CTV News Calgary has reported:

Experts in Lethbridge are offering practical ways to reduce food costs, from choosing nutritious groceries to making the most of ingredients at home. Food affordability has been a concern for several years, with rising prices since the COVID-19 pandemic putting pressure on household budgets. A recent Food Banks Canada report shows more people are turning to food banks.

The Lethbridge Interfaith Food Bank offers programs that teach people how to save money while grocery shopping. Executive director Danielle McIntyre said the food bank expects demand to rise at this time of year as families face higher home heating costs and use their vehicles more when the weather turns bad.

“I think the No. 1 thing is to be smart about what you purchase, making sure the money you’re spending on food is going to the highest nutritional value of food,” McIntyre said. “So don’t buy so much junk-buy the good stuff.” She said even simple shopping tips can add up.

Proteins such as beef have had some of the sharpest price increases in recent years, prompting shoppers to consider less costly options. Kenny Kain, a culinary arts instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic, said cuts that were traditionally inexpensive have also become costly.

“Even those off-cuts that used to be traditionally very inexpensive are expensive now,” Kain said. “But finding different ways, using stocks and broths and other flavouring ingredients might help to build flavour with your more random pieces.”

Planning meals and cooking thoughtfully can also stretch a food budget beyond the checkout. Kain advised avoiding waste, building flavour and considering batch cooking, with ingredients used in different ways across meals.

“Not wasting product, building flavours, maybe batch cooking might be an item, too,” Kain said. “You could batch cook-you could add some flavour one day with fresh produce or fresh herbs and maybe make something a little different the next day.”