Team 4: Story 1: Inflation the Silent Killer 

 

​It all starts with a small moment in the grocery aisle. Someone picks up a carton of eggs, checks the price, and most of the time puts it back on the shelf. Grocery shopping used to be a quick trip for things to cook for dinner, but now it is more like math. Comparing brands, rethinking the list, and searching for cheaper options. One time or another, trips ended in full carts, but now they are just full of second-guessing. Moments like this are happening every day as rising food prices force people to make small decisions about what they can and cannot afford. As grocery prices are continuing to rise, people are not just spending more money. They are quietly changing what they eat, replacing certain foods and redesigning their diets around their budgets.

​Over the past five years, grocery prices have risen about 28 to 32% overall (Leppert). This has made it harder for many people to afford the foods they normally buy. College students are especially affected because many are working with tight budgets. According to the article “Grocery Shopping: A Critical Concern for College Students,” food insecurity among students has become a growing problem, with studies showing that between 20% and 50% of college students experience food insecurity, higher than the national average of about 12%. With prices growing, many students say grocery shopping has become an added stress, and they must cut back on what they buy. Another article, “To the Point: How Are Soaring Food Prices Affecting the Health of American Families?” says that rising food costs are causing many families to switch to cheaper foods, which are often less healthy. Inflation is not just changing shopping habits but also affecting people's health as they switch to other alternatives. 

 

​Not only do people cut certain food items from their lists, but they are also replacing them with cheaper options. Many people switch to frozen meals, microwavable dinners, and canned foods because they cost less than fresh foods. People choose canned fruits because they last way longer and cost around 50 to 68 cents per cup. Fresh fruits cost around $2 per cup, which makes it harder to buy if you are on a tight budget. This is the same with microwaved meals. Many households are buying more packaged and processed foods instead of fresh ingredients. In the long run, they are less healthy because they include more salt, sugar, and preservatives, which make them last way longer than usual.

 

​Being in college, we see how it affects students on a different level. Students range in how they pay for the things that they have. Many students have jobs they pay their bills and buy their food, while other parents take care of it. However, it still affects everyone. The article “Grocery Shopping: A Critical Concern for College Students” explains that food insecurity has grown on college campuses. Students say that now that they are having to pick and choose what they can afford, it causes more stress.

In the article, one student said they skip the food they typically want and are more interested in because they want things that will last longer than a couple of days. Others have said they have skipped meals or eat smaller portions so it will last longer. Because of this, people have started relying on food pantries on campus. At Mississippi State, we have a pantry called Bully’s Pantry. This is a pantry that provides free food, toiletries, and household essentials that students can pick up when needed.

 

​While college students are affected by rising prices, families and adults are also heavily affected by this. Many families consist of 3-4, maybe even more people, so they are feeling the impacts even more. They are especially having to find ways to make their money last longer. Some families, including mine, have switched to buying in bulk. Places like Sam’s Club or Costco make it easier to budget. In the moment, buying in bulk is more expensive, but it evens out because your items last you longer. A good resource I have found is to buy household essentials and non-perishable items at the bulk stores, then go to Aldi or another store to get meats and vegetables. Many people also look for coupons, sales, or store apps to save. As mentioned in the article above, some students rely on their parents to buy their groceries. The parents who are doing that may choose to cut back on the food they get or how often they get it because they put their students over themselves. This shows that inflation is affecting people of all ages and families, or single households, are having to budget and change the way they shop.

The photo essay shows a wide range of discounts and food prices. As the years have gone by fifty dollars has been able to by you much less. As food prices have become higher than ever on eggs, dairy, meat and bakery product. This photo essay titled what can fifty dollars buy you, you will see the high prices for low amounts of grocerie. Inflation has changed dieting and healthy eating.                       

Inflation is like a silent bomb. It is not just about prices going up, but changing the way people eat and shop most without even realizing it. People eat smaller portions, cut out fresh fruits and vegetables, and do anything that will make their grocery bill cheaper. As of now, the changes are small, but they do have lasting effects in the long run on people’s health. Families, students, and single households are all feeling it. Alternatives that save money, like buying in bulk, couponing, switching brands, or even cutting things out completely, are how people are shaping their diets and dealing with inflation. But it’s more than what inflation is doing to people’s wallets its changing diets, shopping habits, and the way people think about food or budgeting.

 

Email the team at geh177@msstate.edu with any questions

View our Sources