Hello, I’m Sydney – three busy moms who had to remake my grocery list after prices in my local store spiked…and all Realistically, it’s a grocery store. The days of getting dozens of eggs or a pound of ground beef for under $6 are over.
When staples like avocados ($1-2.50 each) and a 32-ounce bathtub of Greek yogurt ($4.29) began to feel like luxury, I started experimenting with alternatives that could still put delicious, family-friendly meals on the table.
Based on actual local prices in my own kitchen and a lot of trial and error, here are 11 smart daily swaps, answering all the small questions (like how to run out of all the drops of that chickpea liquid), and providing detailed guidance on yield and storage. Let’s get into it!
1. Tofu scramble or aquafaba for eggs → baking
2. Ground beef → Mushroom + TVP blend (or beef bouillon and ground turkey)
3. AVOCADO→oradamame “guac” or Pea & ricotta spread
4. Maple syrup → Date syrup or brown sugar “Caramel”
5. Chicken chicken → DIY grinding
6. Canned non-alcoholic drinks → Mocktail syrup and Fiji jam drink (plus iced herbal tea)
7. Yogurt → Make yourself or blended cottage cheese
8. Vanilla extract → Vanilla sugar
9. Cooking oil → steam burning technology and rendered dripping
10. Packaged snacks → bulk aisle alternatives
11. Cereal → Homemade granola or overnight oats
There are 11 grocery swaps backed by local pricing and real-life tips, which help to keep food costs rising without sacrificing flavors. Whether you switch between expensive eggs for tofu or aquafaba, cut the cost of grinding beef with a mushroom TVP blend, or turn expensive maple syrup into homemade dating syrup, each of these swaps works in the kitchen and offer a practical alternative that works easily.
I’m interested: what replacements have you tried at home? Are there other smart ideas that can help you keep your grocery bills down without cutting the flavor? Share your thoughts in the comments and follow us on Instagram for more nonsense kitchen hacks and smart grocery tips @sydneyinsuburbia.
