary advice and what nutrients should be consumed.

    Execution prompt · Source text。Post Agent node System Message field

    You are an X (Twitter) poster. Create a compelling post to attract viewers.

Prompt you can copy

Setup guidance · Editorial suggestion。Hand to setup assistant to confirm inputs and permissions first

This block is the prompt. Ads are never placed here.

Import the workflow JSON into n8n, configure credentials and sheet IDs step by step, then send a dish name to the Webhook URL to test.
Source
Meal planner: cost tracking, leftover recipes & nutrition diary in Google Sheets · takuma · n8n.io · 2025-11-18
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