Food prices have risen 31% since 2019. It's time to fight back.
In case you haven't noticed, it costs one hell of a lot more to eat lately. We'll resist the temptation to explore the reasons for food price inflation and focus instead on money-saving countermeasures.
MEAT
If you enjoy the incomparable deliciousness of top-shelf supermarket beef-- as in, say, Black Angus strip steaks and ribeyes-- you are spending $20-30 per pound... still cheaper and better than what restaurants serve, but still... there IS a way to enjoy beef without spending so much-- pot roast, beef stew, and other braises transform "lesser" cuts of beef like chuck and brisket into spoon-tender lusciousness. (See the Red Wine Pot Roast recipe in FIVE EASY PIECES.) One might also consider less expensive alternatives to beef, like top-quality pork. (See PORK GOES PRIME TIME.)
FISH
Let's start by exploding a pair of myths about fish.
Myth # 1: WILD IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN FARM-RAISED
Ever see wild beef or chicken in your grocery store? As with land-based animal agriculture, there are good fish farms and bad fish farms. Shop for fish at stores that proudly identify their sources, and look for products with some sort of reputable certification.
Myth # 2: FRESH IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN FROZEN
True, some species freeze better than others. Firm-fleshed fish freeze very well, but soft-fleshed fish-- particularly fatty/oily ones (like bluefish) don't freeze very well and are best eaten fresh. Salmon is both firm and fatty so it freezes reasonably well, but it is better fresh. Of course, fish that has been frozen right after it is caught is certainly preferable to fresh fish that has been aging for too long.
So-- the best bargains in seafood are often the responsibly and sustainably farmed fish in the freezer case. Here's one great example--
Tilapia isn't generally considered a gourmet fish, but the loins are the thickest and best part. They cook easily and handle a wide variety of seasonings. $10.99 for this 2 lb. package at BJ's Wholesale Club.
And speaking of BJ's Wholesale Club...
CONSIDER SHOPPING DIFFERENTLY
I know a lot of people who wouldn't dream of ever setting foot in a wholesale club (BJ's, COSTCO) or-- gasp!-- WALMART... especially for grocery shopping. It's time to get over that. While such stores certainly sell tons of over-processed, chemical laden food, they also sell-- at rock-bottom prices-- perfectly good fresh produce, a decent variety of seafood like the above-referenced tilapia loins, the same name-brand condiments seen at pricier stores...
and the occasional gem like THIS--
Sausage is my favorite food, and smoked Andouille is my favorite sausage.
And this is my favorite Andouille... $5.23 per package at Walmart.
If prices don't start coming back down by this coming autumn, we might need to discuss getting your hunting license. Until then, a little extra effort in your grocery shopping will reward you in the wallet.