I Went Grocery Shopping with a $50 Budget | Was it Enough for Healthy Family Meals?

Hey everyone I’m Abbey Sharp welcome to Abbey’s Kitchen. In todays video, we will be talking about what I get for my family when shopping on a budget!
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1) The information in this video is for education and entertainment purposes only, so you should always speak to a health care provider about your unique health needs.
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4) Trigger warning to those with disordered eating tendencies.
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With Science & Sass,
Xoxo Abbey

[@AbbeysKitchen]

FYI in case you guys don’t know- I LOATHE MAYO.

[@elizabethbell3300]

What would you use for coleslaw dressing? Yogurt instead? I use Mayo rice wine vinegar and a drop or 2 of honey. What is a good substitute? Love your videos BTW.

[@yotagerlie]

Why for lol

[@vanessanicholson9260]

I clicked on the comments right after you made the Mayo comment! Thanks for clarifying lol!

[@mrsphilm.007]

I loved your Canadian-specific groceries! ❤️ I’ve never been to Canada, so this was such a fun idea!

[@cinephile1712]

It’s fucking vile.

[@qiaramcneill]

Its nice and refreshing to see someone acknowledge how difficult it could be to eat healthy on a budget......An influencers diet is just not realistic for everyone around the world.

[@LeeMuayThai]

Absolutely

[@aryannacisneros2921]

yes thank you

[@aspreedacore]

@@aryannacisneros2921 let’s just say a parent would rather clothe me then feed me🤣

[@anaban9633]

yes, true, that is way i don't have kids. i buy healty food only for myself (and dogs).

[@anaclaraebert7472]

Hello Abbey. I found it have helpful to know about the actual differences between more "trendy" products like almond butter/whole grain pasta and their traditional versions (peanut butter and normal pasta). Sometimes I buy the first options, believing they are way better, even though they are out of my budget. I think these types of comparisons would make a great informative video, since it's difficult to know sometimes what actually makes a difference and is worth investing on. I really appreciate your content!

[@sparkle0859]

yes great idea!!

[@CassandraEddington]

Agreed!

[@Felineintuition]

I would love such a video!

[@quietdust1930]

Yes I agree! I was under the illusion that wholegrain pasta was so much better and I never even thought to question why I thought that until this video!

[@hessuya]

YES

[@amandawiznew]

There are creators who do SUCH a good job shopping for budget meals that are delicious it would be cool to watch you watch/review/discuss one of those! Specifically the frugal fit mom.

[@LRB9498]

Really liked the balance of empathy and practicality in the video. I already knew these hacks because I've been shopping on a budget for years (the cost per unit is usually an eye-opening one). I also acknowledge my privilege in the sense that I have the mobility and time to do the prep. I would like a Part II where you combine cheaper, less healthy foods with healthy foods to make balance meals on a budget. For example, how to turn those super cheap Ramen noodle cups into a healthier Ramen, or maybe take a cheaper, fattier cut of meat and balance it out by its cooking prep and supplemented with vegetables (like fattier ground beef with cabbage for an "unrolled eggroll bowl".

[@AbbeysKitchen]

I’m glad you liked the video! I’ll keep that in mind

[@kristengilliam-coomber8457]

Funny you should mention the healthier ramen noodles because Abbey has covered that, she made a healthy ramen noodle soup bowl by adding different veg. and stuff to her ramen noodle package. Looked so good!

[@GirlVersusWild]

A healthier way to have your fatty cut of meat would be to get rid of it and have a plant-based protein source instead, like beans or tofu etc.

[@LRB9498]

@@GirlVersusWild agree but not everyone wants to be vegan/vegetarian

[@dmlbs]

@@LRB9498 you don’t have to be to eat them, and don’t have to all the time. Definitely an option where if you’re willing to swap out for those sometimes you might then be able to split that cost and get nicer cuts because it’s less frequent and not so centralized staple.

[@rebeccawardall9417]

While I do like the video and think there are some great money saving tips there, I think it would have also been worth it to see how far those groceries actually go. Many of the recipes mentioned overlap ingredients, and I can't see the amount bought lasting an entire week for a family of four. The recipe ideas also operate under the assumption that you already have certain things in the house like salt, oil, and spices for cooking. I appreciate the acknowledgement that staying under budget is extremely challenging right now, but I think this video could do a little better at highlighting just how hard it is.

[@margotmolander5083]

And there was no coffee! Though two of Abby's four are pretty small, so that cuts down on what they eat; if they were teens this probably wouldn't work. In grad school we had an assignment to eat on a SNAP (food stamp) budget for a week and it was *hard*, mostly because it took a ton of planning. And I was better off than most because I can make most stuff from scratch (bread, yogurt, mayo).

[@victoria_6477]

This was running through my mind as I watched this video, too.

[@emmacoughlan702]

Yeah probably lasts 1-2 days at max

[@irohas.0]

@@douganderson7002 I feel like people who are commenting about the amount of food don’t realize that they probably eat WAY too much.

[@KatieO-lx3ws]

@@irohas.0 the audience for this channel is probably also a lot of people with EDs or in recovery, so I bet many, commenting or not, are still actually not eating enough.

[@meg285xo]

One thing that helps me and my fiancé stay on budget is buying produce/proteins that can be used in multiple meals, specifically dinners! So instead of buying a bunch of different veggies or proteins we usually will pick tofu and then two to three veg options to use. One night we might have a tofu stir fry with the veg and then another night we might do a seasame tofu with veg and rice! I find that this cuts down in food waste and has allowed me to become more comfortable cooking with specific ingredients! I always try to plan the weeks meals around whatever produce is on sale, making it the star of the show!!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Great idea!

