When people talk about food security, the conversation usually starts with supply. And we’ve talked a fair bit about that recently. Local Food Matters and the Golden Food Bank are just two food-related organizations that do a great job in growing local food and getting food to locals in need.
But questions remain. Is there enough food?
Can it get here?
What happens when highways close, shelves empty, or global events disrupt the chain?
Those are real concerns, and in a mountain town like Golden, we’ve seen firsthand how fragile supply can be.
But there’s another side to food security that hits closer to home for many households.
Cost. Can we afford it once it gets here?
Because what good is a full grocery store if the food inside feels financially out of reach?
And that pressure is growing. Canada’s Food Price Report forecasts food costs will rise another four to six percent in 2026. Nationally, a family of four is expected to spend nearly $1,000 more on groceries this year, bringing annual food costs to more than $17,500, which averages out to about $346 per week. Add in the potential impact of tariffs on imported products, and it is not hard to imagine that bills at the checkout are only heading in one direction, up.
Here in Golden, we face an additional reality. We are not choosing between multiple discount chains and bulk warehouses. We have two primary grocery stores, Save-On-Foods and IGA. Eat Pure Mountain Market is also a valued local option. And there are various food items readily available in other stores, primarily non-perishable items.
So the question becomes practical, not theoretical.
Can you actually eat well here on a modest budget?
Not to survive on instant noodles. Not live on toast and canned soup.
But eat real, satisfying, nutritious meals.
We’re going to test that. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be running a simple experiment. A seven-day meal plan designed to feed two adults for $150 per week using the stores that are realistically available to Golden residents.
No coupon stacking wizardry. No bulk buying from the city. No once-in-a-lifetime sale luck (although I’m definitely open to that!).
Just real shopping, real cooking, and real meals.
Along the way, we’ll explore how far the money really goes at the grocery store, what “budget eating” actually looks like today, and how small choices can stretch a dollar without sacrificing enjoyment at the table.
Because food security is not only about whether food exists, it is about whether it is within reach, both logistically and financially.
And that is something worth examining right here at home.
I may live to regret this little experiment, but I feel like it’s significant enough that it’s worth looking into. Let’s see where it takes me.
