Inflation hit a 39-year high in 2021 as U.S. economy still grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (Delandro, 2022). Last November, prices rose 6.4% annually for groceries, with jumps of 13.9% for beef, 16.8% for pork, 8.4% for chicken and 8% for fish (Delandro, 2022). There are many reasons for the higher grocery bills, including labor shortages, supply-chain bottlenecks, product shortages, and strong consumer demand (Siegel and Reiley, 2022). America’s rising food prices are causing some to change their diets. It definitely have influenced mine. Unfortunately, increases in food prices are set to increase in 2022 (Delandro, 2022). Starting January, food retailers and distributors will start increasing their prices as much as 20% (Delandro, 2022). With food being the second highest household expense behind mortgage or rent, our food choices have a huge impact on our lives (Feur, 2022). There’s no way to avoid it. We need food to survive. And as a person that’s passionate about food, I refuse to allow you to suffer from not eating healthy and delicious meals. Here are quick tips to save on food:

Budget

Budgeting at the grocery store and eating out takes careful planning, but it can be done. Figure out how often you go, and how much you spend on the grocery store. Don’t buy unnecessary perishable items that’ll spoil, or rarely use. The grocery budget can fluctuate from month to month, but it can be adjusted according to where you live and income level. Make a grocery list: know exactly what you need for your weekly menu. Buy generic instead of name brands. Shop in season. Planning a healthy balanced menu for a week is great for making a food budget work. It’s also an awesome time saver.

Eating out is more expensive than cooking at home. Try going out on special occasions. Plan for the expense of eating out as part of your monthly food budget. Sticking to a food budget takes discipline, but it’s worth it in the long run. You’ll enjoy cooking and trying a variety of new foods you wouldn’t have thought to use before. Being resourceful and cooking healthfully is a skill that will benefit you for the rest of your life.

Buy Bulk

Bulk shopping forces you to plan, stay organized, and be an intentional shopper. Not only will you save more, the essential items will last longer. It’s smart to stock up on ingredients that can be used in multiple ways. When purchasing food in bulk at a grocery store, you’ll find various types of grains, nuts, legumes, flours, and snacks. It’s the perfect way to discover new foods and bring variety into your diet. Depending on your current diet, it’s worth trying to buy cheeses, meats, and pastries in bulk, too. Costco and Sam’s Club are great stores to buy bulk items like rice, beans, pasta, etc. Especially if you have a big family. It’s also essential to store bulk food properly. Store the smaller amounts into containers that are easily accessible, and store the rest in a place where they’re safe from light and air.

Less Meat, More Vegetables

The meat prices have been going up so much, that the White House had to create an action plan to fix the meat-producing supply chain (Samuels, 2022) Don’t be afraid of simple salads or meatless meals. Consider serving budget-friendly meatless meals once or twice a week. Meatless meals are built around beans, lentils, vegetables and whole grains. These plant-based proteins tend to be less expensive and offer more health benefits than meat. When your meals include meat, don’t overindulge. Vegetables and fruits should cover half your plate. Whole grains make up the rest.

Coupons

While menu planning, take a look at the weekly ads from the local grocery stores. It’s more cost effective to cook items that are on sale that week, rather than randomly choosing a menu items that are more expensive. Stock up on sale items that you use often and can have on hand. Freeze meat when it goes on sale and use it later. Buy what’s in season. This goes for both produce and nonperishable goods. Don’t buy more than you need.

PS: It can be challenging to serve healthy meals when you’re trying to save money. However, it’s possible and easy to eat nourishing, delicious food while still sticking to your budget. Don’t let this pandemic to stop you from enjoying food. We already suffering from this economy already.  There are ways to spend less on food and still satisfy your cravings.

For more blog posts, check out my 2022 healthy food habits.

God bless,

Kejaré Cuisine

References

Davidson, P., 2022. CPI report released: Consumer prices jumped 6.8% in November, the fastest inflation spike since 1982. [online] Usatoday.com. Available at: <https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/12/10/inflation-rate-consumer-prices-rose-6-8-annually-november/6455689001/> [Accessed 2 January 2022].

Delandro, T., 2022. Food Prices Reportedly Expected to Rise in 2022. [online] https://www.newsnationnow.com. Available at: <https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/your-money/food-prices-reportedly-expected-to-rise-in-2022/>

Feur, W., 2022. Supply-chain crisis sparks hoarding in parts of the US. [online] Nypost.com. Available at: <https://nypost.com/2021/10/20/supply-chain-crisis-sparks-hoarding-in-parts-of-the-us/>

Samuels, B., 2022. White House announces $1B plan to address increases in meat prices. [online] TheHill. Available at: <https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/587968-white-house-announces-steps-to-address-increases-in-meat-prices> [Accessed 27 January 2022].

Siegel, R. and Reiley, L., 2022. Inflation Emerging as Top Economic Challenge in 2022. [online] washingtonpost.com. Available at: <https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/12/29/inflation-2022-price-fed/>

Tyko, K., 2021. Inflation rate increase means groceries and Christmas gifts cost more. How to combat higher prices. [online] Usatoday.com. Available at: <https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2021/12/10/inflation-cpi-grocery-prices-save-tips/6460256001/> [Accessed 30 December 2021].