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Weekly Family Menu Generator - Quick Reference Card

✅ Setup Checklist (Essential)

1. OpenAI API Key

  • Get from: https://platform.openai.com/api-keys ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Add to n8n Credentials (type: "OpenAI API") ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Link to "Generate Weekly Menu" node ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Cost: ~$0.60/month

2. Gmail OAuth2

  • Set up in Google Cloud Console ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Enable Gmail API ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Create OAuth 2.0 client ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Add redirect URI: https://n8n.prtsr.nl/rest/oauth2-credential/callback ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Add to n8n Credentials (type: "Gmail OAuth2") ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Link to "Send Email" node ✅ 2026-01-03

3. JSONBin.io (Meal History)

  • Create free account: https://jsonbin.io ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Create bin with: {"meals": []} ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Copy Bin ID ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Get Master API Key ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Add to n8n Credentials (type: "Header Auth") ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Update YOUR_BIN_ID in 2 HTTP nodes: ✅ 2026-01-03
  • "Get Meal History" node
  • "Update Meal History" node

4. Update Email Address

  • Open "Combine Email Data" node ✅ 2026-01-03
  • Change your-email@example.com to your actual email ✅ 2026-01-03

5. Test Workflow

  • Click "Execute Workflow" button
  • Check email inbox
  • Verify JSONBin updated

6. Activate

  • Toggle "Active" switch ON
  • First run: This Friday at 2 PM

🔧 Common Configuration Tasks

Add Dietary Restrictions

Node: "Prepare OpenAI Prompt"

Find: [USER TO CONFIGURE: ...]

Replace with: 

- No shellfish or peanuts
- Lactose-free milk only
- Limit red meat to 1x per week
- Prefer Mediterranean cuisine

Change Schedule

Node: "Weekly Menu Trigger"

Current: Friday 2 PM → 0 14 * * 5

Examples: - Sunday 10 AM: 0 10 * * 0 - Wednesday 6 PM: 0 18 * * 3

Change History Lookback

Node: "Prepare OpenAI Prompt"

Find: .slice(-21) (3 weeks)

Options: - 2 weeks: .slice(-14) - 4 weeks: .slice(-28) - 6 weeks: .slice(-42)

🛒 Picnic Integration (Optional)

Status: Requires additional setup

Steps: 1. Install package: npm install picnic-api 2. Enable npm modules in n8n settings 3. Create Picnic credential (email/password) 4. Uncomment code in "Add to Picnic Cart" node 5. Link credential

Note: Cart auto-populates but you must manually confirm order

🐛 Quick Troubleshooting

Problem Solution
No email Check Gmail spam, verify OAuth2 credential
OpenAI error Check API balance, verify key
Picnic error Skip it (workflow works without)
Repeated meals Increase history lookback number
Wrong email Update "Combine Email Data" node

📦 What You Get Every Friday

  • ✉️ HTML email with 7 dinner recipes
  • ⚡ At least 3 quick meals (15-20 min)
  • 🥗 Healthy, kid-friendly, weight-loss focused
  • 🛒 Consolidated shopping list by category
  • 🎯 Nutrition info (calories, protein)
  • 👶 Kid-friendly ratings
  • 📝 Picnic cart status (if configured)

💡 Pro Tips

  1. First run: Test manually before Friday
  2. Dietary needs: Be specific in restrictions
  3. Picnic fallback: Workflow works great with just email shopping list
  4. Cost savings: Use GPT-3.5-Turbo instead of GPT-4o (~87% cheaper)
  5. Customization: All code is editable in the nodes

📞 Need Help?

Status: ✅ Workflow created and ready for your configuration!