Here Are the Foods Getting More Expensive and What to Shop for Instead

Eggs

For over a year, egg prices have gone up. Though they’ve finally started to come down, the prices remain higher than what many shoppers are used to. It’s partly due to avian flu, which has reduced the egg supply. If you’re struggling to afford eggs, consider skipping the eggs in baking recipes. Egg replacements like flax eggs are very affordable, and in baked goods, you really won’t miss the real thing.

Love a big egg breakfast? Try making that a weekend-only treat, and swap in an eggless high-protein breakfast, like chia pudding or overnight oats.

Chocolate

Earlier this year, CNN reported that chocolate prices are up 20%. Cocoa farmers have been especially struggling with weather and climate change, reducing supply of all sorts of chocolate, from high-end confections to simple chocolate chips. To save money, turn your baking energy to chocolate-free desserts: Think yellow cakes, sugar cookies, cheesecake and pies. If you must scratch that chocolate itch, look for chocolate made with less cocoa, like candy bars with nuts, wafers or pretzels.

Coffee Pods

Recently, a colleague at Taste of Home noticed that her go-to coffee pods cost $15. Not long ago they used to be $10. On average, coffee pods have increased in price across the board, running 5 to 10 extra cents per pod. A leading brand, Nespresso, attributed the increase in price of its pods to rising costs for things like transportation and packaging, as well as extreme weather conditions that have affected the coffee bean supply.

To save money, switch to regular drip coffee. Bags of ground or whole bean coffee are much cheaper than coffee pods, mostly because they use less packaging. Many of our favorite coffee makers are easy to program ahead of time so you can have coffee ready to go when you wake up—just as convenient as the pods. Or, if you prefer to make a single cup at a time, try a simple pour-over.

Beef

From burger cookouts to taco nights, beef has become a prevalent protein on American dinner tables. As demand increases, supply has struggled to keep up, causing record-high prices. The solution? Try to save red meat for special occasions, not everyday eating. More affordable proteins, like chicken or turkey, are just as versatile. Bonus: they’re healthier and easier on the environment. For a heartier taste, buy richer cuts of poultry, like chicken thighs or dark-meat ground turkey.

Or, consider going meatless one or more nights a week. Vegan dinners can star healthy proteins like beans, tofu and grains, while vegatarian dinners can also feature eggs, cheese and yogurt.

Fresh Fruit

At the height of summer, it’s hard to imagine fruit getting expensive. But for most of the year, grocery store fruit is imported, coming from warmer countries in Central and South America. That makes it vulnerable to tariffs and supply chain issues.

To avoid getting a second mortgage for strawberries, shop smart. Look for fruits that are in season wherever they’re grown, like citrus in the deepest winter, avocados in the first quarter of the year and strawberries in spring. If you crave off-season fruits, switch to frozen fruit, which is surprisingly versatile. You’d never even know the difference in meals like strawberry smoothies or blueberry pancakes! You can even make berry pie with frozen berries instead of fresh.

Sugar

For the past few years, sugar prices have soared thanks to inclement weather conditions in super sugar-producing countries like India and Thailand, not to mention expected tariffs. The bad news is that any product that contains sugar will be impacted, from cookies and candy to ice creams and jams.

If you have a sweet tooth, look for low-sugar recipes (bonus: they’re healthier for you, anyway!). Even if you stick with your usual favorite dessert recipes, they will be much cheaper than store-bought alternatives. Lastly, consider swapping in alternative sweeteners. Think honey for your morning tea, stevia in your coffee or maple syrup in your oatmeal.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are expected to get pricey, largely because we rely on lots of imported tomatoes, especially from Mexico. A drought in California also plays a role. Expect more than your Caprese salad to be impacted. Packaged foods, like tomato sauces, salsas, ketchups and soups are also likely to go up in price.

Try sticking to fresh tomatoes when they’re in season. Bonus points if you freeze some roasted tomatoes for the colder months, or preserve a surplus crop by canning tomatoes. In the off-season, store-bought canned tomatoes will be much cheaper than fresh. Use them to make easy homemade pasta sauces and pizza sauce. Pick up items like ketchup and tomato paste in bulk at stores like Costco if you can.