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Why Restaurants Are Having A Hard Time Finding Employees

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Restaurants Having A Hard Time Finding Employees

The restaurant industry sure took a hard hit with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many restaurants closed entirely, unable to keep up with rent payments during closures. Other restaurants continued to stay afloat thanks to a combination of funding sources. However, they were all eager for the day when they could re-open to full capacity. We’re just about there. And yet, restaurants are having a hard time finding employees. What is going on?

The Impact of COVID-19 on Restaurants

When the coronavirus pandemic first hit, many cities shut down all of their restaurants. While some resumed service quickly, many kept their doors closed. Here in San Francisco, we only just began allowing indoor dining at partial capacity in recent weeks. While we expect to reach full indoor dining capacity in mid-June, it’s been more than a year of reduced indoor seating.

In order to stay open and survive the pandemic, restaurants had to take a variety of different measures. These included:

  • Updating their to-go and delivery menus. Many places began offering to-go cocktails, new menu items, and family meals.
  • Partnering with nearby bars to allow those bars to open as well. Bars in San Francisco remained closed until very recently. However, they could serve alcohol at a partner restaurant if they could find one.
  • Applying for permits to allow outdoor dining. Here in San Francisco, many places opened outdoor dining parklets. They’ve been a wonderful addition to the city. However, building those cost money. They had to spend money in order to keep making money. And the
  • Adapting their rules, guidelines, safety procedures, etc. in order to meet constantly-changing COVID-19 guidelines.
  • Reducing staff in order to adjust to changing capacities and funding.
  • Applying for grants, setting up Go Fund Me accounts, selling gift certificates and finding other sources of funding.

Many restaurants across the country closed their doors during the pandemic. Some will never open again. In fact, in 2020, over 110,000 restaurants shut down. Forbes reports that the restaurant industry lost $240 billion last year. Moreover, 2.5 million workers in the industry lost their jobs.

We’re Turning the Corner

As we reach the middle of 2021, we’re finally starting to see a positive change. Thanks to vaccines and a downtrend in cases, many areas in the country are able to re-open again. A lot of the restaurants that were struggling to hang on have seen a big surge in customers returning to dine with them.

New restaurants are opening. Old ones are coming back. Those that had been open at partial capacity are filling up again.

However, the restaurants obviously have to keep adapting. Those that had reduced staff due to reduced capacity now need to hire new people. Many people need jobs. And yet, restaurants are having a hard time finding employees. In fact, just when business started bustling again, some restaurants had to close their doors because they simply didn’t have the staff to meet the demand.

There Are Just Too Many Jobs Available

Yes, 2.5 million people lost their jobs in the restaurant industry last year. However, some of those people managed to find new ways to make money since then. And those that are looking for jobs have a whole lot of options to choose from. It’s the first time in history that we can think of when thousands upon thousands of restaurants are hiring all at once. If you have restaurant experience and want a job in the industry, you really have a lot of options to choose from.

People are indeed going out and getting those new restaurant jobs. The New York Times reports a steady increase in restaurant employment month upon month in 2021. Nevertheless, restaurant staffing remains significantly lower than it was pre-pandemic. There are still over one million fewer jobs filled in the business this year as compared to last. (Note that fast food staffing is lower than a year ago but not nearly as low as that of higher-end restaurants.)

So restaurants having a hard time finding employees is a simple situation of supply and demand. There are a lot of jobs. While some people want them, many of those people want to explore their options. Whereas they may have had only a few restaurant positions to choose from pre-pandemic, they now have their pick of places to apply. With so many openings, employees can be pickier about the jobs they take on.

There Are Other Jobs Available, Too

As aforementioned, some of those laid-off restaurant employees found other ways to make money during the pandemic. Perhaps they started their own businesses. Maybe they trained in a new field that allows them to work from home. In some cases, they spent the pandemic year going back to school. In other words, they have returned (or are returning) to work but not in the restaurant industry.

People Moved Away From Restaurant-Rich Areas

The big cities with the most restaurants are also some of the most expensive cities. When people lost their restaurant jobs, some decided to leave those cities. For example, a lot of people left San Francisco and New York. There was no reason to stay in a really expensive city without work available. If those people don’t choose to return to cities with a lot of restaurants, then they aren’t applying for those jobs. And if the people who remained in the cities have other job options, then they aren’t applying to the restaurants. So restaurants having a hard time finding employees makes a lot of sense, especially in those big cities.

