New eating habits

[LuvOrlando]

First off, I was in a shop today and a med size package of Goya Jasmine Rice was $17, now it's usually a bit pricey but this was just silly and more noticable next to others still prices in the $5-10 range and I can't decide if the pricing person was day drinking or if the price is serious.

Anyhoo, I figured with all the pricing jumps I might as well follow my DD who is going mostly vegan and have been trying all sorts of new recipes from cultures that are traditionally lighter on the meats. Tonight is Fasoolia with a bit of pita, some Tumeric rice (NOT the $17 bag) and a a touch of Turkish street cart ground chicken. This is a fairly big change for us since we usually enjoy BBQ meats all summer, anyone else?

 

[barkley]

good luck with that. vegetables are crazy expensive here such that i've cut way back on the fresh stuff that we normally grill during the summer. not sure how much the meat substitute stuff goes for these days but based on the black bean patties i just re-ordered today they have gone up with everything else. vegan is not cheap! my kids went to a private school that only permitted vegetarian foods on campus, i would have gotten off much less expensively with sending traditional lunches/pot luck meals.

 

[LuvOrlando]

good luck with that. vegetables are crazy expensive here such that i've cut way back on the fresh stuff that we normally grill during the summer. not sure how much the meat substitute stuff goes for these days but based on the black bean patties i just re-ordered today they have gone up with everything else. vegan is not cheap! my kids went to a private school that only permitted vegetarian foods on campus, i would have gotten off much less expensively with sending traditional lunches/pot luck meals.

I think we are lucky to have a Trader Joe's nearby, they cater to this sort of diet and keep prices low. If you have one try their meatless ground crumble, it was surprisingly good in bulgogi & tac, their tofu is good too. In Pa we didn't have TJ but Aldi was a decent source of similar things. Household stuff, box and can shopping at Walmart while putting more money into meats and fish at higher end stores. It is a nuisance but any port in a storm.

 

[Christine]

good luck with that. vegetables are crazy expensive here such that i've cut way back on the fresh stuff that we normally grill during the summer. not sure how much the meat substitute stuff goes for these days but based on the black bean patties i just re-ordered today they have gone up with everything else. vegan is not cheap! my kids went to a private school that only permitted vegetarian foods on campus, i would have gotten off much less expensively with sending traditional lunches/pot luck meals.

That's interesting about your vegetable prices. I feel like I shop ALL the time and fresh vegetables seem to be the one area where prices haven't moved as much as other types of foods. For instance, for the past 2 years, I've paid $2.99/lb for asparagus at Wegman's. I can often get it cheaper on sale somewhere else (still can) but even this year it's still $2.99/lb. Broccoli crowns, packs of mushrooms, loose peppers, etc are the exact same prices I've paid at Wegman's for years. I have noticed an increase in price for whole watermelons. Last year, once a week I would go into Harris Teeter because they sold them for $2.99 each all summer. Kind of a loss leader for them, I guess. This year, they are $3.99. Other stores have them for $6.99-$7.99 regularly and they go on sale sporadically. I just haven't seen that jump in vegetables at all.

To the OP, I don' t know what some stores are thinking. I always buy this Quaker Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats. Not all stores sell it and it's always been priced a little higher than the regular oats, but nothing weird. Maybe like $4-something a container. I was in the Safeway last week and it was $7.50. For a round container of oats!! Went to Wegman's and it was $5.50, which is definitely higher than what I used to pay but I swear the Safeway price was a mistake similar to your $17 rice.

 

[barkley]

I think we are lucky to have a Trader Joe's nearby, they cater to this sort of diet and keep prices low. If you have one try their meatless ground crumble, it was surprisingly good in bulgogi & tac, their tofu is good too. In Pa we didn't have TJ but Aldi was a decent source of similar things. Household stuff, box and can shopping at Walmart while putting more money into meats and fish at higher end stores. It is a nuisance but any port in a storm.

i love trader joes. before we finally got one local to us it was always a stop when we went back home to visit family-we would stock up on non perishables to either stuff our suitcases with or mail back. sadly, the bulk of items i've grown to love over the years are no longer being carried due to distribution and cost issues (per their management). there are 3 or 4 frozen veggies that were staples in our house that haven't been in their stores since 2000 and my beloved unsweetened ice tea has been off the shelves for close to a year (though i've grown fond of their organic low calorie lemonade). we don't have aldi's either but i am able to find some lower cost options at walmart as well as keeping an eye on the one store in our area that carries the kroger brand for their (now) very occasional canned good sale. household stuff i've been running the numbers on and of late the best per unit prices i'm finding are through target.

