Food prices have been rising significantly for several months. In this context of high inflation, the consequences for the purchasing power of consumers are not forgotten. To save money, then it is necessary to turn to alternatives. Here are 7 products that have become too expensive to replace, along with tips on how to maintain your purchasing power.
At the end of August 2022, the inflation rate reached 6.6%. Rising prices affect too many food products and plunging 7 million additional French households into financial fragilityaccording to a study by NielsenIQ, an analytics company specializing in consumer behavior.
Therefore, more and more French people are keeping a close eye on their finances to try not to be in the red before the end of the month. The inflationary context that is now pushing 41% of households – or 12 million French people – count their money when it comes to paying for food. Some then stop buying too expensive products, which can sometimes be found as an alternative.
Rising food prices: what are the alternatives?
1 – grated carrot
If carrots sold already grated have the advantage of being ready-to-eat, and for some, already seasoned, a simple price comparison speaks for itself. Grated carrots sell for between €2 and €5 per kilo, compared to €1-2 per kilo for carrots in the vegetable section.
In addition, peeling carrots and grating them is not as labor-intensive as it seems. This is also a guarantee of using carrots without additives, some of them may pose a danger to our health.
2 – Industrial vinaigrette
Another industrial product that has suffered from inflation: ready-made vinaigrette. The commercial version, ready-made vegetable sauce costs about €2.50 for 50 ml, while homemade is only €1. There is no excuse to make your own: homemade vinaigrette is very quick and easy to make; which also contributes to some oils, the composition of which is really good for health. Read about it: Lettuce and canola oil, the antioxidant duo that wins.
3 – Salad in a bag
Speaking of salad, it is also better to buy it in the department with fresh vegetables, and not in a bag. And it’s not for nothing that a kilogram of lettuce in bags is six times more expensive than fresh lettuce. It’s enough to encourage yourself to wash the salad yourself, especially since bagged salads, although recognized by the French, are far from blameless. Read about it: The French go for bagged salads, which are not very healthy.
4 – shavings of parmesan
If a portion of grated Emmental cheese is paradoxically cheaper than the same uncooked portion on supermarket shelves, the situation is completely different for Parmesan. Indeed, the price per kilogram of a pallet of Parmesan is on average 12% more expensive than a piece of Parmesan of equivalent proportion. Parmesan cheese is better to grate yourselfespecially since it’s so quick and parmesan keeps much better in chunks than shavings.
5 – Hummus
Hummus, great as an aperitif, is highly appreciated as a meze! However, here too there are significant differences in price between industrial and “home” versions: from 7 to 22 euros per kilogram of the ready-made version sold in supermarkets, to about 6 euros per kilogram of traditional hummus prepared at home. Something to make you want to make your own hummus and jump at the chance discover our original hummus recipes!
6 – Industrial vegetable soups
Another example of interest in cooking yourself: industrial soups. Again, a price comparison makes this clear: around €3 for a finished brick compared to almost €1.50 for a liter of homemade soup. The cost of industrial fresh soups is even more expensive. Faced with this observation, it is better to prepare the soup yourself. The ability to prepare original soup recipes, for example our carrot soup with orange recipe !
7 – Frozen meat
Prices are rising in meat departments of supermarkets: + 29% for frozen meat. The spectacular increase in prices, which prompts many French people to drastically reduce their meat consumption or even give up buying it. For consumers who do not want to turn to a vegetable alternative, it is better to go to their butcher. Although prices in the same sector are rising, buying meat from butchers allows you to better adapt your consumption to the real needs of your family. It is also a guarantee of receiving supplies in the event of a short circuit.
It should be noted that while all types of meat are subject to inflation, white or red, some suffer the effects less than others: + 7% for beef, + 6% for poultry, + 3% for pork and + 9% for lamb . It’s better that way prefer white meatby reducing the consumption of red meat, which also suspected to be carcinogenic when consumed in large quantities.
However, cutting back on meat consumption is still the best way to save money and take care of the planet; the meat industry, which produces a significant amount of greenhouse gases, not to mention the issue of animal welfare. For those who want to stop eating meat, there are many alternatives to vegetables. Read about it: Being a vegetarian, yes, but without disadvantages!
Other tips to combat food inflation
In addition to trying to find alternatives to the most expensive food products, some tips can also help limit the impact of inflation when paying:
1 – Track promotions
Most supermarket chains regularly offer interesting promotions. They are listed by the website Anti-crise.fr. If the promotions allow you to save money, be careful not to be tempted to buy for the simple fact that the purchase is cheaper. Watch for promotions on the products you really need.
2 – Prefer short circuits and seasonal products
Preferring to buy food at local markets or from producer shops saves you money compared to shopping at supermarkets, where margins are higher. I also prefer it turn to seasonal products, grown on site, transport costs for which are included in selling prices are necessarily lower. It’s also the satisfaction of participating in the local economy that supports small producers.
3 – Spend time cooking
As we have seen in this article, going behind the stove saves money. Cooking your own raw food is always cheaper than buying ready-made food, not to mention the benefits of healthy eating. You don’t need to have experience in the kitchen to prepare delicious meals every day, you just need a little time, desire andsimple recipe ideas !
4 – Pay attention to the garbage in the kitchen
And finally, one last tip to limit the impact of inflation on your food budget: hunt for waste. According to ADEME (Environment and Energy Management Agency), each French person throws away almost 30 kg of food waste on average in just one year. The waste, which includes about 7 kg of food still wrapped and thrown away. The price is not bad: one hundred euros per person every year, which could be saved with better organization.
Here are some tips to avoid this waste : prefer products with a short shelf life to consume within the next few days after purchase. That way you won’t forget them at the bottom of the fridge. Also, don’t forget to freeze foods that you haven’t had time to eat before their expiration date. It’s the same with leftover food, which often ends up in the trash when it can be put into another way at the next meal or frozen.
Another way to limit food waste: periodic cooking, the Anglo-Saxon trend of cooking a whole week’s worth of food in one go! It is enough to plan your menu, which allows you to avoid useless food purchases.
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