The LuL:ac Edition #5, 825, November, 15th, 2026

 

SMALLER PORTIONS, FEWER VEGETABLES: HOW SHOPPERS SAY THEY’RE CUTTING FOOD COSTS

GROCERY BILLS ARE TAKING A BIGGER BITE OUT OF HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS, WITH SOME SURVEY RESPONDENTS REPORTING AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF MORE THAN $150 PER MONTH.

Food & Wine reports respondents reported buying fewer fruits and vegetables, serving smaller portions, and skipping meals as food prices strained their budgets.

It’s important to note that the participants in this survey skewed heavily young, with 79.6% identifying as ages 29 to 44 and 82.4% identifying as women. Additionally, Self didn’t state whether it weighted the results to reflect the U.S. population. Still, this is just the latest survey to find that food is starting to feel like a luxury good for many consumers. In April, Food & Wine reported on a LendingTree survey of 2,000 people, in which half of respondents described food as hard to afford. Even among those earning more than $100,000 a year, 57% said they worried about their grocery bill in the past month.

“Food costs are hitting every income level, and it’s changing how people spend,” said Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief consumer finance analyst, at the time. 

However, there are a few ways to save on groceries, including choosing the right place to shop. In February, F&W covered a Consumer Reports analysis, conducted with the retail consulting firm Strategic Resource Group, that compared shelf prices at more than two dozen chains against Walmart. Costco and BJ’s averaged about 21% lower, followed by Lidl (8.5%) and Aldi (8.3%). At the other end, Whole Foods was nearly 40% higher than Walmart, and Trader Joe’s was almost 25% higher. (Those prices were collected in late summer 2025, so some may have shifted since.)

Brian Vines, deputy editor of special projects at Consumer Reports, said shoppers who live near several stores can benefit from what the industry calls “cherry-picking,” which he described as buying “paper products at a warehouse store, meat at a supermarket, produce from a no-frills, Aldi-style retailer.” So if you can, make a few extra stops. It could help you save a few extra bucks.