[@sweetsupernova631]

Tofu is so wet watery and mushy though?? How do people eat it?

[@meg285xo]

@@sweetsupernova631 it totally depends on the type of tofu! If you get super firm tofu and press it, it’s actually a fairly firm texture. Whereas silken tofu is very mushy. Then there are things like puff tofu which has a totally different and fried like texture! I used to really not like tofu, but now I enjoy it! It takes time to get used to cooking it!

[@gailschultz878]

Grocery list items like ground beef, pork chops, chicken thighs, etc, have just been turned into "economeat" on my bi-weekly shopping trip. I go to the store usually Wednesday morning when there's a better chance of getting marked down items. Cook in the order of expiration, or throw whatever you know won't last into the freezer until your ready.

[@oanhlin]

@@sweetsupernova631 sometimes it’s best to accept the watery mush and put it in soup instead of trying to crisp it up! I love soft tofu in soups and soft tofu in mapo tofu (spicy, chili, big flavors) is the best.

[@CloTricots]

Seriously, as a mom that cooks a lot, buying an instant pot when it was on sale was such a good call for the ability to cook legumes super fast without having to soak. The money I saved from buying dry legumes payed for the machine in less than a year for sure.

[@CloTricots]

And because I'm not very organized, I always make a huge batch of the legumes when I need it so I can freeze the rest in smaller containers for next time.

[@EddyP596]

I do the same. I do need to boil them for about 10 min first though and discard the water. Otherwise they make everyone gassy 😂

[@robodd4694]

Cooking dried in an Instant pot is so amazingly simple. Plus so much more healthier since you can reduce the salt content (which I need for HBP) and many canned brands add a lot of stuff and huge amounts of salt/sugar. I would rather have fresh beans. And of course the cost is much less. Where I live a can of pinto beans cost $1.5 up 1lb of dried is less then $1. Which makes far more than a can.

[@artistrybyvr]

This video was crazy but in a nice nostalgic way, my husband and I came to Canada one month before the pandemic, we didn't had a job for 6 months and we also didn't knew Canada had food banks because we don't have them in Mexico so we where spending exactly 50 dollars a month, we where buying almost exactly the same as you mentioned, the milk for example we prefered it dry instead of the bag because bagged milk last half the time of the other one. We bought one box of cookies and we only had one a day for dessert because we couldn't had more if we wanted dessert all the week, I lost 20 pounds. We waited a hole year to go to a restaurant because we couldn't spend 50d in one meal instead of a whole week. Now we are so much better, Canada has been amazing with us and love it so much, we try to stay grounded because we learn how it feels to have very little

[@claudia3014]

I'm sorry you went through that and I'm glad you are both doing better :)

[@artistrybyvr]

@@claudia3014 thank you ❤️

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thanks for sharing❤️ glad Canada is treating you well

[@itsmarinah]

Hola and welcome! ❤🇨🇦

[@gabrielledesroches5360]

I would love to see you compared prices of grocery hails between high end grocery stores such as Loblaws, Superstore versus lower end grocery stores like FoodBasics, No Frills. And see what gets you more bang for you buck as well as the pros and cons of shopping at both!

[@dmlbs]

And if something like the bag of carrots expecting them to make their way into meals all week go bad faster from the lower end

[@laureenkarry2856]

Yes! Peanut Butter please. Always. It just tastes better anyways. Another $$$ savings idea, check out the "almost expired" section of the produce section. Grocery stores will usually wrap up fruit & veg that no longer look perfect (but are perfectly good to eat!), at heavily discounted prices. Great deals to be had.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thanks for sharing!

[@cesmith48]

Yes, I soak wilted green veggies in iced water to bring them back.

[@NarCoocoobrainTeam]

"almost expired" produce.i find hard to trust and at best would.only.buy if I'm sure I'll use it that day. Enjoy tonight stickers from other sections (bakery\meat I've seen both pretty frequently) I am more willing to buy as long as I'm gonna use within a few days or am comfortable freezing to use later Also once got a giant roll of tin foil for I believe 30% off (may have even been half off) with an enjoy tonight stickers. Pretty sure it was because that size\variety was being discontinued or something but I'm still amused by it

[@anitafoss2133]

Yes! Frozen bananas are a required thing in my smoothies and for $0.19 a pound, I'm up until midnight prepping them. Same with strawberries, at $0.50 a pound, even composting 1/2, I'm still ahead. Love the mark down produce!

[@smexygecko9053]

as a college student living on my own, it is so difficult for me to grocery shop especially knowing the portions im paying for, most of it will go bad before i can finish it. these tips r very helpful to save money where i can and eat something besides ramen noodles :)

[@smexygecko9053]

i have discovered some tips that work for me tho: - i learned how to make tofu in a way that i enjoy, a single block is like $3 and will last me almost a week if i put it in the fridge/ freezer and warm it up when i want it, plus its pretty healthy - i keep a lot of pasta bc its a rlly easy thing to make and throw in whatever ingredients/produce u have left before u go shopping again - im a big fan of pickled/preserved foods like olives, peppers, pickles, etc. even tho the initial jars can be expensive, they last me a long time and i dont have to worry about them going bad - i also try to only buy the produce i kno ill eat & go thru quickly which for me is spring mix, tomatoes, & cucumbers

[@AbbeysKitchen]

I’m glad you found this helpful!

