Eight tips to cope amid rising food prices

The skyrocketing prices of foodstuffs have become a pressing concern for many, if not all households in Nigeria.

The continuous rise in the cost of living, particularly food prices, has placed a significant strain on household finances, budgets, and access to affordable and nutritious meals.

However, amidst these challenges, there are practical tips to help overcome financial hurdles and still get healthy food options.

• Plan ahead

Planning and budgeting is a smart way to save both time and money.

Creating a budget specifically for foodstuffs is essential in managing food expenses. You can allocate funds based on income and expenses and also prioritise certain food items to avoid overspending.

You can also make a meal plan. Making a weekly or monthly meal plan will help you ensure that you only buy food products you will be needing which will help control costs and reduce food waste.

Do not forget to compare prices. Comparing prices across different stores allows you to find the best deals on food items.

• Buy in bulk

In this current economy, the idea of buying food items in bulk may seem daunting due to the cost involved.

However, purchasing non-perishable food items in bulk can save you money in the long run as you get a discount during bulk buying.

Also, remember today’s price is not tomorrow’s price, so bulk buying potentially saves you from higher prices in the future.

Be sure to steer clear of buying perishable foods in bulk to avoid food waste.

• Find substitutes

In this economy, finding ways to reduce the costs of food items is essential.

One strategy is to explore alternative protein sources that are more budget-friendly than traditional options such as meat, fish, and poultry.

Plant-based proteins like tofu are excellent alternatives that not only offer significant cost savings but also higher nutritional benefits.

• Eat in season

When trying to save money on foodstuffs, it is best to buy products that are in-season, or grown during that time of year in your location.

Fruits, vegetables, and food items that are in season are the freshest and the most budget-friendly during that particular time of year.

In-season food items will always cost less than those that are out of season so you should always take advantage of it.

• Cook at home

Making homemade dishes instead of dining out is a cost-effective way to enjoy nutritious meals while saving money.

However, if your schedule does not give you the chance to always cook at home you can consider batch cooking. You can prepare meals in batches and freeze portions for later use, so this will make homemade meals more convenient, and accessible and give eating out no chance.

While cooking at home, you can opt for simple and budget-friendly recipes that use affordable ingredients and will help minimize food costs and reduce reliance on expensive prepared foods.

• Grow your own

This is the perfect time to make use of your backyard or available land as growing your food is one easy way to save some money.

Starting a small vegetable garden at your home will provide you with access to fresh produce at a fraction of the cost of store-bought fruits and vegetables.

Gardening can even become a fun and rewarding activity your family can enjoy.

• Buy locally

Another great way to overcome high food prices is by buying locally from the farmers’ market.

Shopping at the farmers’ market helps you get in-season produce at a great price. Farmers’ market prices have likely not increased as much as other stores’ prices because there are little or no transportation costs.

So check your location for a farmers’ market to reduce costs.

• Practice proper food storage

Aside from buying in bulk, eating in, and growing your food, how are you storing your food?

The way you store your food is also essential when trying to cut down the cost spent on food.

So make sure to store your food properly to extend its shelf life, make your meals last longer to reduce food waste, and shrink your shopping bill.

If you don’t know how well to store your various food items, you should take your time to read up on them to avoid food wastage.