On the news yesterday morning, there was a report on the Price of Meat Going Up. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of meat has continually risen:
Even though these increases only represent a difference of a few dollars, it will add up! I have noticed an increase in the price of fresh fruits and vegetables as well. Here are a few ways that you can buy your fresh meats and produce without emptying your wallet or having to live off of box mac-n-cheese!Steak: +12.1%
Ground Beef: +9.9%
Sausage: +8.9%
Hot Dogs: +3.7%
Chicken: +1.7%
1. Stock up. Whether you clip coupons or follow the store circular ad, stock up on meat and produce when the price is low. Sales usually come about every 6 weeks, so buy at least as much of that product you would use in a month. How do you store it? The freezer! Freeze meat and vegetables to use in cooked dishes, and fruit for pies and smoothies.
2. Buy in bulk. Companies like Zaycon Foods are a wonderful way to get lots of good quality meat for a lower price than you would find in the store. All you do is place an advance order, drive to a set pick-up location on the pick-up date, and they load 30-40 pounds of farm fresh meat into your car.
Farmers markets and "pick your own" farms are great place to get large amounts of produce at a discounted price. Take, for example, my recent trip to a strawberry farm. I got over 5 pounds of strawberries for $12 - far cheaper than grocery store prices. Next time they have a "pick two gallons, get one free" I will be going so I can get berries to freeze and make into jam!
3. Cheat with meat. Whenever I make tacos, whether it is with chicken, ground turkey, or ground beef, I always add a can of diced tomatoes or another veggie. This helps to add nutrition to your dish and it "bulks up" the meat. You can use less meat and stretch your budget a little more. Check out my Stupid Easy Ground Beef recipe for directions!
4. Buy organic! ...sometimes. Is everyone on an organic food kick lately? It sure seems like it! However, there are some foods that you don't need to buy organic to be healthy. Check out this list of The Dirty Dozen - the foods that consistently test for high pesticide levels that you should buy organic when you can. However, there is The Clean Fifteen! These fruits and veggies have very low levels of pesticide residue and are generally safe to buy non-organic. When buying produce on a budget, it is important to remember these lists so you don't spend too much money on organic produce.
I started using Nature's Garden Express through my local Co-Op and love it. For just $31, I get a box loaded with fresh, local, organic produce. Over the past few weeks I have priced out the contents of the box and found that I would be spending over $50 on these items at Whole Foods or Publix. If you sign up, use Promo Code 466f2 to get $10 off your order!
5. Minimize food waste by menu planning. Throwing away meat and produce is like throwing away money - especially when you are paying a premium for it! By planning a weekly menu and only buying what you need, you minimize waste and therefore minimize spending. I love a good menu plan - check out mine here.
6. Eat in season, and eat local. I adore farmer's markets because they only feature locally grown food that is in season. You save money since you aren't paying a mark-up on food that has been transported thousands of miles from other countries to your grocery store because they are out of season in your area. Eating locally and in season ensures that you buy only the freshest ingredients (with the best nutritional profile!) and you save on the travel cost of the produce.
Despite the increase in food cost, I have been making an effort to eat more locally grown food, choosing organic when I can. I thought that it would absolutely break the bank, but as it turns out - it isn't that bad. I am only paying $10-$20 more per week for healthier, better quality, fresh food.
- Maggie White
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