Writer attempts to live on USDA's $65 weekly food budget amid rising prices

Bon Appétit reported on Paul Greenberg, a James Beard Award–winning writer, who took on the challenge of living on the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan budget for groceries, which is set at $64.90 per week for a man in his 50s after adjusting for 2026 inflation.

Greenberg, a self-described cheapskate and lifelong fisherman, shared his approach to bargain hunting and how he manages to find lower prices even in an inflationary environment. He noted significant price increases since January 2024, including a 21% rise in sirloin steak and a 27% increase in romaine lettuce prices.

The USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, established in 1975 and updated in 2021, aims to model a healthy diet across food groups with different shopping lists by age and gender. Greenberg applied these guidelines to his shopping in New York City, mostly beating the budgeted amounts.

This experiment highlights the challenges consumers face with rising food prices and the efforts needed to adhere to government food budget recommendations.