Rising food costs make for more-modest Quebec thanksgiving, some reduce meat-eating
Almost a quarter of Canadians say they'll be making at least some changes to their thanksgiving dinner menu this year because of rising food costs.
The average cost of a full spread with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, green beans, desert, and drinks, is now about $200 – a 12 per cent increase from last year.
The result, for many, is a shorter grocery list.
“What we found out is that 22 per cent of households are actually planning to make menu adjustments as a result of higher food prices," said food industry expert Sylvain Charlebois.
In Quebec, more people are using food banks. At the Welcome Hall Mission, about 4,000 people are using its two free grocery stores each week.
"I think the challenge around holiday time, whether it's Thanksgiving or whether it's Christmas time, is a lot of people have an image of what they'd like to have, and unfortunately that's not possible with the resources that they have,” said Welcome Hall Mission CEO Sam Watts.
“Thankfully, we're in a position where we can respond to some of that."
On Monday, the Montreal Alouettes will once again serve Thanksgiving dinner to those in need at the Welcome Hall.
“If you're living right on the edge, you're spending a disproportionate amount on food and rent and other basic items,” said Watts. “So, when we talk about inflation being at 7 per cent or 8 per cent, it's actually higher for people who are at the lower end of the income spectrum."
COST AND CLIMATE: CARVING OUT MEAT
“A lot of people and institutions are actually switching to plant-based options, like daycares and schools and other facilities, because they can cut on costs,” said cookbook author Caroline Huard. “Beans and legumes are much less expensive.”
However, pinched-wallets are not the only cause to Canadians cutting back. Some are pursuing plant-based diets due to climate concerns.
On Saturday, hundreds packed into the Palais des Congres for the 9th annual Vegan Festival. While many of those congregants were vegan themselves, not everyone does it full-time.
Festivalgoers sampled several meatless dishes at the festival, including a Montreal classic: lox and cream cheese – except the lox was fishless. Instead, it’s made of carrot.
The dish was created by a local company called By 2048.
“Our name was inspired by a study that predicted if we don't change our consumption habits, the oceans could run out of fish by the year 2048,” said Arthur Schiller, founder and CEO of the company.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.
BREAKING Police make arrests in killing of B.C. Sikh activist, source confirms
Police have made arrests in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a senior government source has confirmed to CTV News.
WATCH LIVE Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded west of Vancouver Island
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was reported west of Vancouver Island Thursday evening.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Supreme Court orders new trial for B.C. francophone who was not given French option
The Supreme Court is ordering a new trial for a francophone man in British Columbia who says he was not informed of his right to have a trial in the official language of his choice.