 

[GreatLakes]

We do a lot of experimental cooking, some works out some just doesn't.

In the summer around here we have an abundance of farmer's markets and you can still get fruit and vegetables for around the same prices as last year. We also like supporting the local farms. If you live somewhere that has summer markets or roadside stands I recommend taking a look.

 

[barkley]

That's interesting about your vegetable prices. I feel like I shop ALL the time and fresh vegetables seem to be the one area where prices haven't moved as much as other types of foods. For instance, for the past 2 years, I've paid $2.99/lb for asparagus at Wegman's. I can often get it cheaper on sale somewhere else (still can) but even this year it's still $2.99/lb. Broccoli crowns, packs of mushrooms, loose peppers, etc are the exact same prices I've paid at Wegman's for years. I have noticed an increase in price for whole watermelons. Last year, once a week I would go into Harris Teeter because they sold them for $2.99 each all summer. Kind of a loss leader for them, I guess. This year, they are $3.99. Other stores have them for $6.99-$7.99 regularly and they go on sale sporadically. I just haven't seen that jump in vegetables at all.

the ads came out today so i just checked to see what if any sales on produce-

(these are 'sales' prices)-

mushrooms (regular white-not crimini or anything special)-$4.00 per pound
corn on the cob 8 for $5 (last summer it was 4 for $1)
asparagus $6.40 per pound (being sold in 10 oz packages)

nothing much else produce wise on sale (some stuff like $6.99 per pound cherries, strawberries and such-these are NOT organic prices). bell peppers might go on the occasional sale but generally around 3 for $5, tomatoes can be gotten occasionally for around $1.50 per pound, potatoes and onions have not gone up tremendously but i suspect they may in the upcoming year-the fields that grow potatoes are near us and they are harvesting far less this year than ever before. i used to get some decent deals at costco on some veggies but they've changed some items to organic only so the waste factor offsets any savings.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Everything is up in price where I am - Aldi's went more "across the board by percent" whereas places like Safeway was more piecemeal with some prices skyrocketing and some staying as loss leaders (and now giant loss leaders).

Are we changing the way we eat? Somewhat. I now won't buy what is too pricey and we adapt our main meal protein to what is still healthy but not completely out of my mental budget when I'm actually in stores (we buy a lot of the unannounced specials b/c the announced ones tend to be sold out). I scored an unannounced Carne Asada deal at Aldi's yesterday for $3.33/lb, so that's today's dinner with tomatillos and tomatoes from my farm box (where I'm also saving and affording the produce that is now even pricier in my stores). I was planning on salmon, but the only fresh salmon at Aldi's was the $10/lb stuff, and I could not mentally pay for that when I saw the steak deal...and really $10/lb is my salmon breaking point price.

 

[LuvOrlando]

We do a lot of experimental cooking, some works out some just doesn't.

In the summer around here we have an abundance of farmer's markets and you can still get fruit and vegetables for around the same prices as last year. We also like supporting the local farms. If you live somewhere that has summer markets or roadside stands I recommend taking a look.

Yes! We go on drives over the weekends and discovered that the local Farmer's Market reopened in a new location, which made me super happy. We also discovered a local dairy farm that sells their own milk in recyclable glass bottles so that was wonderful. We are doing mostly vegan but still want milk in coffee so not totally there, the alternatives always trigger migraines so I can't quite make the jump - eventually I'll probably just need to do plain coffee

the ads came out today so i just checked to see what if any sales on produce-

(these are 'sales' prices)-

mushrooms (regular white-not crimini or anything special)-$4.00 per pound
corn on the cob 8 for $5 (last summer it was 4 for $1)
asparagus $6.40 per pound (being sold in 10 oz packages)

nothing much else produce wise on sale (some stuff like $6.99 per pound cherries, strawberries and such-these are NOT organic prices). bell peppers might go on the occasional sale but generally around 3 for $5, tomatoes can be gotten occasionally for around $1.50 per pound, potatoes and onions have not gone up tremendously but i suspect they may in the upcoming year-the fields that grow potatoes are near us and they are harvesting far less this year than ever before. i used to get some decent deals at costco on some veggies but they've changed some items to organic only so the waste factor offsets any savings.

