ChatGPT as a nutrition advisor? Why that doesn't work

The rise of AI, and in particular tools such as ChatGPT, is causing quite a stir in the healthcare sector. The topic is also relevant in the world of nutrition. On the Dutch television programme Hart van Nederland, lecturer Harriët Jager-Wittenaar recently stated that ChatGPT is no substitute for personal dietary advice. And with good reason: although AI offers interesting possibilities, it also has clear risks and limitations.

It is true that ChatGPT can provide a lot of practical information in a short period of time. It can generate recipes or daily menus, explain nutrients, or create a shopping list based on specific preferences. This makes it a useful tool, for example, for AI users who want to quickly create a basic idea or help clients get started with practical tips.

But that doesn’t make it a reliable advisor. Several scientific studies have shown that ChatGPT’s advice is often incomplete or not well suited to personal situations. A study on nutritional advice for chronic conditions such as obesity and kidney disease found that AI sometimes misses or misapplies guidelines. For example, ChatGPT regularly recommended too low an energy intake and, in some cases, exceeded protein guidelines by as much as 157% (You et al., 2025). These inaccuracies can lead to fatigue, muscle breakdown or worsening of symptoms in vulnerable groups.

Furthermore, it remains unclear on which sources the advice is based. In complex cases involving multiple conditions, researchers indicated that the advice may even contradict existing guidelines (Ponzu et al., 2024).

That is why a well-founded and personalised nutrition plan is essential. Our platform translates professional dietary knowledge into a practical and applicable plan, tailored to individual goals, needs and lifestyle. With personalised nutritional advice, clear daily menus, options for variation and supporting content, behavioural change becomes achievable and concrete. AI can be a useful tool in this regard, but reliable structure, content and applicability require a carefully constructed system that goes beyond isolated advice.

AI can provide support with individual advice, but lacks overview and personal coherence. Our platform brings this together in a single practical and personalised nutrition plan, tailored to your goals, preferences and lifestyle. This transforms information into clear choices and achievable steps that can be sustained in the long term.

• Ponzo, V., Goitre, I., Favaro, E., Merlo, F. D., Mancino, M. V., Riso, S., & Bo, S. (2024). Is ChatGPT an Effective Tool for Providing Dietary Advice? Nutrients, 16(4), 469. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040469
• You, Q., Li, X., Shi, L., Rao, Z., & Hu, W. (2025). Still a long way to go: The potential of ChatGPT in
• personalized dietary prescription, from a perspective of a clinical dietitian. Journal of Renal Nutrition, 35(4), 510–516. https://www.jrnjournal.org/article/S1051-2276(25)00026-3/abstract