Ten Saving Strategies from 2025 Food Trends: Part I of II

I am not affiliated with any brands and products that I share in this post. I am an independent researcher sharing my knowledge to help consumers shop their values. Where stated have I personally tried and recommend brands or products. I’m always hopeful to receive feedback from the community about your experiences.

Are you happy with your eating habits? Consider this: even small improvements, especially small improvements, can create BIG gain over time.

The Canadian consumer food price index has steadied in recent months but there is a longer-term trend toward rising food costs in Alberta (up 22% from December 2020 to December 2024) [i]. Food prices are forecast to increase another 3-5% in 2025 [ii]. Despite overall higher costs for food, your food spend this year could fluctuate a lot depending on the products you choose and when.

Now is the time to review your eating habits for your health and wealth! In this article we look at food trends for 2025 and review strategies to cut costs based on those trends.

Save money and time while improving your eating habits, seriously! It’s not too hard. You just need a little food knowledge. Read on to learn how it is possible to save time and money on food in 2025. I’m guessing there are strategies here you’ve never heard of before!

First, the elephant in your fridge: higher food prices in 2025

Canada’s Food Price Report 2025 forecasts food prices up 3-5% in 2025 (p.16) [iii] and it’s not exactly clear what potential tariffs will be. Are solutions like cutting coupons, switching grocers, buying bulk and scratch cooking realistic considering today’s barriers like trade wars, food deserts, time and income ceilings, and single person households? The elephant in your fridge, i.e., higher food prices, get support anywhere from production costs to supply, demand, transportation, taxes, trade and competitive advantage. What can one citizen really do?

Don’t feel helpless, that’s for sure. There are strategies you alone or working together can put in place. Consider the following cost management strategies and regain choice and control over your eating habits.

Save on food strategies

#10 – Substitute with international foods and markets

There are many diverse international food options available to try in Canada! So many in fact, that product selection was cited as a barrier to increasing competition in Canada’s grocery industry (p.36) [iv].

Mediterranean and Asian flavours are having their moment. Alberta has had steady population growth from South Asian, Filipino, Black and Chinese descent over five years [v]. Incorporating international cooking into your habits invites new ingredients, preparations and substitutes into your everyday menu. Substitutes are great when demand is high and/or supply is low for everyday items.

Shopping in the international aisle at your big box grocers [vi] and shopping around for fresh foods or new ingredients may lead to paying less for groceries. Ethnic food markets need to compete with the big grocers. They may do so in ways that benefit you, like carrying niche items or substitutes and charging less on everyday items to attract customers or move fresh product. Anecdotally, I was in one such store market today and the staff offered me a 10% discount to come back.

Learn a world of cooking knowledge from international foods in the process of revamping your diet and your budget. Memorize new techniques and ingredients so they are TRULY at your fingertips whenever you need to cook.

#9 – Shop your own values

Shopping local is sure to have a moment given current Canadian sentiment toward potential US policy. How long will it last? I’m a proponent of shopping ‘local,’ but the parentheses around local represent a world of values and definitions. It’s a complicated term. Here is just one example:

What does shopping ‘local’ really mean when Canada exported 60% of their agri-food products to the US in 2024 [vii]. As a result of the interconnectivity in the supply chain between the two countries (more on that later in The Roost), an apple from Ontario, for example, may end up in a pie in Washington. Anything processed in the US and sold back to Canada may not meet the test for Product of Canada, or Made in Canada, even though Canadian producers and businesses are part of the supply chain. Boycotting US product today may negatively impact Canadian businesses and people in indirect ways.

Don’t get caught up a wave that doesn’t serve you. Instead, define, learn, and shop what is important to you, like fresh, inexpensive, quality, and find the brands and retailers that offer it through their labelling.

#8 –Shop in person at stores that participate in the scanner price accuracy code

Online, pick-up and delivery sales are increasing slow but steady in Canada [viii]. This brings new challenges for protecting consumer interests. Yet shopping in person at stores that participate in the voluntary scanner price accuracy code protects you from retail pricing missteps while saving you time, money and headaches.