Some People May Choose Unemployment

The New York Times article also argues that there are some people who simply don’t want to return to work if they don’t feel like they have to. People have received an unprecedented amount of unemployment income during this pandemic. In some cases, individuals may find that they make more money not working than they would if they chose to go back to work. Moreover, some of those people simply might not feel safe and ready to go back to restaurant work. After all, you have to interact with a lot of people who may or may not have been exposed to COVID.

Of course, there are rules about unemployment. You’re supposed to actively look for a job if you’re able to work. Obviously, there are restaurants hiring. Therefore, at some point, those people who choose unemployment over working may not have that option anymore. However, for the time being, it appears that a portion of those people aren’t returning to work, yet. This contributes to restaurants having a hard time finding employees.

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Food Prices Continue To Rise

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food price increase

It started with empty spots on grocery store shelves amid the pandemic. As a result, food prices soared. Now, with vaccinations up and COVID-19 infections down, you might think those prices would be down. 

However, grocery prices continue their upward trajectory.

Research firm NielsenIQ reports that seafood has climbed 18.7 percent while baked goods have increased 7.5 percent in the 13 week period ended April 24. 

Grocery store prices overall are up 3.3 percent from March 2020 to March 2021, according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). If you ordered from a restaurant during that time, your meal costs rose 3.7 percent.

Consumer Price Index Increase

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose last month to 4.2 percent over the previous April. That is the highest inflation rate since September 2008. Most importantly, the core CPI, which tracks food and energy prices rose 0.9 percent. Consequently, that was 0.6 percent above projections.  

Short-Term Volatility

Food prices can move almost instantly with a change in weather, geopolitics, social unrest, and a variety of other factors. 

A combination of events has come together to impact current food prices.

Oil and Supply Chain

Gasoline is used to fuel everything from tractors used in the planting and harvesting of grains, vegetables, and fruit to delivery of those products in addition to meat and fish. As a result, any price increase in oil contributes to price increases in food.

In addition to gas prices, problems in the supply chain impact not only food prices but other grocery store items. For instance, remember the toilet paper shortage?

Climate Change

Extreme weather events, as well as gradual changes, have had an impact on the food supply. The most recent major weather event is the winter storm that wreaked havoc deep into Texas. 

The immediate impact of that storm was knocking out the power grid. That left people without heat and electricity as temperatures dropped to record lows. However, the long-term impact has slashed the supply of many food sources. 

Losses from that one storm have been estimated at $600 million. Of that, $14 million in milk, cattle, and poultry were lost. In addition, a vast array of fruits and vegetables were destroyed.

Government Supplements

Government policy has had some effect on food costs by driving up corn prices. More corn is going into fuel tanks. As a result, less is going into stomachs.

The U. S. government pays subsidies to use corm for biofuels. As a result, the price of corn has risen and there is less corn to eat. The creation of ethanol consumes 37 percent of the nation’s corn. That’s more than six times the amount used in 2000.

The Pandemic

You’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating. The pandemic upended the food supply and helped drive up the cost of food and many other goods.

The pandemic accelerated in March of last year. Many states and cities instituted safety measures that lead to more people eating at home more often. That increased the demand for groceries.  Meanwhile, nations began closing their borders to limit the spread of COVID-19. That disrupted shipping which further limited the food supply. As a result, prices went higher.

Limited Stockpiles

The World Trade Organization (WTO) limits the amount certain foods, such as corn and wheat, can be stockpiled. That policy is designed to level the playing field between countries that subsidize farmers and those that do not. This policy is effective in times of abundance. However, it worsens the problem during shortages. 

Rising Meat Prices

Another factor increasing food prices is an increase in meat consumption – especially pork. People around the world are becoming more affluent.  As a result, those who could not afford meat a few years ago now can. 

So, you say, just raise more animals. Fine, but the animals you want to eat have to eat as well. That leads to a need for more grain. That increase in demand raises grain prices even more. That leads to higher meat prices.  

The Darkness Before The Dawn

Reading all the above and watching prices climb at the grocery may lead you to think the solution is simply not to eat.  That’s been tried and most agree the results are not satisfactory.

