The holiday season is quickly approaching, and so are the typical family gatherings that accompany it. This year, you will need to budget a little over $100 to feed a table of four to six people with a traditional Christmas meal.
This is what the Agri-Food Analytical Sciences Laboratory at Dalhousie University calculated for this feast consisting of a turkey with stuffing and accompanying vegetables, pies and a meatball stew, followed by dessert.
The lowest price is set at $92.09 while the highest reaches $116.48. The average is $104.85.
screenshot taken from the Agri-Food Analytical Sciences Laboratory report
“The increase is 7 to 8% compared to last year when we look at all the possible options,” observes the laboratory director, Sylvain Charlebois.
It is possible to reduce the bill if, for example, the turkey is replaced by ham. At this time, we are talking about a meal whose price ranges between $36.99 and $67.02.
Experts from Dalhousie University also expect to see many Canadians abandon turkey and stuffing due to the food inflation affecting the country.
“If Dollarama sold turkey, I think there are people who would go and buy it,” illustrates the specialist on the subject of the food budget which continues to increase.
Strong increases for certain products
His laboratory recalls that over the past year, the price of turkey has increased by around 5%, that of potatoes, by 6.6%, and that of carrots, by 12.8%.
There is always a way to save money, says Sylvain Charlebois, notably by choosing the right store to buy your products. “It also depends on when you shop and if you use coupons,” he says.
If you buy your turkey on December 24, don’t expect to save, he laughs.
If the price of the turkey remains similar to that of last year, it is mainly that of the sides which increases the bill.
“Stuffing, cranberries, etc. Often, grocers will charge more for this. They take advantage of it,” warns the expert.
Since people are committed to offering lots of traditional sides with turkey, they can save big by cooking another protein.
“We do less total when we cook a ham or a salmon. But when you make turkey, you give everything you have, it seems,” he observes.