Aussies are turning vegetarian to keep up with skyrocketing grocery bills as the cost-of-living crisis continues to squeeze budgets across the country.
Sydney’s mother, Stef Levenska, shared a post last week asking for advice on making affordable meals amid soaring meat prices.
She said the price of Woolworths ground beef, currently $12 a kilo, made her “nauseous” and wondered if meat has become a luxury rather than a staple.
“Is anyone else considering becoming a vegetarian in the current cost-of-living crisis?” she asked.
‘I felt inspired to be a little frugal and decided to make my own burger patties for dinner, walked down the meat aisle in Woolies and felt sick inside.
“I’ve never really liked cooking meat, especially chicken, and with the current prices of everything, that makes sense [to go vegetarian].
“Canned Tonton is probably the only exception I’d make.”
A Sydney mother said she is considering becoming a vegetarian to cope with rising food costs (Photo: a woman shopping at Woolworths)
The mother said the price of meat made her “sick” and her family will eat more vegetarian meals
Dozens of commenters said they also went meat-free to save money.
‘We are not officially vegetarian, but we have certainly reduced the number of meals with meat. Tuna is great and good for mixing meals together,” one wrote.
“Beans, lentils, tofu and textured vegetable proteins are much cheaper than meat and so versatile,” wrote another.
“It’s very easy and cheap to be a vegetarian if you like Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern and Asian food with tofu,” a third person wrote.
One mom shared a series of meat-free recipes to try, writing, “It’s super cheap to go vegetarian and it’s definitely not all beans and rice!
“You can buy an eggplant for $1.40 and make a parmi with some breadcrumbs or you can add some miso and toast it.”
“You can buy a pack of tofu for $2.50 and make it.” [lettuce wraps]. You could make a quiche with some mushrooms and garlic super cheap.
“Some of the world’s most delicious cuisines are vegetarian – like great South Indian food.”
Dozens of commentators said they have largely eliminated meat from their diets, with the exception of canned fish
Dozens of commentators suggested alternatives to Woolworths ground meat (right), such as canned nut meat (left)
Others suggested trying canned nut meats, at $6 for 415g, as a meat alternative and getting creative with “savoury soups.”
New data from Compare the Market shows that rising food costs have the biggest impact on more than a third of Australian budgets.
Of the more than 1,000 Aussies, 32 percent identified groceries as their top financial burden, followed by mortgage payments at 24 percent, rent at 15 percent and utility costs at 7.7 percent.
Nearly half of those surveyed, 46 percent, said they regularly cut their grocery budgets to pay other bills.
“Our data shows that the average Aussie spends $199.46 a week on groceries, which is about $864 a month or $10,372 a year,” said Compare the Market’s Noémi Hadnagy.
“Compared to just two years ago, Aussies spend $1,565 more annually on groceries, which adds up quite a bit when we factor in rent increases, repeated mortgage rate hikes, as well as high utility bills and insurance renewals.
“When you add that up, it’s enough to pay for a weekend getaway, pay your car’s annual registration, cover your internet bills for a year, or buy a new smartphone.
“It’s pretty alarming.”
Data showed that Aussies spent an average of $169.35 per week on groceries in September 2021, compared to $199.46 per week in April this year.
A survey by Compare the Market found that more than a third of Aussies see rising grocery bills as their biggest financial burden and nearly half are limiting groceries to pay other bills
Gen Z is most concerned about rising grocery bills and the generation that spends the least at the supermarket. In contrast, it is Gen Xers who spend the most each week at an average of $225.32,” said Ms. Hadnagy.
“Of course this age group is most likely to have children and families and it makes sense that they pay more than Gen Z or even baby boomers.
“Whatever your age, now is truly the time to wake up to wasting.” We know prices are rising across the board, but there are ways to save.
“Spending a little more time planning or comparing prices is one of the easiest ways to keep that grocery spending in check.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Woolworths for comment.