[@tabethasiou1570]

I love putting stuff in my ramen to make it more nutrient dense; chickpeas, spinach, corn, any veggie, kimchu, seaweed, boiled eggs, avocado etc

[@dianaadamo5574]

I also struggle with that. I try and only buy 1 bag of fruit / a few pieces of fruit that I know I'll get through instead of getting a bit of everything and having it go bad. Frozen veggies have been a saviour both for convenience and for longevity. Lastly, I do a LOT of freezing. I'll buy a pack of chicken and put most of it into freezer bags prepped, sometimes I'll even add it in a marinade. Then the day before I throw it in the fridge and it's ready to cook. You can even freeze cooked beans and just give them a quick boil before eating. Also, meal planning has been helpful and given me an idea of what I'll actually get through eating. I'll leave 2-3 meals empty for leftovers/take-out days/cliff bar for lunch because I'm too busy days, but plan generally the rest of it. Good luck with college, and good on you for being independent and working on cooking.

[@taylorrevetta159]

We’ve been using our meat *in* the meal instead of the star of the meal and it’s saved us so much. For example: Costco rotisserie chicken is 4.99. I shred it and use half for Yellow Curry chicken (which is enough for 2 meals for my family), and the other half for chicken soup. We gotta do what we have to do!

[@samanthaaiello]

Hopping on for another comment. Your sweet reminder to us while you were scanning brought tears to my eyes. Our cooking style is taiwanese mostly at home, as influenced by my husband’s family. Lots of veggies, whole food dishes, lots of greens, but ultimately moderately pricey as of late. Lately, due to rising grocery costs, we’ve done a bit more processed. I hold a lot of guilt with that. You comment was so kind. 🥺❤️

[@rigrace]

Grocery prices are so crazy at the moment. Everything gets more expensive every day 😩

[@AbbeysKitchen]

I know

[@ambie8545]

As a part time grocery store cashier and a mother I even feel awful just telling people their totals! 🤢😮‍💨

[@williamehlers5158]

I was today years old when I discovered that Canada sells their milk in a bag.

[@WittyTzipporah]

Please take a look at how much you're taking your eyes off the road during filming and consider filming in a stopped car instead. It's really not safe.

[@viviannichols3582]

My best advice: 1. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. Throwing out food is throwing out money. Prioritize the foods that have the shortest shelf life. Save your bacon grease for cooking. Save bones and veggie ends for broth. 2. Know your prices. Buy items when they’re at their cheapest and stock up on shelf stable items when there’s a great sale. Pay attention to coupons and cash back apps for extra savings. 3. Utilize healthy items that are always on the cheaper end: rice, beans, oatmeal, potatoes, carrots and bananas are good examples. Usually there is some kind of in-season produce for around a dollar per pound (U.S.). Chicken can be pretty inexpensive, but you also don’t need to eat meat every day. Cooking from scratch (like baking your own bread and crackers and making your own tortillas) can be great if you have time. If you don’t have a lot of time, it can be helpful to have a “prep day.” Cook a big batch of rice and use it throughout the week. Use that day to slow cook some beans. Chop a bunch of veggies. If you make chili or soup or something, save a few portions in the freezer for another time. You can eat healthfully without breaking the bank!

[@cw4099]

I wish. Chicken where I live is hard to find for less than $2 a pound. Usually more. Most veggies and fruit have been lacking in quality lately. It's just a rough time all around. Stay safe and healthy.

[@meganhepditch3410]

I struggle to see this as enough food for a family of 4 for a week. 12 eggs is only 3 breakfasts for 4 people assuming one egg each which isnt much. Same for the bread - it wouldn't last a week for 4 people using it in multiple ways. I would love to see a video actually making the meals because maybe there is a creative way to make it last and I just can't see it. It doesn't look like 3 meals a day for 4 people for a week 😔

[@samanthaaiello]

Almost all of our meals are home-cooked, so I thought I knew everything about grocery shopping. This was super helpful, and none of it was, ‘clip this coupon.’ Not to shame coupons, but managing coupons is a skill set I don’t have. Thanks for the great video!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Of course! I’m glad this was helpful❤️

[@ispyamoose]

I'm terrible about couponing. However, I'm finding more grocery stores who have rewards programs have digital coupons if you use their app. So once a week, I'll go through the apps and "clip" the ones I like, and then I don't even have to think about it. I use the reward card or plug in my phone number and the rest is done.

[@SunnyMorningPancakes]

As a not North American person I am amazed by the way coupons seem to work there. In the UK they are basically non existent and if they do exist it will be something like 10% off if you spend more than X amount, and you can't combine them.

[@ziggy2255]

@@SunnyMorningPancakes this!

[@tiffany.Elizabeth.]

Couponing in Canada is NOT like it is in the US.

[@katherinevogt8674]

A tip that has really saved me as someone with a super tight budget is to pick a couple meals for the week that all use the same/similar ingredients. For example, I bought carrots and celery for my fresh veggies this week. I made a vegetarian bolognese sauce and a vegetarian lentil soup. Both are really cheap, use those fresh veggies, and make enough that I can alternate throughout the week. They also both use cream so instead of having cream that I bought sitting in my fridge while I figure out a way to use it I can use it all in one week. I added some frozen spinach to the soup too for an added boost of veggies. Because I plan my 2-3 meals for the week to alternate and I go for quick/cheap lunches like dried ramen noodles with frozen edamame boiled together with a sauce of choosing added at the end along with easy breakfasts like oatmeal, I can usually stick to a small list that enables me to spend under $30 US on groceries. I also do things like save veggies scraps, like carrot tops, celery ends, onion skins, mushroom butts, etc. and freeze them so that when I build up enough I can boil them one afternoon while I do other stuff around the house and I end of with a lot of veggie broth. It keeps me from spending extra money on it and with winter coming it helps keep my apartment warm. You can then freeze it after it cools in any freezer safe container and use when convenient. It feels like a little luxury these days. I know that as a household with only two adults that is much easier than a household with children but maybe it could help?

