Holiday season food in Canada - statistics and facts
As the holiday season approaches each year, Canadians prepare for their Christmas traditions, with food playing a big role in their celebrations. Turkey reigns supreme as the undisputed favorite on Canadian Christmas tables, while home cooking is set to play a significant role in holiday festivities. Although gifts remain the largest expenditure in the average Canadian Christmas budget, food still makes up a fair share of spending, with the average household expected to spend almost 550 Canadian dollars on groceries. Since food price inflation has escalated and prices continue to increase into the holiday season in 2024, shoppers will be sure to keep a closer eye on the price of Christmas food favorites.
While turkey and cranberry sauce, which ranked second in popularity, dominate the Christmas table, some traditional holiday offerings are falling out of favor. Mulled wine, for instance, was disliked by almost half of the survey respondents, making it the least popular Christmas food or drink item. Plum pudding also faced a lukewarm reception, with around 40 percent of respondents expressing their dislike for this traditional dessert.
Turkey is a holiday season favorite
Turkey is set to take center stage at Christmas gatherings. A recent survey revealed that over 80 percent of Canadian respondents liked turkey, making it the most popular Christmas food or drink item in the ranking. This popularity comes despite rising prices, as the average cost of a whole turkey in Canada reached 4.94 Canadian dollars per kilogram in 2023, representing an increase of over 10 percent compared to 2021. Turkey prices varied across the country, with the Maritime provinces experiencing the highest costs and Manitoba offering the most affordable options. For those planning a traditional Christmas feast, the estimated cost per person for a whole turkey dinner ranged from 9.77 to 12.77 Canadian dollars in 2023. For budget-conscious consumers or those wanting to try something different, chicken emerged as the most economical alternative to the traditional turkey dinner.While turkey and cranberry sauce, which ranked second in popularity, dominate the Christmas table, some traditional holiday offerings are falling out of favor. Mulled wine, for instance, was disliked by almost half of the survey respondents, making it the least popular Christmas food or drink item. Plum pudding also faced a lukewarm reception, with around 40 percent of respondents expressing their dislike for this traditional dessert.
