Why I Built an n8n Workflow for My Personalized Meal Plan

Living with congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID) means that even something as simple as cooking can turn into a daily challenge. Food is no longer just nourishment—it becomes a therapeutic tool, where every ingredient must be evaluated and every meal carefully balanced according to strict rules.

That’s why I decided to build a workflow in n8n, the open-source automation tool that lets me connect services, artificial intelligence, and my personal data into one seamless system.

The Idea Behind It

My goal was simple: to avoid reinventing the wheel every time I wanted to prepare a meal.

I already had:

• my basic pantry staples stored in a Google Sheets,
• a Google Drive document with the official guidelines (made for me by a doctor) from the Clinical Nutrition Unit of Niguarda Hospital,

What I needed was an assistant capable of combining all this information and transforming it into concrete recipes, while strictly following the dietary rules set for my condition.

Why n8n

I chose n8n because it allows me to:

• Automate: the workflow is triggered whenever I send a message on Telegram with the ingredients I have.
• Integrate: it easily connects to Google Sheets, Google Drive, and even an AI model like Google Gemini.
• Customize: I’ve embedded all the nutritional rules of my personal plan directly into the workflow.

How It Works

1. I send a message on Telegram with the ingredients available at the moment.
2. The workflow retrieves my pantry list from Google Sheets.
3. All data is merged and passed to the AI Agent, which uses Gemini and a knowledge base built from my dietary plan to generate two recipes (lunch and dinner).
4. The text is formatted for Telegram compatibility (Markdown + message length limits).
5. Within seconds, I receive two safe, tasty meal ideas that fit my condition, directly on Telegram.

The Added Value

This workflow is not just a technical project:

• It helps me save time when planning meals.
• It gives me peace of mind, knowing that every recipe complies with my clinical needs.
• It offers flexibility, letting me cook with the ingredients I really have on hand, without improvising.

Conclusion

I built this n8n workflow to make technology a true daily ally. It’s not just about automation—it’s about personal care. This system turns my dietary restrictions into something practical, simple, and even creative.

With the right mix of AI, automation, and personal data, I no longer need to worry every day about what to cook. Instead, I can focus on the joy of preparing meals that are safe, adapted to me, and stress-free.