[@mewmewxp]

I love these types of videos. I would enjoy even more a part 2 where you actually live a week on 50 dollars of groceries. I've been challenging myself to buy groceries on a budget and use them in creative ways, however this gets so mentally exhausting after a while...which would be a great topic to touch on.

[@heatherc3521]

Abbey, this is by far my favourite video of yours. It's practical, very realistic and down-to-earth and SO relevant given how insanely expensive food has become. PLEASE make more videos like this one. I absolutely loved it, and it was really informative!

[@alexandriabonanno2887]

Just a tip. If your store has a butcher in house, they will piece your whole chicken for free. Spatchcocked or 8 pieces. Having it pieced out helps stretch for different meals!

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@cesmith48]

Great idea. In addition making bone broth as a base for soups, braising, stews and savory smoothies such as green drinks.

[@alawrence94229]

Frozen vegetables have been a staple for me while I'm in between jobs. Dried beans, rice and lentils. I basically cook everything myself. Hot tip for dried beans if you use them get them from a store that has high dried bean turnover! Latin stores, health food stores or bulk bins. Eventually there will come a point where beans just won't cook so fresher beans always cook better. Thank you so much for a more realistic look at shopping on a budget

[@laurenboudreaux3304]

It’s SO refreshing to see someone make a video like this! Thank you!

[@nacindaa]

My biggest tip is: plan ahead! Go to the grocery store with a specific list of what you want to buy. Every Sunday I try to plan the week's dinners at least and keep the weekend open for leftovers or take out. I have a specific folder in my notes app and a white board in the kitchen. I usually pick 3-4 meals with some overlap in ingredients. Not having meat every single day saves you a bunch, but if you do, buy it in bulk, freeze it and use it whenever you need it. Buying some items like oatmeal, meat and rice bulk is generally a money saver too. Lastly, get fruit/veggies that are in season since they are often on sale! You guys can do you

[@margotmolander5083]

I do this too! I start with the grocery store circular so I know what's on sale and then pick out meals for the week, taking into account weather, schedules and having leftovers for lunch. My mom thinks I'm nuts, but I explained that she's had many decades to figure all this stuff out so she knows it in her bones, where I've only got maybe a dozen recipes memorized. Also I just like to be more planned. (I have a friend who does her shopping and planning for 2 weeks at a time, which I couldn't do, just because I think all my produce would either go bad or run out before the next trip.)

[@TheGPFilmMaker]

We have a LOT of food allergies in our house. And whenever I look at these low cost grocery hauls it just gives me this ache in the pit of my stomach about how much more expensive it is to buy allergy free alternates for the identical items. You can definitely shop inexpensively for allergy free - but it's so much harder! Because the inexpensive staples like milk, bread, pasta, and eggs aren't usable.

[@catwhitt]

Yes! It's the same way at my house. Having a kid with Celiac just raises our food bill each month.

[@TheGPFilmMaker]

@@catwhitt I don't let myself look at the price of gluten-containing pasta or bread, let alone regular cow's milk! It just makes me sad!

[@CrownedLily]

Yes, I can't have gluten and the bread and pasta... 😓

[@carrib2081]

I feel you. The allergies in our family are gluten, dairy, nuts, and shellfish. We don't walk out of the store spending less than $100 and that's just to pick up a few things

[@alexise5376]

I stopped buying alternatives and I just try to go without. The only alternative I buy is oat milk because I like it in my coffee but I have made it at home and it wasn't too bad.

[@joy_over_all]

This made me so happy as a fellow Canadian to watch you in a superstore. You will not be disappointed with the Elk Tracks ice cream! It’s the best!

[@pidohuntress7385]

For many people this is what we have to work with. I make it work by downloading coupons, shopping at several stores each week, buying discounted produce and baked goods, and utilizing 99 cent stores. It's a lot of work.

[@julie3686]

Nice video :) And fun to see how I, as someone in The Netherlands, shop pretty similar to you. Now, since a few weeks, I'm getting a box of veggies from local farmers each week for 12.5 Euro's, and this really helps me plan my meals better and go to the grocery store less frequently. Also helps me eat fresh and in season!

[@hilarygiroux2070]

This is the most realistic grocery haul I’ve seen, considering both Canadian prices and post pandemic high inflation. Would love to see more content from you like this!

[@thisisbiancs]

You should do a bulk barn haul! Also I loved this. As someone who is going to be a full time student for the first time I’m definitely excited to see more videos catered to budget friendly shopping!

[@chilledkarl5973]

What a great video idea! When I started my holistic nutrition course, I got sucked into the 'organic only' mindset and found myself buying at least $100 worth of organic food per week (just for myself!), which wasn't very much food overall. I'm so glad to see a nutritionist picking through the whole store, rather than just the 'natural' section. I couldn't imagine paying for only organic food in these times.

[@margotmolander5083]

When I was in grad school I did a project on folate fortification of food (essential to prevent really terrible birth defects) and I was horrified to discover that most organic processed foods aren't fortified (iron, folate, the usual stuff). Like, spagettios are spagettios, (unlike produce where you might really experience a difference) and I'd rather have the iron and folate!

