Nearly one-in-three British Columbians intend to adjust Thanksgiving meals due to high food costs
At Quality Foods in View Royal, B.C., the rising cost of food is on everyone’s mind.
"They’re astronomical," said Wendy McCulloch, a View Royal resident.
"A lot more expensive," said Krista Sutherland, another View Royal resident.
With Thanksgiving weekend fast approaching, a new survey conducted by Dalhousie University and the Angus Reid Institute found that 29 per cent of British Columbians intend to make menu adjustments as a result of higher food prices.
"That is the highest percentage in the entire country," said Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.
Here’s how much Thanksgiving mainstays have increased compared to last year.
On average, turkey is up 15 to 16 per cent, potatoes are now 22 per cent more expensive, cranberries are up 12 per cent and bread is up 13 per cent.
That is causing many to change how they shop.
"I will not pay $5.98 for a tiny little head of lettuce," said McCulloch.
Steve Metcalfe, store manager of Quality Foods in View Royal, says he doesn't expect food prices to come down anytime soon because of ongoing labour shortages and supply chain issues.
"Nothing has really gone down too much. If anything, it’s, 'What hasn’t gone up the most?'" he said.
Shoppers are seen at the Quality Foods in View Royal, B.C., on Oct. 4, 2022. (CTV News)
GROCERY SAVING TIPS
Metcalfe does have some tips for shoppers, in order to save a few dollars on their bill.
"I think the biggest one is to shop with a list," said the store manager.
Check the local flyers or store apps for sales, plan your meals in advance, make a list and stick to that list once you get to the store, he says.
Metcalfe's second suggestion is to look for the generic brands since they will be generally be cheaper.
"It’s just as good as the name brand," said Metcalfe.
His third tip is for the savvy shopper.
"Watch the unit price on the items," he said. "Toilet paper, for example, it will tell you how much each roll is."
Even though a product may be on sale, after looking at the unit price you may discover the one that isn’t on sale is actually a better deal.
While Sutherland was shopping in View Royal on Tuesday, she said her family still planned to hold a Thanksgiving dinner, though this year it will be a potluck.
"My mom and dad buy the turkey and then everyone just brings something," said Sutherland.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Feds hope to table foreign interference legislation next week: LeBlanc
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to table legislation this week to help the federal government address foreign interference, but he wouldn't say whether the proposal will include a foreign agent registry.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.