Take heart, the high prices we are experiencing today and, perhaps, for the rest of the year are not permanent.

USDA Predictions

The Department of Agriculture is expecting grocery prices to rise another one to two percent in 2021, before stabilizing as the pandemic passes. Restaurant food costs will grow by another two to three percent, says the USDA. 

The Agriculture Department is even predicting beef and veal prices will drop between 1.5 to 2.5 percent by the end of the year.

Of course, the USDA projections can not predict whether a hurricane, tornado, flood or other natural disasters will disrupt the food supply. 

Conclusion

There are many things you can not do about food prices. You can not increase grain yields, cut transportation costs, or change the weather. However, you are not powerless. You can exercise a plan of action to minimize the effects of rising food prices.

There are many sources for inexpensive recipes online and in publications. You can also set a budget and stick to it. Here are some other ideas for fighting food costs.

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Weekly Financial Wrap: Jobs, Stocks, Govcoin, Food Prices, Office Perks

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Weekly Financial Wrap

Why Did Stock Explode When Jobs Bombed?

April’s jobs report was lower than expected, but Wall Street didn’t care.

The U. S. economy produced only 266,000 new jobs in April. The private sector added 218,000 jobs. Meanwhile, government employment rose by 48,000. As a result, unemployment moved from 6 to 6.1 percent.

 

Stocks React

Following the release of the jobs numbers, all the major exchanges posted gains. The Nasdaq moved up 1.1 percent, the S&P 500 gained .7 percent, and the Dow rose .4 percent.

The jobs report had no impact on the markets. So, what caused them to move up? Inflation fears were eased. However, since that time some inflation concerns have increased stock volatility.

Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell said he would want to see several strong jobs reports back-to-back before reducing Fed treasury purchases. As a result, the 10 year Treasury yield fell three basis points to 1.54 percent immediately after the jobs report.  

Why Jobs Did Not Meet Expectations

Some speculate that federally enhanced unemployment benefits have caused unemployed people to shun work. So far, 11 states, Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wyoming, have announced they will bar residents from accepting federal unemployment checks in June or July. The program is scheduled to terminate on September 6.

However, economists and Biden administration officials discount that argument. They cite a shortage of workers with qualified skills for some jobs. In addition, some employees may still be concerned about safety.

“It’s clear that there are people who are not ready and able to go back into the labor force,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told reporters, citing parents whose children are still learning remotely. “I don’t think the addition to unemployment compensation is really the factor that is making a difference.”

A Closer Look

Data released in the Labor Department report shows some interesting causes for the modist jobs performance.

Automobile and parts manufacturers cut 27,000 jobs last month. This has been linked to the semiconductor chip shortage and supply chain problems.

There were significant gains in the hospitality industry. Hotels added 54,400 jobs. In addition, bars and restaurants hired 187,000 people. However, food and liquor stores dropped 49,400 jobs.  Both may be the result of the easing of pandemic restrictions.

Delivery services is another area where the reduction in COVID-19 fears made an impact. Currier and delivery service reduced employment by 77,400.

Bottom Line

According to the Labor Department, 9.8 million Americans are out of work. That is a high number, but far below the 23.1 million in April last year. 

As President Biden said following the report, “Our efforts are starting to work. But the climb is steep and we still have a long way to go.”

Grocery Prices Rising

The old question was – which came first the chicken or the egg? Now, it might be – which costs more? 

SA will look at why the cost of groceries is going up in Sunday’s focus article. 

Govcoins Coming

The sustainability of cryptocurrencies and their challenge to the currencies of central banks is forcing national governments to enter the world of digital money. As a result, we are in the middle of history that will likely be studied for centuries.

The New Money

The rise of cryptocurrencies is creating a decentralized world of finance. However, since they also challenge conventional currencies, more governments are planning to issue their own cryptocurrencies.

Called Govcoins, these state-produced cryptocurrencies promise to make digital currencies work more efficiently and reliably. However, they may dramatically change how retail banks operate or threaten their existence.

Central Banks

Govcoins would be created and processed through central banks, such as the Federal Reserve Bank, Bank of England, or other national banks. That would give such institutions control over the digital currency. The influence of networks and individuals would be reduced or eliminated.

Instead of having a checking or savings account with your local bank, your Govcoin would be in a central bank. Transactions would be processed through a payment app.