[@zoelu472]

Ever since March 2020, I've been cooking pretty much 6 out of 7 days at home for my partner and I. Even in the NYC area, I've been able to keep grocery price at about $50 for the week! I'm vegan and I think that helps tremendously, so I encourage everyone who's trying to stick to a grocery budget to try out more affordable plant-based options such as tofu, chickpeas, lentils, other legumes/pulses, in season veg/fruits :)

[@sarahwarner8431]

Same! I completely agree. I don’t feel like our family has noticed the increase quite like others. Whole food plant based really has saved us money. We don’t buy convenience foods. Our money is spent on beans, brown rice, lentils, tofus, fruit, veggies, etc. One of our favorite (super balanced) meals is peanut sauce, brown rice noodles, crispy tofu, and veggies. Our average dinners cost $10 for a family of four and I love that I don’t have to skimp on quality when grocery shopping (or such a large part of the budget automatically going to meat like it did in the past.)

[@palesarox13]

Okay, critic as someone who lives in Canada, going to Loblaws is not the most cost effective thing to do. Its super expensive and not sustainable for most Canadian. I would have respected this more if you went to Nofrills, which is a cheaper version of Loblaws. A good Nofrills like mine has a butcher, an organic food section. The only things missing are fresh bread section, hot meals and a fish section.

[@hikkibunny]

That or those Chinese grocery stores if you're near one. They can have really great produce at a steal sometimes.

[@PurpleNinja420]

This was SO helpful!!!! Thank you so much Abby. Keep doing these videos! I really like you going out shopping and giving some meal ideas.

[@kylaboutin7638]

This was such a great video! Please continue making more with Canadian groceries and foods! O loved seeing all the Canadian stuff and knowing I can find those things at my grocery stores too 😊

[@heatherfrank4291]

This is such a great practical and accessible video! Thanks Abby

[@jdtan05010]

Thank you so much for these grocery shopping tips Abbey! More power to you! 💖🥰🤗

[@Chrystallina1]

I really loved this video! I’m actually doing a low spend month and really focusing on buying just the essential things that I need in my life. These are all great and essential tips if your budgeting, or just faced with the realities of how expensive things are these days. I’m definitely going to be using a few of your tips in my next shopping trip. I like the price per 100g method because then you can really see how much you are paying for an item in comparison to other brands that sell the same or similar comparable items. I also shop at that same grocer and I have their shopping app. Using the app actually provides me with additional deals and points that helps go towards getting free groceries in the future. It’s a great way for me to save because I generally buy the same items over and over again and the app provides with me deals and points for those specific items.

[@smeek794]

I LOVE that you’ve acknowledged the benefit of plant based protein when trying to shop on a budget! Reducing meat consumption greatly reduces grocery costs.

[@gushodges8320]

Really appreciated the video. When you talked about peanut butter vs. almond butter, I learned something! Thank you! Very helpful.❤️

[@lulubeukes2296]

So interesting to see grocery shops from other countries (spesifically developed countries.) I live in South Africa, and in a middleclass neighborhood and there are definitely some small differences. We have most of the same food, but where we have 2-3 brand options (depending on the product) you have so many options!!

[@stephaniemiersch]

Glad to finally see a Canadian grocery video. I live in Québec and when I see videos of people buying groceries in the US, I just can't believe how cheap their food is!

[@Aileenwasright]

Honestly I love videos like this. I would be really interested in seeing how a RD would shop at different grocery chains (health food stores, budget stores or bulk buy places) and what choices you would make. I know it can be kind of awkward filming and talking publicly lol but even a voice over that you edit in would work too.

[@amyvandrunenfitness9792]

I loved this video SO much! My favourite money saving hacks are cooking from scratch and meal planning around whatever meat is on sale that week before I grocery shop 🤗. Another hack is to shop once a week only, strict! This helps because it forces me to get creative and really plan ahead. More of these types of videos would be amazing 🤩

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Glad you liked the video! Thanks for sharing your tips❤️

[@kittensteaparty]

Most my meals are eggs, rice, & seaweed. A cheap ricecooker & a bag of rice can go a really long way & very easy to use. Also ramen! But not the packaged one, depending on where you are, you can get Miso paste in mainstream supermarkets (Miso Easy) or other varieties in Asian markets. You can get a big package of noodles & you do have to cook the broth & noodles so it takes more time but it comes out to less per serving of ramen than it would be if you got the packaged ones & you can cook a bunch at once & have it available for reheating later. You can also add seaweed, eggs, green onions, tofu, meats, spices, etc to make it tastier/more to your liking. I sometimes make "sushi" rolls at home with canned tuna & a little spice. Peanut butter oatmeal is also a nice breakfast because more filling than "milk" & has a longer shelf life. Granted I'm celiac & my system can't handle dairy so have to cook most food myself & make things up as allergy friendly alternatives are often overpriced.

[@kerra7386]

Can you make this a series? This video was honestly so so helpful

[@lilymartin5039]

My husband and I work really hard to make sure we're making food that we're excited about. That way leftovers get used up, and that helps us minimize the need for takeout (except on Friday nights of course!).

[@claireguidet9341]

Are you doing a week of what i eat a day? Because this is clearly not enough for us.... and we are only two....

[@thall3827]

Thank you for pointing out the realisticality of whether you are going to actually remember or have time to prepare the dried beans ahead of time. Canned beans are still pretty cheap, but they also don't take a day and a half to get ready.

