Meat is often the most expensive item in the cart. According to Canada's Food Price Report 2026, meat prices rose 5% to 7% in 2025, faster than the researchers had predicted, and beef climbed especially sharply early in the year. The report also noted that when shoppers move away from beef, it can add pressure to chicken prices.
You cannot control the market, but you can control how far a package of meat goes.
Seven ways to stretch it
- Compare by price per kilogram. Package sizes vary a lot, so check the unit price before you choose.
- Buy on sale and freeze. When a family pack is discounted, portion it into meal-sized bags and freeze. Follow Health Canada's guidance for safe freezing and thawing.
- Make meat a part of the meal, not the whole meal. Stir-fries, pasta sauces, tacos, and soups can use less meat per serving.
- Mix in lower-cost ingredients. Beans, lentils, rice, and extra vegetables make a smaller amount of meat go further in chili, sauces, and casseroles.
- Try cheaper cuts and slow cooking. Some cuts cost less and work well in a slow cooker or oven braise.
- Plan two or three meatless dinners. Eggs, beans, and lentils are common budget-friendly main dishes.
- Rotate proteins with the flyer. Buy the protein that is on sale this week, not the one you always buy.
A simple weekly pattern
- Two dinners built around a discounted meat
- Two dinners with beans, lentils, or eggs
- One leftovers night
- One flexible night for whatever is on sale
The bottom line
When one category rises faster than the rest, flexibility is your best tool. Let the weekly sales pick your protein. GopherCart's meal search shows dinners built from this week's sales, with the best nearby store.
Sources
- Wealth Professional, "Inflation fuelled food prices will push a family of four's annual bill to over $17,500": https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/news/industry-news/inflation-fuelled-food-prices-will-push-a-family-of-fours-annual-bill-to-over-17500/391064
- Dalhousie University, "Canada's Food Price Report 2026": https://www.dal.ca/sites/agri-food/research/canada-s-food-price-report-2026.html