That could lead to individuals and businesses leaving their digital funds in the central bank. As a result, your local bank might not have money to make loans.

Threat to American Influence in the World

Today, the world’s reserve currency is the U. S. dollar. That is strengthened by America’s open capital markets. However, cryptocurrencies have the potential to upend the dollar’s dominance by offering an alternative means of moving payments across borders.

If U. S. policymakers want to preserve that dominance, they may have to establish an American Govcoin.

A Long Way To Go

Over 50 countries are researching and some are implementing digital currencies. China has introduced a limited version of the e-yuan; the European Union is planning an e-euro by 2025 and America is exploring an e-dollar.

The technical challenges of a nation issuing a cryptocurrency are relatively simple. The great questions are how to preserve individual privacy and what role central and retail banks will play in the future. Historic times indeed.

New Office Perks 

Most major employers are offering vaccines and changing workspaces to increase employee safety and promote a return to the office.  However, some companies are going a leap further.

CoStar, an analytical and research service company. is offering workers who return to the office the chance to win a Tesla Model S. However if cars are not that enticing, they are also offering $10,000 in cash and a trip to Barbados.

The incentive program was conceived soon after CoStar offered COVID-19 vaccines to employees.  Even with the vaccine, many employees were reluctant to get back in the office. However, with the chance to win one of the big prices, over 30 percent of the workforce has returned to CoStar offices.

Cash Bonus For Taking Vacation

Another weird new employee benefit arising from the pandemic has employees getting a bonus to take vacation time.

Many employees working from home have not made use of vacation time. That has created a logjam of time off for many employers. As a result, some have resorted to unusual measures to induce employees to take a break.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a global assurance and consulting firm, is paying employees $250 for every week of vacation they book for the next year up to $1,000. Meanwhile, other companies, such as Google, are giving employees an additional vacation day for booking time off.

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Costco Passover Deals

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Costco Passover Deals

Passover begins on March 27, 2021. Then it continues for about a week. The meals are an important part of the holiday. Therefore you’ll want to stock your kitchen in advance if you’re planning to celebrate. Here are some of the Costco Passover deals that can help you do that.


What is Passover?

Passover, also known as Pesach, is a Jewish spring holiday. There are a handful of annual festivals that are particularly important in the Jewish religion. In terms of the calendar year, Passover is the first of these important holidays. Others include Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Historically, the people of Israel had been taken as slaves by the Egyptian Pharaoh. During Passover, they were freed. Therefore, the Passover holiday is a celebration of this freedom. Of course, there’s a lot more to the religious details as there are with any holiday but that’s the gist of what Jewish people celebrate at this time of year.

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When is Passover 2021?

Passover, like Easter, changes the date from year to year depending on the calendar. In 2021, Passover begins on the night of March 27, 2021. It continues for seven or eight days, depending on your particular beliefs. In terms of meals, the first two nights of Passover are the most important. Therefore, if you’re looking for Costco Passover deals, then you’re particularly looking at your dinners for March 27th and 28th, 2021. That said, you might eat Passover foods all throughout the season.

What Are The Most Common Passover Foods?

The meals we eat during Passover are a very important part of the holiday’s traditions. Some of the most common Passover foods, and the reasons behind eating them at this time of year, are:

  • Matzoh, which is a flat cracker-like bread, which are a commemoration of the humble foods the ancestors ate while still under slavery
  • Bitter herbs (often horseradish or sometimes bitter lettuce), representing the bitterness of times of slavery
  • Other greens (often parsley) to represent the coming of spring
  • Charoset, which is a wine-nut-apple paste representing the mortar that slaves used when building for the Egyptians
  • Chicken and/or egg, representative of sacrificial animals the ancestors might have enjoyed eating

These are all part of the seder that takes place on the first (and sometimes second) night of Passover. Other common Passover foods include:

  • Matzoh ball soup
  • Gefiltefish
  • Brisket
  • Potatoes
  • Wine and/or grape juice

Each family and region has different Passover meal traditions. The one thing that holds across nearly all homes is that grain-based “leavened” foods like pasta and bread (other than Matzoh) aren’t consumed during this holiday.

Costco Passover Deals

Now that we have a sense of what Passover is and the foods enjoyed during this holiday, let’s take a look at some of the Costco Passover deals in 2021.

