Over the past 12 months, food prices in Canada have continued to climb and, according to a forecast by researchers at Dalhousie University, Canadians can expect food prices to rise by another 4 to 6 per cent next year. This increase has been largely driven by higher costs for meat products, along with steady gains in other sectors.
Meatless Monday? Try Tuesday through Saturday as well!
Rising meat prices combined with a growing interest in sustainable eating have led many Canadians to embrace plant-based meals throughout the week, not just on Mondays. In this scenario, “Sunday roast” takes on new meaning as it may be the only day beef, pork or chicken will be enjoyed!
This shift to meatless meals encourages creativity in the kitchen, exploring new recipes and local produce, while reducing environmental impact. However, if going totally meatless is too much of an ask for you or your family, you could try “stretch and swap” where you replace one-half of the meat with lentils or mushrooms.
Start planning your own “victory garden”
Victory gardens were vegetable, fruit, and herb plots planted by civilians in their yards and public parks during World War I and World War II. Their purpose was to supplement food supplies for households, free up commercial food for troops overseas, and boost home front morale while promoting self-sufficiency. These gardens became a symbol of community effort and resilience, demonstrating how ordinary Canadians could contribute to the national cause by growing their own food.
Now, with the meteoric rise in meat prices and a switch to more plant-based meals, “kitchen gardens” are expected to rise in popularity, perhaps representing a victory over high food prices. Depending on where you live in Canada, and what you choose to plant, outdoor gardens can be started as early as May and the rewards reaped as soon as 8 weeks later. Too much zucchini? Trade with your carrot-growing neighbour. Too much basil to use before it goes to seed? Use it to infuse olive oil, or dehydrate it and store it for use year-round.
Money saving tips when buying meat
Buy in bulk
If you have room for a chest or upright freezer (even an apartment-size chest freezer) it may be a good investment if it means you can buy meat in bulk. And a bulk buy doesn’t have to mean investing in a side of beef. Many grocery stores offer “meat boxes” with an assortment of beef, pork and chicken cuts. Do the math and see if this option represents any significant savings.
Shop the markdowns
While sales on meat that offer any real savings are rare these days, there can be savings to be had when products in the meat case are marked down to spur a quick sale before they reach the sell-by date. Do some research and learn when the meat managers in your area check the product on display and mark them to clear.
Download the app
Flashfood and FoodHero are digital platforms that can help Canadians save money on groceries while reducing food waste. By partnering with grocery stores to offer discounts on items that are nearing their best-before date, shoppers can browse available deals online, purchase discounted food, and then pick up their selections in-store. It can take some research and planning, but if you watch the apps for a few days you can learn when meat items are added to the app – but be prepared to move fast because savvy shoppers snag these deals as quickly as they appear.
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