Affordable Virginia Hosts “Tariff-Proof” Cooking Class as Families Struggle with Grocery Costs
Credit: Affordable Virginia
Chesapeake, VA – On Monday evening, Affordable Virginia brought local families and community members together at Untamed Chef for “The Tariff-Proof Kitchen,” an interactive cooking class focused on making affordable meals as grocery costs continue to rise and put strain on household budgets. Participants learned practical ways to swap ingredients, choose lower-cost proteins, and stretch groceries across multiple meals.
“I can see prices on everything climbing. They just keep going up and up. Every time I go to the grocery store, I am shocked by what I see. And I can only imagine if you are feeding a family with young kids. It’s just my wife and I,” said Monte, a Virginia Beach veteran who attended the class. “It’s disappointing to know that tariffs and the cost of gas are contributing to what families are paying every day.”
The class comes as a new study finds that 42% of Virginians experience food insecurity, including children in one in two households. Tariffs are driving up food prices at a time when families are already paying more for nearly everything on top of reduced food assistance. Since the passage of the Republican Tax Law, SNAP enrollment has fallen by about 120,000 Virginians compared with a year earlier.
Rep. Jen Kiggans has voted in support of tariffs and SNAP cuts.
“We put this class together to help give families useful ways to make their grocery budgets go further,” said Emily Yeatts, Campaign Director for Affordable Virginia. “In conversations with Virginians, we hear the same thing: everything costs more right now, and families simply cannot keep up. We’ve seen tariffs and the price of gas and diesel cause everyday staples at the grocery store to skyrocket, and it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.”
Credit: Affordable Virginia
The class used tips from Budget Bytes’ “Almost Tariff-Proof Grocery Guide” to make delicious meals while keeping costs down. Participants learned a few ways to stretch their budgets. For example, using dry beans instead of canned ones, which can cost more because steel tariffs have raised packaging costs. They also explored lower-cost proteins in place of seafood and beef, which have been impacted by tariffs.
