The Bigger Picture

Feeding oneself is becoming ever-more expensive. This is not an isolated occurrence. It's connected to many other realities. The overall rising cost of living, housing instability, food waste at all levels, clever grocery-store marketing, and the temptations of take-out and delivery all stress food budgets of any size.

10 million

Canadians experience food insecurity

$1,300

average annual food waste per household

45%

of food waste comes from fruit and vegetables

What did homesteaders eat?

Before supermarkets and convenience foods, the Canadian homesteaders’ diet was dictated by the seasons and their own labor. They primarily ate foods they could grow, hunt, or preserve. Many of their meals are just as good today.

Millions of Canadians experience housing instability at some point

Without access to a traditional kitchen, feeding oneself becomes an even bigger challenge.

The average Canadian household wastes 300 pounds of food every year

Most of that waste happens quietly. A bag of wilted salad, forgotten leftovers, bread that went moldy. It all adds up!.

What to know about expiration dates

Most expiration dates are not safety deadlines. There is a big difference between a 'Best Before' and a 'Use By' date. Understanding the difference can save home-cooks quite a bit of money.

YouTubers to the Rescue

YouTube has quietly become one of the best free resources for anyone trying to eat well on a tight budget — and the creators leading the charge are worth knowing about.

The same staples feed the world

From Mexico to Morocco, Japan to Jamaica, the foods that keep people fed are remarkably consistent. Rice, beans, lentils, flatbread, and eggs appear in almost every food culture on earth — and the dishes built around them are among the most satisfying ever made.

What we can learn from the Great Depression

The generation that lived through the 1930s developed a set of kitchen habits that are well suited to today’s cost of living crisis. Nothing was thrown away, stale bread became pudding, bones became broth, scraps became soup. Their recipes were simple, with minimal waste and extraordinary creativity.

The art of not wasting fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are the most wasted food at home, but a few changes in how to store them and how to use every last bit of them can save them from the garbage bin.

Cooking without following a recipe saves money

Loosen the rules, use what you have, and make satisfying meals without buying a long list of one-time ingredients.