Your Most Expensive Thanksgiving Meal | Food Costs Soar, Highest Jump in 20 Years
Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together and celebrate, but this year may be your most expensive Thanksgiving yet thanks to skyrocketing food costs and an overall increased demand for poultry. It now costs, on average, $49.20 to feed 10 individuals on Thanksgiving. Up $5.73 from last year according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the cost is about 22 percent more expensive than it was last year.
Last year, a 16-pound Thanksgiving turkey was priced at $17.70. This year, the same bird costs an average of $21.60. The price rise signifies the highest jump in 20 years.
Due to the increased cost of delivery, rising food costs, and the overall handling of food, supermarkets and other food sellers are increasing prices across the board. In fact the difference in price does not only apply to the Thanksgiving turkey. The cost of many other food items also increased from last year, including milk and other popular Thanksgiving food items:
- 1 gallon of milk went up by 42 cents since last year to $3.66.
- Pumpkin pie mix: up 41 cents to $3.03.
- Whipping cream: up 26 cents to $1.96
- Cubed stuffing: up 24 cents to $2.88
- 16-pound turkey: up $3.91 to $21.57
- Green peas: up 24 cents to $1.68
- Dozen rolls: up 18 cents to $2.30
- Sweet potatoes: up 7 cents to $3.26
- Fresh cranberries: up 7 cents to $2.48
- Pie shells: up 6 cents to $2.52
- Misc. ingredients: up 12 cents to $3.10
- Relish tray: down 1 cent to $0.76
- Total: up $5.73 to $49.20
The Thanksgiving dinner cost chart details the increased numbers since 1986:
The Rising Price of Food and the Effects on the Global Economy
As food prices hit an all time high, violent protests have arisen in parts of the Middle East and South Asia. In 2008, similar protests were held across the world in response to the high cost of basic living. The difference, however, is that food prices are even higher than they were in 2008. Graphs, provided by the Food and Agricultural Organizations of the United Nations (FAO), show the spiking cost of food commodities.
The food index count, which is an overall score reflecting the total price of the top 6 food commodities, rose to 215 in December of 2010 — up from 90 in the year 2000. Sugar spearheaded the spike, hitting only 2 points away from the 400 mark in December of 2010.
Thanksgiving is a time for family celebration, though it may also be a reminder to stock up on storeable foods and remove yourself from the grid and subsequent dependence upon supermarkets and the food industry. As prices continue to climb, it is increasingly more important to become self-sufficient.
We will not be celebrating anything this year. Our cash is all spent trying to hang on to our home. We have a roof over our heads now but in a few months we will likely be homeless.
There seems to be plenty of money to cover the fraud and theft of bankers.
A message to the tribe of the financial elite; Judgment Day is coming.
When I was a single parent I always bought a Turkey in Aug or Sept. when it was much cheaper. Also I cut all the side dishes my kids didn't like so some Thanksgivings we had just Turkey, mac and cheese (their favorite) and a few candy bars. They thought it was the best Thanksgiving and it was cheap for me.
Per person serving a Turkey is by far the cheapest meat. Often I buy one for my husband and I and slice it down the middle and freeze half.
SAD Bob! Even f you can just afford the turkey and mashed potatoes!
Where do they get this 49.00 dollar figure? I used to own a catering company and there is NO way a basic no frills Thanksgiving dinner can be done for 5.00 a person. I wish. We are having 16 people and so far I have spent over 300.00 and this is before the Turkeys and the last few items needed.
YES! Indeed it has! Turkeys have gone up this year as well BUT I WILL STILL put on a Turkey Dinner for $25.00. How? Well I will skip the Relish Tray first. Do you REALLY need that? Second we will be skipping the Green Bean Casserole (not our favorite either). Those small canisters of fried onions are nearly $5.00! No boiled onions (YUCK!) We will have a light butternut squash soup for starts,turkey, mashed potatoes, fresh yam (no marshmallows on top) and a fresh salad! For dessert fresh homemade apple pie and pumpkin pie. The pumpkin is the Jack O Lantern left over from Halloween. YUP you CAN eat your Jack O Lantern. First instead of a REAL candle you can put a battery operated one in or even use a glow stick. The very next day cook your pumpkin and puree it. I throw my puree into zip-lock bags and freeze them. Then when you make pumpkin breads, pies, muffins, and pancakes you got plenty of puree on hand! No running to the store for that expensive canned stuff! It tastes GREAT too because it is FRESH!
Also we will NOT be stocking up on soda or other junk food! Also we will not be serving ham or other meats as well. Often times there is just way too much food anyways! We will cut down to just the basics and enjoy what we have!
The price of food has really increased. I splurge on Thanksgiving and make a wonderful feast and there are plenty of leftovers to freeze and we eat those for Christmas. I've been stocking up early and shopping the sales, but still spent more money than I would have liked. But it's all good because I have a lot to be thankful for.
Its bad enough the supposed as we all know is thought to be the Happiest time of the year.Stats show its the highest time of the yr besides Valentines Day. Unless ppl r gonna kill themselves for not receiving over priced candied hearts, because their boy/girlfriend broke up with them its all the more reason to get depressed over it.
My mom who is barely making end meet now & she's a senior citizen for God sake let's do something.
With food prices going up by time November does roll around we r not gonna b able to donate as much to those less fortunIate. Thats pretty sad !
I like Raye's comment! Keep positive and I too am gonna stock up.I too have much to b Thankful for.
In these hard times being Thankful for what little u do have is tough. Because to many people don't have anything. God Bless and remain hopeful!
Wow Bob where is ur family now? I pray ur doing well and r doing better?