Tomatoes are a solid go to for an inexpensive base, broth has become very expensive now so I guess I'll go back to making it with the leftovers of an occasional roast chicken like I did in 2020. I made yellow box Ronzoni gluten free pasta with chunks of beefsteak tomatoes sauteed in olive oil with fresh garlic and shallots Sunday and for a simple inexpensive dish, it was delicious. Today crushed tomato is the base for chicken cacciatore I'll be making with more rice, again NOT the $17 rice... still stumped on who is paying $17 for rice?
The chicken was on sale and I use loads of potatoes in the dish, I think I can get at least 2 full meals out of it for 4 adults. Seems the resourceful skills I picked up in 2020 are rolling back into use.

 

[Praying Colonel]

This time of year is good to start getting fresh vegetables. Growing up, we'd often have a summer meatless dinner of things we were getting out of our garden: green beans and new potatoes, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob, squash, sliced cucumbers and onions in vinegar and sugar, etc.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Everything is up in price where I am - Aldi's went more "across the board by percent" whereas places like Safeway was more piecemeal with some prices skyrocketing and some staying as loss leaders (and now giant loss leaders).

Are we changing the way we eat? Somewhat. I now won't buy what is too pricey and we adapt our main meal protein to what is still healthy but not completely out of my mental budget when I'm actually in stores (we buy a lot of the unannounced specials b/c the announced ones tend to be sold out). I scored an unannounced Carne Asada deal at Aldi's yesterday for $3.33/lb, so that's today's dinner with tomatillos and tomatoes from my farm box (where I'm also saving and affording the produce that is now even pricier in my stores). I was planning on salmon, but the only fresh salmon at Aldi's was the $10/lb stuff, and I could not mentally pay for that when I saw the steak deal...and really $10/lb is my salmon breaking point price.

You are right, there is a mental budget I use as I shop & I also simply deselect items that ping that number. It's also true that some stores are hiking things and others are relatively stable, I am avoiding the stores that are hiking prices because I then get irritated when I see the same thing somewhere else for some much less. Think I'm just easily aggravated with price flux these days. For salmon I found that the big family size half a fish at Wegmans that usually runs around $25 works for a full meal and then protein on salad the next day, it's not exactly inexpensive but is a nice way to treat the family. Also, we discovered BBQ sauce on the big salmon is very enjoyable, it is certainly cheaper than having 4 salmon plates at a restaurant for dinner and 4 salmon salads. During 2020-2021 I discovered that frozen fish isn't that much of a difference as long as I defrost gently.

 

[LuvOrlando]

This time of year is good to start getting fresh vegetables. Growing up, we'd often have a summer meatless dinner of things we were getting out of our garden: green beans and new potatoes, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob, squash, sliced cucumbers and onions in vinegar and sugar, etc.

Reminded me of home-made potato salad, so that will probably make an appearance this 4th of July weekend, yum.

I have black bean and corn salad and also a cucumber and tomato salad in the fridge as we speak, there is a summer salad or smoothie of some kind for nearly everything

 

[PattnFmly]

Everything is more expensive here, hard to wrap my head around my grocery bill each week. I have gone back to shopping at multiple stores depending on what's on sale to try and combat the increases. As for Farmer's Markets - I am not quite sold on them. Every time I have gone, and I mean every time, I end up with produce that goes bad within two days. Then I have to toss it. I have not had luck with anything there unless I plan to eat it that very same day.

 

[loves to dive]

I've had to but only because I'm getting old and my body has decided to get old as well. I have very high triglycerides (I'm on 2 different meds) and low B12. Even before I didn't eat a lot of fried foods (Unless you count french fries) but I do love ice cream. I also didn't eat a lot of sugar but carbs were my downfall. So now, I'm trying to eat more fish, which is hard because I hate the taste of it so tuna fish is my friend. If I eat beef it's 93/7 hamburger or lean steak. I eat a lot of chicken, I've always taken the skin off even before. Vegetables are silly expensive right now here, they shouldn't be since I live in Georgia. I've gone to our local farmer's market a time or two but the veggies there are actually twice as much as at the grocery store. I only eat low fat dairy products, which was pretty much what I did before as well but I do love me some eggs, which evidently aren't bad for me. I love fruit, which are sugar and carbs but according to my doctor, ok. I also hate to cook so that doesn't help. Hubby is on the opposite diet, he eats everything that is bad for him. Fried meats, no veggies, sweets. So we eat at the same time, different things most of the time. Doc. said my triglycerides are most like hereditary since I didn't eat bad to start with and I work out at least 3 times a week. Good news, I have lost 5 lbs. in the last month. Bad news, I'm not loving life right now.

