\
CHRISTMASTIME is filled with holiday festivities, feasts, and family, but all the gift-giving and merriment can burn a hole in your budget.
However, holiday meals don’t have to break the bank with a few simple tips from a culinary pro.
3
3
Christmas is inching closer and closer as thoughts of all the holiday food staples fill our heads.
From turkey and ham to pumpkin pie and green bean casseroles, the holiday season brings an array of delicious dishes that we eagerly anticipate.
Stocking up on all the necessary ingredients can be costly, however, if you don’t head into your holiday shopping with a game plan.
To help shoppers curate the perfect Christmas meal on a budget, The U.S. Sun spoke exclusively with renowned culinary creator, foodie, and businessman Davon Moseley.
He has a deep-rooted passion for food that connects family and community, channeling it into every recipe he creates.
The foodie shares his recipes on his Royale Eats TikTok page (@royaleeats), which boasts 1.7 million followers.
SMART SWAPS
Moseley first delved into how shoppers can get the best bang for their buck when shopping for holiday ingredients.
Christmas meals can require a lengthy list of components, so shoppers on a budget can cheap out on a few ingredients without compromising the quality of the end product.
For example, Moseley advised going a cheaper route on certain Christmas side dishes such as cornbread and stuffing, which can be made using a box mix.
The content creator added that the same could be done with desserts, such as by purchasing a pre-made pie crust or cake mix.
“You can go a little bit more of a simpler route if you’re buying stuffing or cornbread mix,” he said.
“With side dishes like that, you can kind of do little shortcuts and then add your spin, a little twist to it to kind of make it its own flair.”
Moseley suggested using the ingredients you already have on hand to spice up a boxed stuffing mix.
Shoppers can add Turkey drippings to “jazz up” their stuffing, or fresh produce like onions that may already be in your pantry.
Although skimping out on certain ingredients is a key way to save on your Christmas meal, some staple ingredients require you to splurge.
In Moseley’s case, the culinary expert suggested spending a little extra on high-quality block cheese over pre-shredded cheese for classic dishes such as macaroni and cheese.
“I found that when it’s in its whole form and you shred it yourself, the cheese pulls better and tastes better,” he said.
“Especially, for example, if you buy like a smoked Gouda, I feel like that’s something that just takes your macaroni and cheese to a whole other level.”
SAVVY SAVINGS
Consumers on a budget can further stretch their dollars by shopping at bulk retailers.
Popular Christmas Foods Around the World
Staple Christmas foods in the US include ham, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, cornbread, and more. Preferences vary acoss the globe, however. Here are some of the most popular Christmas foods in different countries:
- Mexico: tamales
- United Kingdom: prawns, mince-meat pies, turkey
- Greece: roasted lamb, brined pork stuffed cabbage rolls
- France: oysters, prawns, lobster
- Germany: roasted duck, goose, or rabbit
- Poland: borscht, mushroom soup, pierogi
- Austria: fried carp, turkey
- New Zealand: barbeque, grilled fish and shrimp
- Italy: carp, octopus, clams, mussels
- Costa Rica: tamales
- Finland: ham, potato casserole, salad, fish
Source: Taste of Home
Moseley suggested that shoppers hit up their local Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s to purchase their Christmas ingredients if they have a membership.
“I know everyone doesn’t have access to Costco’s and BJ’s, but if you do, being able to buy in bulk will really help you because you get more for your money,” he said.
The foodie also advised sharing ingredients with loved ones and making the meal a family affair to lessen the strain on each individual’s wallet.
“I believe when it comes to the holiday season, it takes a village, so make some phone calls and ask your family what they have. I really feel like the key is making it a community effort. Don’t put everything on your back,” said Moseley.
3
Consumers can also serve up Christmas dinner on a budget with Walmart’s Holiday Ham Basket – it serves up to 12 for under $5 a person.
Plus, those in search of affordable Christmas gifts should head to BJ’s, which kicked off its gift event with 30% off deals for “last-minute shoppers.”
