Not too long ago, we would happily jump on board with the latest food trends, as the price was perfectly justified. However, food prices have inflated dramatically, and this is particularly the case for such trendy foods. So that you don’t spend unnecessarily, here are some overpriced foods you should think twice about buying.
Artisanal Bread
While nobody ever hailed artisanal bread as a healthy food, it’s certainly delicious, albeit pricey these days. Excessive focus on handcrafted techniques and high-quality ingredients has greatly increased its cost. Just make your own regular loaves at home, and you’ll be shocked at how much cash you can save.
Coconut Oil
There are all sorts of healthy oils to choose from when you are cooking, and while coconut oil is certainly a creamy choice, it’s pretty pricey these days. If you can justify the cost, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to it once in a while, but don’t go around using it as a moisturizing product; that’s just a waste of money.
Greek Yogurt
For a while, greek yogurt was esteemed as the ultimate breakfast food, celebrated for its protein content and creamy texture. However, its intricate production process and high demand have contributed to its outrageous rise in cost. It’s just not worth it anymore, so consider finding an alternative for your morning protein boost.
Quinoa
For a few years, quinoa was highly praised as a superfood, and it was pretty cheap, too. However, despite just being a pulse, this fashion quickly took its toll, hiking the prices to a ridiculous level. It’s just not worth it anymore, so if you’re trying to save money, ditch the quinoa.
Salmon
Overfishing, environmental concerns, and general inflation have all contributed to the immense rise in the cost of salmon. We can’t deny that this fish has a beautifully rich flavor and gives us many health benefits, but the price is just too steep to justify these days. Thankfully, there are tons of cheaper and just as nutritious fish out there to try.
Organic Kale
Before quinoa came about, kale was the go-to leafy green, especially the organic variety. Sadly, considering it’s just a leafy green, the price has risen exponentially worldwide, making it hard to justify buying. Even health enthusiasts are finding it hard to justify the added expense for this leafy vegetable when regular greens are just as good for our bodies.
Berries
Everyone loves berries, with blueberries and raspberries being some of our favorites, but the price stores are charging for them nowadays is criminal. This all comes down to their short growing season and the labor-intensive harvesting process. What used to be a simple snack or dessert ingredient now feels like a splurge, which is sad to witness.
Matcha
Coffee was briefly replaced in the health food market by matcha, a finely ground green tea powder that promised a healthy and affordable source of caffeine. That didn’t last long, though; these days, the high demand for this trendy beverage has driven up costs to unaffordable levels, making us question how worthwhile that matcha latte really is.
Sourdough
Just like with artisanal bread, sourdough is praised for its tangy flavor and health benefits, but it’s just getting too expensive. If you have the patience to go through the lengthy fermentation process yourself, we’d certainly recommend doing that, but buying it pre-baked is going to set you back an arm and a leg.
Specialty Cheeses
Next time you go to the store with the plan to buy some specialty cheeses, think again—your aged gouda and truffle-infused favorites are now an absolute rip-off. Stores have decided to start charging us exorbitant prices for their premium ingredients, making even the biggest cheese enthusiasts question whether they’re worth the money.
Free-Range Eggs
Most people would prefer to purchase free-range eggs over the caged alternative, which is incredibly cruel. Free-range are tastier, more nutritional, and have bigger yolks, too, but let’s be honest—they’re just not worth the price anymore. We don’t want to return to caged eggs, leaving many of us ditching eggs altogether, which we never could have expected.
Maple Syrup
A natural sweetener loved for its rich flavor, we once poured maple syrup generously over our pancakes, but no longer. The labor-intensive process of tapping trees and boiling sap has become way too costly, especially considering the effects of climate change. It’s still nice to have as an occasional treat, but most of us can’t afford syrup-coated pancakes regularly anymore.
Turmeric
There are so many tasty recipes that include turmeric, but it’s become really expensive lately. This is primarily due to its increased demand in wellness circles, leading to the spice becoming gentrified. To be fair, one pot will generally last us a while, but our eyes are watering every time we buy some.
Chia Seeds
Only a few years ago, the supposed health benefits of chia seeds felt totally worthwhile, but these days…not so much. The kids of today are putting them in their smoothies, deserts, granola, and just about every other fashionable breakfast dish. They’ve ruined the fun for us, because the inflated cost now just feels like an overpriced waste of money.
Cold-Pressed Juices
If we could summarize health food trends of the last few years, it would be to overcomplicate a simple drink, claim it’s extra nutritious, and then, once we’re hooked, hike up the price. That’s precisely what happened to cold-pressed juices, which are now outrageously expensive. Just make regular juice at home, and you’ll find it tastes just as good.
Craft Beer
It wasn’t so long ago that we were all experimenting with the latest trend that was craft beer, and we can’t deny that it was fun to try out all the unique flavors. However, even the smallest microbreweries have raised their prices to unaffordable levels, making us reach for classic lagers and pilsners that are keeping their prices in check.
Grass-Fed Beef
Everyone wants to maximize how organic the meats they cook are, but grass-fed beef is taking things a step too far. We were open to testing out its supposed superior quality and health benefits when it was actually affordable, but at today’s prices, it just feels like a rip-off. We’ll stick to regular beef, thanks.