Thanksgiving traditions typically include turkey, sides, pie and, for many households, worrying about how much food will cost.
This year, retailers are offering deals that promise to feed a crowd on a budget.
“A traditional holiday meal for 10 can come in at under $75, with a full spread of popular dishes totaling $73.09,” financial services company Empower wrote. People said they expect to spend more than that estimate: $137 in all for a Thanksgiving meal.
To keep costs down, the people surveyed said they plan to cook fewer desserts, cut portion sizes, skip meat or choose a meat that costs less than a whole turkey, use fewer pricey herbs and spices, use more affordable store brands — or skip Thanksgiving dining all together.
Regarding opting out, almost 57% of people surveyed by Empower worried Thanksgiving will be too pricey to cook this year, but a greater percentage, 73%, said Thanksgiving dinner is “still worth the cost despite higher prices.” The payoff: time with family and memories, people said.
Here are a couple of samples of Thanksgiving grocery deals from retailers.
Generously feeding a crowd, on a budget
If you and your family are cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year for a crowd, how much do you plan to spend per person?
Walmart is betting it can beat that.
Its Thanksgiving meal basket — a collection of essential ingredients for a classic Thanksgiving — comes out to just under $40 and is designed to feed 10.
Not every Walmart store sells groceries. Now through Christmas Day, first-time pickup or delivery shoppers can get free express delivery on their basket, the store said.
Along with the Thanksgiving meal basket, the retailer announced three new “1-click” meal collections that are new this year. One is a gluten-free Thanksgiving meal, one is a “Balanced Thanksgiving swaps” meal with “high-protein swaps like Goodles Mac & Cheese and cauliflower mashed potatoes and ingredients to make a high-protein pumpkin dessert,” the online description says. The Prime Rib meal basket includes Choice Angus beef, salad, potatoes and wine.
Here is a sample from this year’s classic Thanksgiving basket:
- A 13.5-pound Butterball turkey, priced at 97 cents a pound
- Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup
- Kinder’s crispy fried onions
- canned green beans
- Great Value dinner rolls
- five pounds of russet potatoes
- fresh cranberries
- baby carrots
- artisan mac ‘n’ cheese by Great Value
- ingredients for pumpkin pie
Those and the other items come out to more than 33 pounds of ingredients.
Walmart’s meal is almost half of what financial services firm Empower says a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost this year.
Last week President Trump touted Walmart’s Thanksgiving dinner basket price — which at less than $4 per person is markedly cheaper per person than last year’s per-person price of less than $7 — as evidence that grocery prices are dropping, thanks to his policies. What was not mentioned: the two baskets have different brands, ingredients and quantities, rendering the comparison not valid.
Federal food-price price data are not available for recent months due to the government shutdown, but recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis show prices are up, stable or down year-over-year, depending on the categories. Whole chicken and bacon prices are higher, the price of white potatoes and field grown tomatoes is roughly even, and white bread and butter prices have dropped.
Unique items for Thanksgiving and the holidays
Trader Joe’s does not have sales. The company says its approach is to offer value without needing coupons or discounts.
This year, the purveyor of interesting and unusual goodies is selling four items that are fitting for a Thanksgiving table, or fall dining in general. They’re also unique to Trader Joe’s, a brand representative said in an email.
The Nantucket Style Cranberry Pie, $6.99, a New England holiday classic, got a glowing review from food writer and dietician Christina Manian. “And let’s just say, it’s now a holiday season must-have in my household,” she wrote. “It’s perfectly sweet-tart, has a crunchy, tender crust, and is perfect for keeping in the freezer for last-minute celebrations.” Tossing on a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of chocolate takes it to the next level, she added.
The store is also selling Sparkling White grape juice, made from Spanish Chardonnay grapes, for $3.99. Adults may remember feeling all grown up when they got to sip sparkling apple cider as kids. This drink is less sweet than some ciders, so it might appeal to kids and adults alike.
“This Sparkling Grape Juice is a non-drinker’s holiday dream come true,” the product’s website says. It has 59 grams of sugar per 12 ounce serving. Martinelli’s sparkling cider, in contrast, has 31 grams of sugar in an 8-ounce serving.
Trader Joe’s is also selling a Bourbon Vanilla Bean Syrup for $4.49. The ingredients are simple: caramelized invert sugar syrup (invert sugar is a type of sweetener), concentrated bourbon vanilla extract and vanilla bean seeds.
A fourth item is an eight-ounce wheel of double cream brie for $4.49. While brie is not unique to Trader Joe’s, this version is made in Wisconsin, not France, and costs significantly less than other bries. “Our Double Cream Brie’s bloomy rind envelops a smooth, rich, creamy cheese, delivering exactly what you want from a classic Brie,” the product’s online description says.
A price check of double cream bries at other San Diego retailers shows an 8.5-ounce round of French brie priced at $7.99 and a brie made in Wisconsin on sale for $7.99 for eight ounces, both at Ralph’s. Aldi sells a domestic brie, also eight ounces, for $4.39. Target’s costs $5.99.