March / April 2021 Costco Sales

Every month, Costco comes out with its latest deals. The current member-only savings are available 3/10/21 – 4/4/21. Unfortunately, none of the deals advertised right now are not specific to Passover. You won’t find a specific coupon for Gefilte fish or Matzoh. But you can still get these things at Costco at a lower price than perhaps other stores in your area.

Of course, there are a lot of different things going on at this time of year in addition to Passover. Easter, springtime, and the nearing end of the school year are all upon us. So even though there aren’t specific Passover deals right now, it might be worth it to you to check out the other deals that are available through 4/4/21.

What You Can Buy for Passover at Costco

Although none of the common Passover foods are advertised at specific discounted prices, Costco does offer low prices on everything it sells. And yes, they should have all of the things that you might want to buy for Passover dinner.

Therefore, even though they don’t have special Passover sales, you could definitely plan for the holiday by looking at Costco for what you need. If you’re going to make your own charoset, you can get the apples, nuts, and wine to do so at Costco. You can usually find matzo at Costco during the spring. Sometimes you can even find gefilte fish. Of course you’ll be able to find chicken and potatoes, which is one of the most common meals Jewish Americans serve for Passover dinner.

Also, remember that while most Costco stores have the same things in stock, they do have some variation. If you live in an area with a large Jewish population, then you might have access to more Passover foods at your Costco than someone who does not.

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Hungry? Check Out 3 of the Cheapest Meal Delivery Services

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Almost 20% of Americans have tried a meal delivery service at once. And about one out of every five Americans has a subscription to a meal delivery service. The meal delivery service industry will also reportedly grow to be worth over $20 billion by 2027. Currently, this industry is worth about $5 billion. So, as demand for meal delivery services is bound to increase, we must ask – is it for everyone? Or are meal subscription services best suited for people with money to burn and who don’t like cooking? What is the cheapest meal delivery service?

Cheapest Meal Delivery Service

A meal delivery service sends meal ingredients with recipes in a box to your door. The meals aren’t prepared – you take the ingredients out of the box and prep them yourself.

And a meal delivery service isn’t just for people with disposable incomes. Subscribing to a meal delivery service has become a normalized American activity. Over 84% of people who order from a meal delivery service end up buying a subscription.

And due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is not always safe to cram into a supermarket. Meal delivery services are a normalized way of American life now.

But not all meal services are alike. Some are more expensive than others. And if you are not carefully considering which meals you’re ordering, you may end up paying more money than going to a traditional supermarket.

Here are three of the cheapest meal delivery service options you should consider.

Dinnerly

Dinnerly may arguably offer the cheapest meal delivery service, depending on your budget and the cost of meals you order. And Dinnerly technically has the cheapest costs per meal relative to its competitors on the meal delivery service market.

Check out Dinnerly’s website and you will see that it offers a wide-ranging selection of diverse menu options. Here are examples of Dinnerly’s menu offerings:

  • Everything Bagel Seared Steak with Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
  • Brown Sugar Chicken
  • Caramel Chicken Stir-Fry with Snow Peas & Jasmine Rice
  • Za’atar Crusted Tilapia with Couscous Salad
  • Chicken Enchilada Stew with Crispy Tortilla Strips
  • Brown Butter Short Rib Ravioli with Spinach, Walnuts & Crispy Garlic

And that is just a snapshot of Dinnerly’s weekly menu offerings. The company’s dinner meal delivery menu changes every week. Dinnerly’s delivery meals are basic, easy to prepare quickly, include step-by-step recipes, and affordable.

However, Dinnerly does offer menu options for people with special dietary needs. So for example, you won’t be able to find menu options if you are a vegan or adhere to keto or paleo diets.

If your family is on a tight budget, Dinnerly meals statistically cost about $4.69 per serving. And Dinnerly charges about $8.99 per order for shipping and delivery.

Home Chef

Home Chef is one of the cheapest meal delivery services out there that also offers its patrons a wide range of ordering options. You can choose from over 30 different menu options every week.

Home Chef claims that it has delivered over 200 meal kits to its customers.

