FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — One food forward holiday down, one to go!
With the cost of poultry and meat climbing, families are rethinking ways to fill their plates without overspending.
Technology is giving them a leg up. In-store and online deals are available.
If grocery shopping by a store app, set filters to shop based on low to high pricing or based on deals. Some even offer in-app exclusive deals or roll out weekly ads.
ABC PRICE TRACKER: See cost of gas, groceries, housing where you live
Looking for variety? Too Good To Go, aimed at ending food waste, connects thousands of users to discounted surplus food from bakeries, restaurants and ready-to-eat grocery counters.
Flashfood is a similar app that offers fresh, affordable produce and protein from grocery stores.
Registered Dietitian Xavier Toledo says another option is to make small ingredient swaps. This can lighten the cost and calories.
“Instead of using dairy milk, I use soy milk,” Toledo said. “With my gravy from the cookbook, instead of it being meat-based, it’s mushroom-based. Using veggie broth instead of chicken broth.”
With data showing nearly half of Americans say food prices will determine what’s on the holiday table, families are prioritizing affordability.
“Unsurprisingly, many people said it’s too expensive and they’re feeling it,” Toledo said. “This was not only informative about the everyday choices people are making for how to feed themselves and their families, but how they’re thinking about their holiday spread.”
The survey from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine says 60 percent of adults say they would consider a plant-based holiday dinner.
“Plant-based eating can be good for overall health, but good for individual conditions like diabetes or heart disease,” Toledo said.
The biggest misconception is that plant-based diets are more expensive.
Toledo says the PCRM website has a free e-cookbook that features more than 30 plant-based recipes that are nourishing and budget friendly.
“We have studies that show us when we center our diets on whole plant foods like lentils, beans, grains like rice, these are some of the most affordable foods to eat,” Toledo said.
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