Before panicking about the rising food prices, we can do a bit of planning and preparing to make sure we shop smart and eat well!
South Africa (14 June 2022) – It isn’t a nice feeling seeing your usual tin of food jump by R3.00 in a week, nor is it fun having your collective grocery bill go up by 20%. These are very upsetting occurrences, but with some planning and preparations, we can combat the rise in prices while still eating well.
Luckily for us, winter is here, which means the food we eat becomes heartier; this also means it is somewhat more affordable as we can get away with only needing a cheap meat cut with some hearty veg and rice for a delicious stew. Soups are also cheaper to make and go a long way in feeding many mouths.
Preparing for a rise in costs will make them less shocking when the time comes, but it will require a little bit of work. We have some helpful tips to share to bring costs down in the kitchen.
Budget
Setting a budget has always been essential, but that is even more true now. As we watch out rands and cents, we realise just how fast they seem to go but not all that far. Knowing what you have to spend on any given shop helps to keep that trolley in check.
If you are not one to check prices on items, be sure to take extra time to see which brands may have a better price. Many stores will have a house brand that is generally more affordable than name-brand food items.
If your loved ones have a tendency to throw luxuries in the trolley (we see that box of biscuits), leave them at home. And to make up for it, bake a tray of biscuits instead.
To work out a budget, lay out all your expenses which will show you how much you have available for food. This amount should factor in at least two meals per day, with enough to feed each member of your household for each meal.
A budget is always better if you have a meal plan to go along with it. That way, you know what to buy instead of just throwing in your usual staples. Also, try to do a bi-weekly or once-monthly shop, this will help keep your petrol costs low too.
Meal Plan
Meal planning, or at least an idea of several meals for each week, makes life much more straightforward. We love a meal plan and will have about 21 meal ideas on a list with most ingredients available in the house to make those meals.
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Meal plans will be seasonal and can be rotated several times within those seasons. Some ideas for meals to place on a meal plan this winter include:
- Chickpea and Potato Curry with Rice (Meat-free is a great way to save on meals)
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Roast Chicken with Butternut and Potatoes
- Chicken Soup (Saving the leftover roast chicken is perfect for making two meals)
- Vegetable Soup with Bread or Dumplings
- Macaroni Cheese
- Beef and Bean Stew with Rice or Dumplings
You can bulk up these meals and freeze the extra so you have additional meals for another night or a quick lunch option to pull from the freezer.
Shop the Deals
Local retailers are trying to help where they can, so keep an eye on all those deals available and shop as you find them.
Sign up for the loyalty cards linked to your local grocery stores and collect the pamphlets from the community newspaper. Check online for their deals and compare with other stores to see that you are not missing a better price elsewhere.
Bulk Share
Many non-perishable food items and cleaning supplies work out cheaper when bought in bulk. While 5kg of flour may be fine to store in the freezer, having 20 tins of baked beans is a bit much. We suggest drawing up a list of staples needed along with other families and then buying the items in bulk and splitting them between several households.
This allows you to shop for a deal without having to eat beans at every meal.
Invest in Legumes and Pulses
On the subject of beans… Beans, lentils, chickpeas, dried peas, grains and more are perfect to buy as pantry staples. It is the season of hearty soups and stews. These items bulk up warm winter meals without needing to push up the price of meats.
Having an understanding of cooking dried beans will also help, so be sure to do some research. For example, a packet of dried chickpeas costs the same as two tins but, when soaked, can make around four tins of chickpeas.
The Yummy Mummy Kitchen has a very helpful blog post about all things legumes and pulses, as well as cooking advice for them. You can check that out here if you are curious.
Shop your Pantry
We all have a few items in the pantry that have been there for longer than needed. We suggest doing a full pantry check to ensure everything is in date, and should anything be close to expiring, think up a way to use it in a meal.
We stack the pantry with the older expiration dates to the front, so those always get used first. The example of the chickpea is our favourite. If you have a tin that needs using, whip up a curry, hummus or even deliciously crunchy roasted chickpeas as a snack or a topping for salads.
If you need inspiration, ask friends and family. We all have that one family member that can make a decent meal out of almost nothing; they are your biggest assets during these times!
Shop the Season
If you have a recipe that requires Asparagus, but it’s not Asparagus season, use green beans instead. Buying produce out of season is expensive.
As it is winter now, you will find it is more affordable to buy winter squashes like butternut and gem squash. Sweet potatoes and regular potatoes are also in season now and should be more affordable.
In terms of fruit, a bag of oranges will be far more affordable than a tray of strawberries. So make sure when using all the tips above, you factor in what food is in season now.
Sharing is Caring
We know times are tough, so be sure to share your cost-saving tips, recipes and deals with friends and family too. The more eyes there are on watching the prices of things, the better your chances of catching a deal.
Things will get better again, but until then, we can take care of each other by being generous with our knowledge.
Please let us know your cost-saving tips in the comment section below.
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