Here is a sampling of the weekly menu options available at Home Chef:

  • Honey-Cider Lamb Chops with fingerling potato, mushroom, and spinach gratin
  • Smoked Almond and Herbed Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast with roasted potatoes and asparagus
  • Fig-Glazed Pork Tenderloin with goat cheese Brussels sprouts and carrots
  • Mozzarella Turkey Meatloaf and Tomato Jam with garlic cauliflower
  • Italian Sausage Cowboy Pie with black beans and red peppers
  • Southwestern Spinach and Mushroom Flautas with spicy chipotle sauce

And Home Chef also offers a variety of breakfast meals, fruits, and smoothies. Additionally, Home Chef offers its customers a lot more flexibility and options when ordering meals relative to its competitors.

For example, if you have special dietary needs, Home Chef gives you multiple options to consider. You can order vegetarian, low calorie, low carb, nut-free, and dairy meals. You can customize or upgrade the menu items offered in your Home Chef meal kit.

And Home Chef claims that its meal kits are so easy to prepare that you can cook a meal 5-minutes to 30-minutes out of the box.

The typical Home Chef meal will set you back about $6.99 per serving. Shipping and delivery of each meal kit cost $6.99 as well.

Dinner Apron

Blue Apron was one of the original meal delivery companies to popularize the service. Additionally, Blue Apron partners with Weight Watchers to design meals, menus, and to offer more culinary options for calorie watchers.

All of Blue Apron’s meal kits are designed by professional chefs, are perfected in test kitchens, feature sensible portion sizes, and are packed in eco-friendly recyclable packaging.

Blue Apron also offers you more options relative to its meal kits, especially if you have strict and specific dietary restrictions. The meals offered by Blue Apron are Weight Watchers approved, Beyond Meat protein varied, vegetarian, health-conscious, and even Diabetes friendly.

Blue Apron also offers a wide variety of wines for $10 per bottle.

The menu at Blue Apron is updated every week. Sample menu items include:

  • Duck à L’Orange with Roasted Purple Potatoes & Brussels Sprouts
  • Butternut Squash Enchiladas with Honey-Chipotle Sauce
  • Shawarma Turkey Skillet & Garlic Pita with Zucchini, Onion & Labneh
  • Honey Teriyaki Salmon with Brown Rice & Spicy Green Beans
  • Lentils & Lemon-Shallot Dressing with Roasted Vegetables & Fried Eggs
  • Seared Pork Chops & Apple Salsa with Pimento Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Blue Apron has various meal kit plans that range from $5 to $7.50 per servings depending on the number of servings. But generally speaking, Blue Apron meals cost about $9 per serving.

So, is Blue Apron one of the cheapest meal delivery services out there? Blue Apron does not charge for shipping and delivery. If you strategize your meal kit plans accordingly, you can save money buying from blue Apron.

Shop Around for the Cheapest Meal Delivery Service

Delivery meal services may suit your needs depending on your personal household budget. You may want to consider buying essential ingredients at the supermarket before committing to a meal kit subscription.

Whether or not you find the cheapest meal delivery service won’t matter if there are four or more members in your family. After all, those meal kits will add up and cost you a lot.

Shop around and consider your options before you commit to a service.

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10 Cheaper and Healthier Alternatives to Junk Foods

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Cheaper and Healthier Alternatives to Junk Foods

Junk food is bad for us in so many different ways. And although it’s not everyone’s first thought in the argument against junk food, cost is an important consideration. You can save money on your grocery bill as well as your medical expenses if you switch to these cheaper and healthier alternatives to junk foods.

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The Cost of Junk Food

Junk food costs money out of our pockets in three key ways.

First of all, junk food is often more expensive than healthy food. Of course, you can find deals and sales and fast food that make it cheaper. But you’re often spending more for the junk than you would for fresh whole food.

Second, junk food is addictive. Therefore, you often end up buying more and more over time. You aren’t satisfied with one cookie, now you want the whole bag of them. So, you end up spending more on groceries because you’re buying more and more junk food to satisfy your cravings.

Finally, junk food erodes your health. Therefore, you end up spending money on medications and other medical care. You wouldn’t spend that money if you kept yourself healthy through nutritious eating.

So, junk food costs you up front and over time. Therefore, finding cheaper and healthier alternatives to junk foods can be an important part of your budget.

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10 Cheaper and Healthier Alternatives to Junk Foods

There are many cheaper and healthier alternatives to junk food. Some are specific food changes. However, others are about changing your behavior.