[@julia.md2b707]

Some of the tips were really helpful, but overall that’s just not enough food. Total Calories - 26,804 Potatoes- not purchased Cabbage - 300 Carrots - 560 Bananas 6 - 630 Bread - 1200 Peanuts - 4000 Beans - 550 Pasta - 3215 PB - 5000 Tomatoes- 130 Eggs - 960 Milk - 2500 Wheat bran - 900 Oats - 3150 Cherries - 360 Spinach - 159 Ice cream - 3550 Based on what Abby teachers she would need around 44,800 calories for two adults and two toddlers. This was barely enough for the two adults 🤔

[@mouse1919]

But when times are tough, you have to make do. Some don't have that luxury.

[@lulubelle65]

She hasn’t purchased oil or butter which would probably show up in some of her preparations. Those would both contribute calories.

[@bc101ful]

Abbey,.loooooooved this video!!!!! Please do more like it. Love videos on eating healthy on a budget, since so many of us are!!!

[@gergiia]

This was super helpful thanks Abbey! I would love to see you make meals with everything you bought for some inspiration:-)

[@AbbeysKitchen]

That can be next

[@christinefournier685]

And I would like to see how you plan the menu of the week to get three meals a day for a family of 4 during a whole week. Thank’s !

[@GirlVersusWild]

@@AbbeysKitchen I hope you'd be allowed to use condiments and oil and other pantry staples so you can make the potatoes taste better

[@this_weeks_eats]

This was really helpful! I always buy the same things at the store so these ideas made me think about some different budget friendly meals.

[@punkee666]

Looking for discounted items is another huge way to save money. Loblaws stores will often attach coupons to items that are close to the best by dates, which just means that you need to cook or freeze it right away but it’s still perfectly edible. I find this especially helpful with meat & dairy products because my family has no trouble going through those things in time

[@jennifermcnear1678]

Just something I’ve done with dry beans. If you have an InstantPot or Pressure cooker, You can cook dried beans without soaking in about an hour. I don’t do it all the time, but when I want a more flavorful bean (I usually love black beans with seasonings of my liking) it cuts the time. But I also always keep those canned beans. Just in case any of you have beans in your pantry and a pressure cooker so you can use up those dust collecting bags and boxes 🥰

[@alexandriajoelle1257]

First time commenting I wanted to say how much I love your vlog. Such a great idea. Thank you for your content and meal ideas at the end to sharing how to use what was bought.

[@melodyireland2716]

Great video abbey, so glad you made this, to help people with this. Not everyone can afford really expensive food all the time, and even if they could, there are other things worth putting money into as well as food! Buying in bulk (price per 100g) is almost always cheaper than smaller things, especially if its things that last a long time. That $30 bag of rice tip was a great idea. I think one of the main principles of being able to eat on a budget is building up your store cupboard, instead of expecting to get everything you need week by week. In the long run it all adds up and you can eat better for less money this way. I think that goes for basically every product, even things like toilet paper seem to be cheaper in larger packages. Freezing stuff e.g. fresh meat is a great help so you can buy more than you need of fresh things when on special, etc so they don't go to waste before you can use them. If your grocery store discounts stuff with its best before date about to come up you can make use of this sometimes for certain things, every so often I can get discounted milk or yoghurt this way. Often the cheapest budget brands of some things are just as good as more expensive ones, e.g. for things like canned tomatoes, legumes, rice, pasta, supermarket own brands in my country are quite well done. Deli ham is a good way to buy some meat cheap to add to sandwiches for example, also if you have a slow cooker (bought mine second hand) you can buy cheaper cuts of meat and make use of them. If you get whole chickens, if you save the bones you can make homemade chicken stock for free. Canned sardines are super cheap and they are a great source of both omega 3s and calcium that can be used in a lot of different ways. Canned canned beans and lentils are amazing, either in vegetarian dishes, or to bulk out things like mince in nachos or bolognaise, etc to reduce the cost per serving without making your meal full vegetarian. Frozen peas are a great go to (both a vegetable and source of protein in one). Hope these tips help someone!

[@celestialcircledance]

Even as a single person before the inflation Its always been hard to stretch 50 dollars for a whole week . Whether what you got is enough might depend on what other staples you already have stocked up in your fridge or pantry from prior weeks . It can be good to initially focus on bulk items that will last more than a week and keep building !

[@baileyruggles7894]

Abbey thank you so much for taking us to the store with you! I learned a lot and I would love to see more videos like this! Grocery shopping is incredibly overwhelming and it would be nice to have you there with me!

[@AndiGurl]

My grocery bill went up $80 a month for 2 people. It's definitely hard times. 😪 I appreciate this video very much. Especially because it's Canadian. I love presidents choice brand products. How was that Elks Crossing ice cream? Haha love it. I live in a small city in northern BC so the options are limits here but thank goodness for No Frills a Loblaw company because they have some great deals at times. 🙌 we don't have bagged milk here though. I don't think that's a thing in BC. I've never noticed anyways. Well I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I'd love to see another one sometime.

[@leisaann]

Physically going to the store is my me time 🤣

[@AbbeysKitchen]

😂

[@anitafoss2133]

Thanks so much for doing this video! It's become very challenging to stretch the grocery budget as so many things have had major price increases. I miss getting eggs at Aldi's for less than $1.00 a dz! To save $, I do buy some dried beans and then batch prep them and have had good results with black beans and pinto beans with freezing them afterwards. And while I'm going thru that effort, I make and freeze a big batch of chili at the same time. I love your tip about the wheat bran for smoothie, salad topping etc., I'll definitely be looking into that. One thing that has been very hard for me is protein powder. I'd been using one of the brands you had reviewed in a video regarding protein powders and when almost all of the ones that were good choices in the video went out if my price range, I did some research and settled on a different brand with a little more sugar, but not excessive and it then increased substantially, so I wonder if you could do a video of the "Best of the ""Worst"" (for lack of a better term) about protein powder and possibly bars? Due to inflation I've been making my own protein bars and I use protein powder in both bars and smoothies and these have become a staple in my lifestyle. As always, thank you for all of your great efforts and advice!!!

