Do you want to reduce how much money you’re spending on food drastically? I know I do and I bet you do too. Who wants to spend thousands of dollars every year on groceries? But do you know what’s truly shocking?
The average family of four spent approximately $16,297 on food in 2024. According to the 2025 Canadian Food Price Report, overall food prices are expected to increase by 3% to 5%.
This means the same family of four will spend around $16,833.67 on food this year—an increase of up to $801.56 compared to last year.
Even more shocking is that most of us throw away 35% to 40% of the food we buy. For that same family of four, this translates to wasting between $5,891 and $6,733 annually on food they’re not eating.
I don’t know about you, but that’s money I can’t afford to throw away. So why are we doing this? The reasons include poor planning, overbuying, improper food storage, and discarding still-edible food. For instance, food labels like “best by” dates don’t mean the food is unsafe to eat—they’re simply an indication of when the food is at its freshest.
I’ll admit, that I’ve thrown away perfectly edible food because I wasn’t sure if it was still safe to consume. Even now, I follow the “when in doubt, throw it out” rule. However, by following safe food handling guidelines, you can better understand how long certain foods can be kept before they need to be cooked or eaten.
For example:
• Raw ground meats can be stored in the refrigerator for two days, while whole meats like roasts can last up to five days.
• Cooked meats should be eaten within two to three days.
• Fruits and vegetables can last several weeks in the refrigerator—provided they’re properly stored.
It’s important to wash and dry produce before storing it. Unwashed fruits and vegetables can lead to foodborne illnesses or the consumption of chemical residues. Once washed and dried, store produce in airtight containers, such as mason jars, to prolong freshness significantly.
Going to the grocery store without a plan is a guaranteed way to waste money. First, take inventory of your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Know what’s already there, and plan your meals for the week based on those items, supplemented by grocery store sale items.
Once you’ve created a menu and “shopped your kitchen,” head to the store with a list—and stick to it. Avoid being tempted by items outside your plan.
When you get home, it’s important to manage your purchases to prevent spoilage. For example, if you buy a multipack of chicken but only need half for a meal, repackage the rest and freeze it for later. Washing, chopping, and portioning fruits and vegetables for snacking or meal prep ensures they’re used while still fresh.
Posting your weekly menu in the kitchen serves as a reminder to use these foods before they spoil. It can also signal to your family that certain ingredients are designated for meals—not random snacking. Have you ever bought an ingredient for dinner, only to find someone ate it before you could use it? Frustrating and costly.
Avoid this by designating a specific shelf in your fridge or pantry for snacks. Your family will know these items are fair game, while everything else is reserved for meals.
Next week, join me as I share how you can build an emergency food storage with just $5 a week—and the results of a zero-spend challenge where I relied entirely on what I had at home for every meal for an entire week.
Laverne Stewart has spent her entire career as a writer, journalist, and communications professional.She’s won multiple literary and journalism awards for her work. After a year in radio, she made the move to TV news, spending 11 years with CTV in Halifax, Saint John, and Fredericton. Stewart has also worked in government communications, most recently in the Office of the Premier. Stewart is a published author and now works on feature stories from her community and beyond. Her life is full and happy thanks to the people who are in it. She is married to her husband Robert. She is mother to Mary Louise and Nicolas. Also included in her family is Sally, a Labrador retriever, and three cats; Dusty, Joe, and Clancy. She can be reached at lavernestewart24@outlook.com.