1. Eat Fruit

If you tend to have sugar cravings, then stock up on healthy fruit. Buy whole, unprocessed, seasonal fruit. Shop farmer’s markets, local produce stores, farm delivery services, and big chan grocery stores to find the best prices on seasonal produce near you.

2. Find Veggies You Love

Over time, fresh fruit will satisfy your sugar cravings. However, you might be surprised by how many healthy veggies are also tastier than junk food. If sweets are your thing, try sweet bell peppers and carrots. If you like salty or savory, try greens with fresh lemon and herbs. Again, shop in season and as local as possible to reduce your costs.

3. Drink Water

Oftentimes we think we are hungry when actually we are just thirsty. If you’re dehydrated, then reach for water, not for junk food. Before you snack, fill up a big glass of water and drink it down. Give it a few minutes. If you’re still hungry, then reach for a healthy snack, not junk food. In particular, avoid salty and caffeinated junk food as that will just worsen the dehydration and make the cycle worse.

4. Take Time to Sit Down for Meals

Do you often grab food on the go? Or do you eat at the table while multi-tasking with your screens? If so, then you probably eat more junk food than you ought to. Instead, take the time to sit down and mindfully eat each meal. Yes, each meal, three times per day. The more consciously, thoughtfully, and intentionally you prepare and enjoy your meals, the less likely it is that you’ll overeat junk food.

5. Learn About Intuitive Eating

Don’t just give up junk food to “be good.” That mentality will just land you in a thick cycle of eating bad, eating good, eating bad, eating good. It’ll ultimately make the battle with junk food worse. Instead, develop a healthy relationship with food. You can learn about intuitive eating online for free as a starting point. The intuitive eating community is also a great resource for even more information about cheaper and healthier alternatives to junk foods.

6. Make Your Own Junk Food

Maybe you don’t want to give up your favorite junk food entirely. That’s okay. Switching to making it yourself can help you save money. Moreover, you can make substitutions that make those foods healthier. For example, CookSmarts recommends:

  • Making fries from other veggies instead of potatoes; if you’re smart with your oil then you can have relatively healthy fries
  • Use kale to make an alternative to chips from a bag
  • Add fruit to yogurt and freeze it as an alternative to ice cream
  • Eat a handful of dark chocolate covered nuts or fruit rather than a candy bar
  • Stock up on sparkling water as an alternative to sodas, juices, and alcohol

And these days you can find recipes to make just about anything using cauliflower instead of eating carbs.

7. Eat Junk Food Only as a Special Treat

Sometimes those cheaper and healthier alternatives to junk foods just won’t do. You want the real thing. That’s okay. Just eat it mindfully. Make it a special treat, not an everyday thing. Set some rules and guidelines for yourself that keep it truly special and rare.

For example, I have a rule that I never order dessert at a restaurant unless they have chocolate mousse. Most places don’t have it, so I don’t come across it all that often. When I do, it’s truly a treat. I’m indulging. It’s part of my special budget. Therefore, I enjoy it without letting it take over my life and my health.

You might choose special foods or special, rare occasions on which to indulge. Then the rest of the time, you make the healthy choices.

8. Start The Day with Eggs or Oatmeal

These are both solid, healthy breakfast options that will sustain you until lunchtime. They are affordable options that are healthier than many other breakfast choices. So skip the bagels, pancakes, and cold cereals in favor of a healthy start to the day.

9. Snack Like You’re Feeding a Kindergartener

What are some of the cheaper and healthier alternatives to junk foods that you’re comfortable giving to your kids on a regular basis? Carrot sticks, string cheese, yogurt, peanut butter on apples … if you can’t wait until your next meal and need a snack, think about these options.

10. Try Therapy for Eating Issues

Okay, so therapy might not be objectively “cheaper” than junk food. But it’s definitely healthier to address any underlying eating issues than to destroy your health with poor eating. Many of us engage in emotional eating or eat due to underlying mental health issues. Working on that is critical to long-term health.

Moreover, if you have insurance or access to sliding scale services then you might actually find affordable therapy that’s cheaper, or as cheap as, the junk food that is harming you. Alternatively, there are free groups, such as Overeaters Anonymous, that provide online and in-person support for eating issues.

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