[@juliavodyanyuk4977]

Amazing video! These are great ideas. For those who don’t know/have context, Abby is at a more expensive grocery store available here in Canada. There are many budget options in Canada where that $50 would stretch even further. I wonder how this experiment would fare at another store.

[@heatherc3521]

I was just about to comment this. This grocery store is really expensive and as a Canadian, I rarely, if ever, step into this chain of stores. There are a lot of much more affordable options in Canada and I'd love to see this experiment done at one of the budget-friendly chains.

[@mikkichristine4524]

Superstore isn't a more expensive grocery store. 😂 I'd say if she was at Save On or Safeway it'd be more expensive but Superstore is comparable to Walmart. Sincerely, a Canadian living in America.

[@lyndagabriel6539]

Thanks for that comment about frozen vegs for stir fry... I hadn't thought of that, and I'd stopped stir frying largely because of having to buy/prep veggies and usually having to buy more than will be eaten... frozen = the perfect solution! ... also was fun to see you choose the exact things/brands I use for my almost daily pb/cherries/spinach or kale smoothies... and the reminder, I should grind my flax+ seeds to add to things! Now if I could just find the grinder... next video, please tell me where I stashed my small and neglected appliances!

[@ZeroWasteFamily]

I love how you went to the store not with a shopping list but a goal of buying something in each categories of grains, produce and protein

[@Thefrenchcrafter]

Thanks! Great video! I definitely want more of these

[@RaptorsCantSwim]

A tip my husband and I use every week (And I don't know if this is only a thing in Denmark, but...) our stores have this section with food that is just on the sell-by date that the store would typically throw out. The price is ranked down to way under half of its regular price. Freezing it immediately or cooking it in bulk to freeze saves the produce and our money. If you can shop these "anti-food waste sales," I would highly recommend it.

[@lmacdonald5829]

Loved this video!! I would love to see more grocery shopping videos every now and then from you! Also, a a fellow Canadian.. yes to this entire haul and I 100% support you going back later for the dunkaroos.. 🤤❤

[@shinymommy]

I'd love more eating healthy on a budget videos. Especially with recipes ❤️❤️❤️

[@acalledfoodie]

As a young college student shopping on a budget is so difficult so I appreciate this video I would like to see more videos like this on a budget and how to eat healthy with a small amount of money maybe at different grocery stores I am also an aspiring dietitian so it was so fun to watch you go through the grocery store

[@lulubelle65]

If you live in a city with a significant Asian or Mexican population, look for a grocer store in that neighborhood. My local “ethnic” stores are so much less expensive than the big grocery stores, and you can find really cool things. We also have a few large produce stores that have a lot more variety and much better prices on produce as well as on things like bread and eggs.

[@AmandaCarlson1]

Love all the tips - online grocery shopping and meal planning make the perfect pair when it comes to not overbuying or going off script with in store temptations. But the most important thing I want to know is where did you get your blue and black tie died tshirt? So cute!

[@kelseywouk1655]

Please make more like this!!! I can always use help in the grocery store!

[@bethaniejify]

One thing I’ve done recently is certain dried beans and grains in bulk. This saves on packaging and cost. Particularly oats. Last winter I bought a ten lb bag and still have the last of it. Ten lb bag of black beans. I buy flour from a local mill in bulk. That way I purchase those things rarely rather than every few weeks, so when I grocery shop I can spend less and focus on produce and a splurge item or two.

[@njjen3953]

Thank you for the tip on frozen fruit. In my area, fresh strawberries have been on sale, so I have been getting them and freezing them for smoothies.

[@Cauliflowerr_]

At sunday i always look at the food discounts of the store for the upcoming week and plan my meals around them if possible. I write a shopping list and estimate the total price of everything i need usually with a little buffer and in store i add up the prices in my head. If i stay under my budget i get myself some treats as well. But usually i stricly buy whats on my list. Since some of the meals do not require a specific vegetable i sometimes just put vegetable on the list and decide in the store but the rest is pretty much planned out. My budget usually is pretty tight as well and i do be already counting the days until i leave university and start a proper job to have some financal freedom

[@purplekimby]

Love these videos because it really shows how things have changed. When I was a kid (in the 90s) my mom fed a family of 6 for $50-70/ weeks. Now that's impossible.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

It’s crazy

[@theprousteffect9717]

Not to be rude, but that was over 20 years ago, so of course it's impossible now. I'm also a child of the 90's and that was a particularly good time economically as well. The issue is that the cost of living continues to increase, while pay doesn't increase at the rate it should.

[@skuddleduck]

I always pick one protien and build 3-4 meals. I found chicken thighs on clearance and made bbq chicken flatbread, chicken salad, fajitas, and chicken souvlaki. All that said, for one person, I still spend like $70/ week.

[@rebeccabarlow4383]

Another note on dried vs tinned beans- the cost and environmental impact to cook them! The UK is in the midst of a fuel crisis and when you factor in it takes 11x the fuel to cook pulses ½-2hrs on a stove at home compared to the highly efficient factories that tinned goods are cooked by, it works out cheaper in the long run to buy tinned!

[@paulgaras2606]

Is a week 3 days in Canada?