 

[Christine]

You are right, there is a mental budget I use as I shop & I also simply deselect items that ping that number. It's also true that some stores are hiking things and others are relatively stable, I am avoiding the stores that are hiking prices because I then get irritated when I see the same thing somewhere else for some much less. Think I'm just easily aggravated with price flux these days. For salmon I found that the big family size half a fish at Wegmans that usually runs around $25 works for a full meal and then protein on salad the next day, it's not exactly inexpensive but is a nice way to treat the family. Also, we discovered BBQ sauce on the big salmon is very enjoyable, it is certainly cheaper than having 4 salmon plates at a restaurant for dinner and 4 salmon salads. During 2020-2021 I discovered that frozen fish isn't that much of a difference as long as I defrost gently.

I buy one of those big "sides" of salmon from Wegman's each week also. Pre-2021, it ran $7.99-$8.99/lb depending on I don't know what. It's solidly at $9.99/lb now but is still a pretty solid deal. My husband and I eat about half of a $28 piece, (hard to find cheaper pieces these days) and then eat the next bit in lunches. I do the same thing with various BBQ sauces of seafood marinades. So easy and quick!

 

[Mysterian]

It does seem as though eating healthy is more expensive. Junk food is cheap, easy, and readily available, so it's not surprising why so many have a poor diet. I'm trying to figure out ways to optimize my diet as well, and sometimes resort to cobbling together the most basic ingredients with little pizazz.

I wish we had farmer's market people around. Usually it's a random truck that's pulled to the side of the road selling something for about a week. I'm not sure if they get slapped on the wrist with regulations/penalties for doing this.

 

[NMBCFangirl]

We've been changing how we eat, but because we're in our 50s, not because things have gone up in price. Trying to get the husband to alter his diet so we can work toward reducing blood pressure meds has been trying. Trying to go DASH diet with a man who hates pretty much all fruits and vegetables so I have to finechop and sneak them in, so very difficult. His Mom and brother are the same way on foods, but at least the husband will drink water. His Mom only drinks black coffee and diet pepsi. No water, no juice, no tea, nothing else.

Like loves to dive, I have been working on getting my cholesterol and triglycerides to go down. Fiber, fiber, and more fiber.

 

[barkley]

I have black bean and corn salad and also a cucumber and tomato salad in the fridge as we speak, there is a summer salad or smoothie of some kind for nearly everything

since you like trader joes-if you mix a couple of spoons of their corn salsa into canned black beans and heat it makes a great warm dish. i like beans in general. we tend to do them as side dishes during the warmer months so i stock up on canned when they are on sale (kidney, pinto, black) but during the winter i will soak dry beans and doctor them up for entrees. i've still got a supply from last winter but i suspect i would do well to grab some in the next couple of months b/c they were difficult to find during the colder months and like everything else-are going up in price.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Everything is more expensive here, hard to wrap my head around my grocery bill each week. I have gone back to shopping at multiple stores depending on what's on sale to try and combat the increases. As for Farmer's Markets - I am not quite sold on them. Every time I have gone, and I mean every time, I end up with produce that goes bad within two days. Then I have to toss it. I have not had luck with anything there unless I plan to eat it that very same day.

This is mostly true, I always guessed it's because the produce gets warm outside. However, I have made some of the most outstanding frittata by whipping up a bunch of eggs, milk, ricotta, random cheese, spices and random veggies trying to save things on their way out. Come to think of it my salad spinach went bad faster than normal the other day and I should have done this (mentally kicking myself) - we like those salad kits so I saved the dressing pack for a box of fresh spinach and probably could have used the wilting spinach for this :/

 

[CGB]

New eating habits (and new cooking strategies) define the last six years of our life. *laugh* Increased prices aren't changing our grocery choices because it's already slimmer options for us. Between DH's heart/liver/kidney issues, our diet is somewhat limited. While it does help us avoid some of the higher prices on foods we don't eat, we are just having to deal with the higher prices on what we do. Fortunately, I stocked our freezer/pantry as much as possible to avoid shortages; I'm glad I did because of the prices. I'm also kicking up gardening/canning a bit more this year too.