Fundamentally the code states that if an item scans incorrectly at check-out, you get the item for free if it is under $10. You get $10 dollars off the item if it is priced higher than $10 on the shelf. Most items with a UPC code qualify. Holding retailers accountable to the code can help you capitalize on poor retail performance and hopefully help improve the business and its services for you down the line. Most grocery retailers in Canada volunteer. A full list is available here from the Retail Council of Canada. There are over 7,000 stores involved across the board.

#7 – Cooking convenience that is convenient for you

Convenience food products are popular. Convenience products are prepared ingredients e.g. pre-marinated and pre-boxed groceries and meals available from your grocer or restaurant. Their appeal is tempting, but I’m usually inconvenienced by the cost, availability, ingredient list, or meager size of the solutions. Can you instead plan your own convenience items, anticipating that you will definitely be in need of a 1 minute or 15 minute meal solution in the future. YES YOU CAN.

The best part about preparing your own convenience food is that it allows you to take advantage of bulk pricing even if you live alone. Convenience cooking at home is as simple as DOUBLING THE RECIPE. That means more ingredients on hand and more ready-made options in your freezer. Your first step will be to invest in good quality storage containers or upcycle what you have..

There’s an added benefit of reducing packaging waste (and the number of times you take out the garbage). Another benefit is having an organized fridge and pantry that can help you reduce food waste even further and save minutes every day and HOURS EVERY WEEK!

Tip: Buy non-perishables in bulk and space your scratch cooking out to avoid burnout. You can also buy more when the price is lower.

#6 – Seasoning with sauces, toppings and spices

I love this one right now. Presently I have no time for fancy cooking. Therefore, my cooking is just less jazzy. Sometimes I have only 1 MINUTE for food prep. Talk about time sensitive!

Sauces, toppings and spices make delicious food possible in an instant. With sauces, everyone can learn to make and enjoy their own dip for meats, vegetables, and breads. Prepare toppings like sauces or cheeses or nuts or herbs separately to add variety to your diet and satiate picky eaters.

Innovation is coming to your grocer [ix]. but why not innovate yourself at home to save time and money? Memorize and batch prepare simple flavour combos like this seven spice cajun, which is salt free by the way: with paprika, garlic, pepper, thyme, oregano, onion powder and cayenne.

Don’t miss out on Part II of this article with five more 2025 trends and savings strategies.

Continue reading in next issue of The Roost.

Remember, food is energy. Thanks for sharing food news with Ruby Rooster.

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This article is not legal, medical, health, or financial advice from a registered professional; it is for informational purposes only.

[i] Statistics Canada. (January 21, 2025). Consumer Price Index, monthly, not seasonally adjusted. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1810000401

[ii] Dalhousie University. (2024). Canada’s Food Price Report 2025: 15th Edition. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/sites/agri-food/EN%20-%20Food%20Price%20Report%202025.pdf

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Competition Bureau Canada. (2024). CANADA NEEDS MORE GROCERY COMPETITION: COMPETITION BUREAU RETAIL GROCERY MARKET STUDY REPORT. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/2023/CB-Retail-Grocery-Market-Study-Report-EN-2023-06-23.pdf

[v] Government of Alberta. (January 2025). 2021 Census of Canada Racialized Groups of Albertans. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/04545424-2b43-48f4-9ce9-e26ac408f637/resource/ 25d9df2d-3e38-4639-b3ab-d0bf94a8af07/download/tbf-osi-2021-census-of-canada-racialized-groups-of-albertans-2025.pdf

[vi] Code, J. (July 23, 2023). Why Some Groceries are Cheaper in the International Aisle. City TV News. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://calgary.citynews.ca/2023/07/23/groceries-cheaper-international-aisle/.

[vii] Dalhousie University. (2024). Canada’s Food Price Report 2025: 15th Edition. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/sites/agri-food/EN%20-%20Food%20Price%20Report%202025.pdf.

[viii] Consumer’s Council of Canada. (April 8, 2024). Canadian Grocery Shopping Habits Shift as Prices Rise. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://www.consumerscouncil.com/canadian-grocery-shopping-habits-shift-as-prices-rise/

[ix] Innova Market Insights. (December 17, 2024). Top Food Trends 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/trends/top-food-trends-2025/

Copyright Ruby Rooster 2025. Not for Commercial Use.