Thanksgiving traditions typically include turkey, sides, pie and, for many households, worrying about how much food will cost.<\/p>\n
This year, retailers are offering deals that promise to feed a crowd on a budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cA traditional holiday meal for 10 can come in at under $75, with a full spread of popular dishes totaling $73.09,\u201d financial services company Empower wrote<\/a>. People said they expect to spend more than that estimate: $137 in all for a Thanksgiving meal.<\/p>\n To keep costs down, the people surveyed said they plan to cook fewer desserts, cut portion sizes, skip meat or choose a meat that costs less than a whole turkey, use fewer pricey herbs and spices, use more affordable store brands \u2014 or skip Thanksgiving dining all together.<\/p>\n Regarding opting out, almost 57% of people surveyed<\/a> by Empower worried Thanksgiving will be too pricey to cook this year, but a greater percentage, 73%, said Thanksgiving dinner is \u201cstill worth the cost despite higher prices.\u201d The payoff: time with family and memories, people said.<\/p>\n Here are Thanksgiving grocery deals from three San Diego retailers, plus an option for splurging on dessert.<\/p>\n Generously feeding a crowd, on a budget<\/p>\n If you and your family are cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year for a crowd, how much do you plan to spend per person?<\/p>\n Walmart is betting it can beat that.<\/p>\n Its Thanksgiving meal basket \u2014 a collection of essential ingredients for a classic Thanksgiving \u00a0\u2014 comes out to just under $40 and is designed to feed 10.<\/p>\n Not every Walmart store sells groceries. Now through Christmas Day, first-time pickup or delivery shoppers can get free express delivery on their basket, the store said.<\/p>\n Along with the Thanksgiving meal basket, the retailer announced three new \u201c1-click\u201d meal collections that are new this year. One is a gluten-free Thanksgiving meal, one is a \u201cBalanced Thanksgiving swaps\u201d meal with \u201chigh-protein swaps like Goodles Mac & Cheese and cauliflower mashed potatoes and ingredients to make a high-protein pumpkin dessert,\u201d the online description says. The Prime Rib meal basket includes Choice Angus beef, salad, potatoes and wine.<\/p>\n Here is a sample from this year\u2019s classic Thanksgiving basket:<\/p>\n A 13.5-pound Butterball turkey, priced at 97 cents a pound Those and the other items come out to more than 33 pounds of ingredients.<\/p>\n Walmart\u2019s meal is almost half of what financial services firm Empower says a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost this year.<\/p>\n Last week President Trump touted Walmart\u2019s Thanksgiving dinner basket price \u2014 which at less than $4 per person is markedly cheaper per person than last year\u2019s<\/a> per-person price of less than $7 \u2014 as evidence that grocery prices are dropping, thanks to his policies. What was not mentioned: the two baskets have different brands, ingredients and quantities, rendering the comparison not valid<\/a>.<\/p>\n Federal food-price price data are not available for recent months due to the government shutdown, but recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis show prices are up, stable or down year-over-year, depending on the categories. Whole chicken and bacon prices are higher, the price of white potatoes and field grown tomatoes is roughly even, and white bread and butter prices have dropped.<\/p>\n Deals on meat and cooked dinner for a group<\/p>\n Vallarta supermarkets has two Thanksgiving offerings this year. One is for home chefs, and the other is for people looking to outsource cooking.<\/p>\n The first is a discount on meat, \u201cthe star of your Thanksgiving dinner,\u201d as the company puts it.<\/p>\n With a purchase of $50, shoppers can add a turkey, ham or Cornish hen for $12.<\/p>\n The California supermarket chain, with one San Diego area store in Escondido and another in National City, is also selling a fully cooked Thanksgiving dinner for $89.99.<\/p>\n Designed to feed six to eight people, it includes a Butterball turkey, two pounds of creamy mashed potatoes, 24 ounces of homestyle gravy, 22 ounces of homestyle stuffing and 12 ounces of cranberry orange relish.<\/p>\n Unique items for Thanksgiving and the holidays<\/p>\n Trader Joe\u2019s does not have sales. The company says its approach is to offer value without needing coupons or discounts.<\/p>\n This year, the purveyor of interesting and unusual goodies is selling four items that are fitting for a Thanksgiving table, or fall dining in general. They\u2019re also unique to Trader Joe\u2019s, a brand representative said in an email.<\/p>\n The Nantucket Style Cranberry Pie, $6.99, a New England holiday classic, got a glowing review<\/a> from food writer and dietician Christina Manian. \u201cAnd let\u2019s just say, it\u2019s now a holiday season must-have in my household,\u201d she wrote. \u201cIt\u2019s perfectly sweet-tart, has a crunchy, tender crust, and is perfect for keeping in the freezer for last-minute celebrations.\u201d Tossing on a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of chocolate takes it to the next level, she added.<\/p>\n The store is also selling Sparkling White grape juice, made from Spanish Chardonnay grapes, for $3.99. Adults may remember feeling all grown up when they got to sip sparkling apple cider as kids. This drink is less sweet than some ciders, so it might appeal to kids and adults alike.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Sparkling Grape Juice is a non-drinker\u2019s holiday dream come true,\u201d the product\u2019s website says. It has 59 grams of sugar per 12 ounce serving. Martinelli\u2019s sparkling cider, in contrast, has 31 grams of sugar in an 8-ounce serving.<\/p>\n Trader Joe\u2019s is also selling a Bourbon Vanilla Bean Syrup for $4.49. The ingredients are simple: caramelized invert sugar syrup (invert sugar is a type of sweetener<\/a>), concentrated bourbon vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds.<\/p>\n A fourth item is an eight-ounce wheel of double cream brie for $4.49. While brie is not unique to Trader Joe\u2019s, this version is made in Wisconsin, not France, and costs significantly less than other bries. \u201cOur Double Cream Brie\u2019s bloomy rind envelops a smooth, rich, creamy cheese, delivering exactly what you want from a classic Brie,\u201d the product\u2019s online description says.<\/p>\n A price check of double cream bries at other San Diego retailers shows an 8.5-ounce round of French brie priced at $7.99 and a brie made in Wisconsin on sale for $7.99 for eight ounces, both at Ralph\u2019s. Aldi sells a domestic brie, also eight ounces, for $4.39. Target\u2019s costs $5.99.<\/p>\n Shelling out for pie<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve minded your budget for Thanksgiving dinner, does that leave room for (splurging on) dessert?<\/p>\n If so, here is a take-out pie option from George\u2019s at the Cove.<\/p>\n The restaurant is selling pies crafted by pastry chef Anna Adams in three varieties: Pumpkin Chai, Caramel Dutch Apple and Black-bottom Pecan. Each is $38.<\/p>\n
\nCampbell\u2019s cream of mushroom soup
\nKinder\u2019s crispy fried onions
\ncanned green beans
\nGreat Value dinner rolls
\nfive pounds of russet potatoes
\nfresh cranberries
\nbaby carrots
\nartisan mac \u2018n\u2019 cheese by Great Value
\ningredients for pumpkin pie<\/p>\n