[@eobrien1]

Quick tip for beans: If you didn’t know, you can cook dried beans in the Instant Pot in like an hour. No soaking & they come out perfect. I know people don’t always have an hour, but it’s still way faster than overnight soaking & 2-3 hours on the stove. Just thought I’d share! Totally agree that canned beans can be so helpful for quick meal prep too tho!

[@sarakjeldsen769]

I love that you did this. ❤️ I'm doing good now, but there's been times where I've had $60 left until pay day and it's a challenge to eat healthy in that scenario but it is possible. Makes me want to do a challenge like this next week just to see if I can make it to $50 for a whole week

[@andrea.andrea]

another great affordable yet nutritious tip for those wanting to save money but want to eat more fish/hit their omega 3 intake: canned mackerel and sardines are inexpensive and a lot cheaper than salmon but very high in omega 3 and 6 and protein. frozen cod filets are also a good and cheaper alternative. potatoes are very filling and nutritious too and versatile as a ingredient. frozen broccoli (especially) and frozen veg way cheaper and as abbey said in the video actually more nutritious than fresh as the veg is picked at their peak season. Thanks abbey for a great video!!

[@andrea.andrea]

a still a last tip! making casseroles, savoury pies, stews and soup are a great hack to save grocery expenses as they last for so many meals, can be partly frozen and the ingredients can be from literally anything but aslo from cheap ingredients such as potatoes, frozen veg pasta, canned veg, oats made into flour or normal flour etc.

[@tiffanyperez8278]

Love this thank you for breaking this done with budget 😊

[@queencelestyna]

I usually make my list in the store's app. One reason is that I can see what's on sale, add them to my list, and then build a meal plan around that with extra things added to round out meals. Then, when I get to the store, the list is organized by aisle. It's helped a ton with reducing my impulse buys! However, yeah, I'm lucky and live in Southern California, so there are really good deals on fresh produce, especially toward the end of the season for each item.

[@AbbeysKitchen]

Great strategy!

[@Ch.Ly.D]

Loved this video! Especially at the end when you rhymed off the meal options with the ingredients you got. Keep these coming! 😍

[@caffeineandconquer]

I think which grocery store you head to can help with cost as well. Being an Ontarian too, I know the store you visited is not known for being super budget friendly 😉 but the produce quality is great so I'm willing to choose them over some of the other alternatives

[@bysarahxx]

I loved this!!! Grocery Budget inspo!

[@hannahsmith296]

This isn’t specifically a grocery shopping tip, but I have found one of the biggest ways to keep our grocery budget down is to keep a list of things in our freezer and pantry. It’s WAAAAY to easy for things to accidents get shuffled to the back and you forget you have it. I keep a list for pantry and a list for freezer on our fridge. When I’m meal planning I will check that list out and see what can be made with what we already have first. Also, and this just takes some time and getting comfortable in the kitchen, just getting used to swapping our certain things. Maybe you were planning on making a stir fry with broccoli chicken but you see that snap peas and shrimp are on sale instead. It is totally ok to do some swapping and switching in recipes! Although I don’t recommend switching up things in baking recipes because that can go wrong pretty quick 😂

[@amyvandrunenfitness9792]

Thanks Hannah, I love your list tip, I think I’ll do that

[@GetOfflineGetGood]

My instant pot has made dry beans more feasible for me. 45 minutes with no soaking under high pressure is easy enough to just set it and ignore it. Adding bacon and onions makes them amazing

[@susanprepejchal3112]

One of the great thing about lentils is that they don't need to be soaked ahead, so buying them dry is practical. Also, consider that you won't eat that whole jar of peanut butter in one week, so maybe the amount you spent really wouldn't be over if you averaged it over a few weeks.

[@kaileekroska]

potential TW for discussing EDs- but something I have found so so difficult in ED recovery is the expenses of groceries in general, especially when on a meal plan to restore weight. The price of a single Ensure+ at a grocery store near me is $2.50 USD, which adds a lot of money to a grocery bill if you’re having multiple per day. Having a pretty specific meal plan when it comes to portion sizes and amount of food groups also makes things difficult. But besides all that, thanks for the great video! Helpful as always

[@Tuscola64]

Loved this video ! You should do more budget videos !

[@TotallyMarisol]

My grocery store is very big on cutting down waste so they have a clearance section for almost every department. I don’t eat a lot of meat but if I do I will get it in clearance and freeze it to use later. My work schedule has been busier lately too and I’ve been eating more convenience foods that are more expensive. I’ve been able to balance out my budget by making certain staples such as bread and pasta sauce at home. These are surprisingly easy to make and I like that I can do chores while bread proofs or tomatoes reduce to a sauce! Pasta sauce and bread are also two items that freeze super well. It takes about 75 cents to make a loaf of bread, and it’s $4 at the grocery store! Same with pasta sauce. Marked up super high and you can make a delicious homemade sauce for the same amount you can buy a watery, bland sauce for.

[@Budgetmeright]

I am from Greece so cooking from scratch is so natural for me. This is the healthiest and budget friendly option. ❣️

[@yasminamin1893]

Just a tip, Lowblow is a very expensive store. I live in GTA area, I usually go to Food Basic which have same products but cheaper.... But overall, I loved this video a lot.

[@manojipereira9169]

Yep, the haul could've been bigger at a No Frills, with more no name brand items. Or even an "ethnic" grocery store where produce is cheaper

[@tiffany.Elizabeth.]

No frills!!!!

[@yasminamin1893]

@@manojipereira9169 even No frills is expensive in my opinion.

[@JJ-nu4pb]

Love this video!! Thanks Abbey!