Lots of Kiwis are having to switch up their grocery shop, according to new research completed by the meal-kit company Hello Fresh.
The survey asked 2,000 New Zealanders over the age of 18 about their recent grocery shopping habits and the results are pretty eye-opening.
We’ve all noticed that groceries are really expensive at the moment, and according to Hello Fresh, this has led to over 50% of New Zealanders having to “rethink their typical food purchases, and shift to buying items and cooking meals that are more cost-effective,” the company said in a press release.
For 42% of Kiwis, that change is buying less meat, and more in-season fruits and vegetables.
They also noted, that more than one-third of us are spending $50 - $100 more on the weekly grocery shop.
Those who responded to the survey seem to be very knowledgeable about how their shopping habits can impact the environment.
77% of New Zealanders want to reduce food waste as much as possible, while over 60% of us would rather shop locally to “help decrease emissions related to travel.”
In addition to the increase in people buying less meat and more fruit and veg, 62% of those surveyed say they have changed their diet to be more healthy over the past few years, with 44% going vegetarian.
The Director of Culinary Innovation & Operations at Hello Fresh, Hannah Gilbert, said that food not being used or finished before its expiry date is a big waste of money, and is far more common than people think.
“One of the biggest ways households spend more than they need to is through food waste, with leftover ingredients ending up in the bin,” she said.
“Meal planning is a savvy way to stick to your food budget - allowing you to enjoy quality ingredients without breaking the bank.”
