Home » Misc » Cheap foods for baby shower

Cheap foods for baby shower


25 Perfect Baby Shower Food Ideas on a Budget – Instacart

Throwing a fun, memorable party to celebrate the new arrival in your life doesn’t have to break the bank. You can decorate a party or backyard and prepare a tasty menu affordably without compromising on quality—it just takes planning. If you’re stuck and don’t know where to start, these baby shower food ideas on a budget will get the ball rolling.

How to throw a baby shower on a budget

Before we get into baby shower food ideas, these are our cost-cutting tips for throwing a wonderful baby shower on a budget.

1. Don’t host at mealtimes

If you host a baby shower at mealtimes, you’ll have to serve full meals, which can be expensive. Instead, throw your baby shower between meals, so you can serve only appetizers and sweet snacks. 2 p.m. is a popular time for these events.

2. Keep a pared-down guest list

On average, guests eat around 5 pieces of food at baby showers. The more people you invite, the costlier the event will be.

3. Ask guests to bring food or drinks

If you still want a full party but can’t afford to feed everyone, ask your guests to bring over food or drinks. It will be a baby-shower-meets-potluck type of event, which can be a lot of fun.

4. Choose local, seasonal ingredients

The cheapest food for a baby shower is the one that’s local and in season. Research what fresh produce is cheapest, then come up with recipes using those ingredients.

Following a themed menu can help you pinch pennies. For example, if you’re using chicken for 1 appetizer, make sure to include it in another snack. This way, you don’t have to buy as many ingredients and end up saving money.

6. Ditch the fully stocked bar

Choose just 1 or 2 drinks to serve—preferably non-alcoholic for baby showers. No need to keep a handful of spirits and mixers on hand.

7. Make your own decorations

DIY the décor using things you already have at home. Visiting a thrift store can also help you throw a stylish baby shower for cheap.

Affordable appetizers for a baby shower

Plate up these tasty, budget-friendly appetizers for your guests.

1. Ham and cheese sliders

Ham and cheese sliders are simple, easy to make, and affordable.

2. Pulled pork buns

Pulled pork sliders are also a popular snack for baby showers. Don’t skip out on the barbecue sauce.

3. Turkey cheddar hot pinwheels

With pre-made pizza dough, deli turkey slices, and cheddar cheese, you can make this comforting finger food.

4. Tomato and broccoli mini quiches

Quiches are sophisticated but surprisingly cheap to make. For this version, use ripe sliced tomatoes and broccoli florets for the filling.

5. Hummus and roasted veg toast

Spread homemade or storebought hummus on toasted bread and top with an assortment of roasted veggies.

6. Build-your-own chili

If you’re looking for a more filling snack, chili is the way to go. Let your guests add their own toppings.

7.

Potato skins with bacon

Hollowed-out baked potatoes, bacon, and sour cream make the perfect appetizer. It’s easy to eat and packed with flavor.

8. Summer pasta salad

For something lighter, serve individual portions of pasta salad. Toss fusilli and whatever veggies are in season in olive oil and a pinch of salt.

9. Deep-fried pickles

Pickles are a popular satisfying snack among many moms-to-be. Set out a plate of deep-fried pickles with ranch dressing on the side.

10. Babies in a blanket

Give pigs in a blanket a twist. Wrap the dough around the sausage so it looks like a swaddled baby and add chocolate sprinkles for the eyes.

11. Grape jelly wieners

Toss smokies in a grape jelly and ketchup mixture, then serve on toothpicks.

12. Barbecue meatballs

Another hearty appetizer, meatballs doused in barbecue sauce are a crowd-pleaser.

13. Tater tot casserole

Tater tot casserole is pretty inexpensive to make. Use a blend of affordable cheeses to take this comfort food to the next level.

14. Chicken salad sandwiches

Spread chicken salad on soft white sandwich bread and serve with an olive and a toothpick on top.

15. Pesto chicken tea sandwiches

Grilled chicken and basil pesto is another great combination. Cut the sandwiches into quarters so they’re easier to eat.

16. Hamburger meat empanadas

Pie crust and hamburger meat can be turned into delicious empanadas. Salsa makes for a great dipping sauce.

17. Cheese pizza bites

Make finger food pizza bites using a cupcake tin, pizza dough, pizza sauce, and shredded cheese.

Cheap desserts and treats for baby showers

What’s a party without something sweet? These cheap recipes for a baby shower will satisfy your sweet tooth without going over budget.

1. Gendered rice crispy treats

Rice crispy treats are cheap to make. They only call for margarine, marshmallows, and puffed rice. Add red or blue food dye for a gendered twist.

2. Carrot cupcakes

Not into gender-themed desserts? You will probably love carrot cupcakes. Making your own is cheaper than getting it from the store—and surprisingly easy!

3. Fruit on a skewer

Pierce a skewer through pieces of fruit for a healthy snack. Grapes, banana, strawberry, apple—whatever is in season.

4. Caramel apples

In the fall, when apples are abundant, caramel apple slices hit the spot. 

5. Waffle bites

Waffle mix is inexpensive, so why not make waffle bites? Cut a waffle into fourths and top with fruits, caramel, or chocolate.

6. Decorated sugar cookies

Take sugar cookies to the next level by decorating them. All you’ll need is icing, food dye, and a piping bag.

7. Ice cream sundaes

Sundaes are perfect for summer baby showers. Choose 1 ice cream flavor and let your guests pick their toppings—pretzels, caramel drizzle, and chocolate chips are just some of the options.

8. S’mores bar

Set up a s’mores bar for a DIY dessert. You’ll need graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows. Don’t forget skewers and a few candles.

Save time and money with a little help from a friend

You probably have a clearer picture of what you’ll serve at your budget-friendly baby shower, right? Now comes the fun part: creating invites, making a playlist, and decorating the space. What’s not so fun is doing the grocery runs—but, fortunately, you can leave that to Instacart. Order everything you need with just a few clicks and focus on the party. You may also want to check out current deals from our retailers.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Instacart

Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1000 national, regional and local retail banners to deliver from more than 75,000 stores across more than 13,000 cities in North America. To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.

Simple Baby Shower Food Ideas on a Budget

Thank You for Sharing!

Inside: You want to host an amazing baby shower, but you don’t want to spend hours preparing or shell out a small fortune? We’ve got you! Here are tips to save money, plus several super simple baby shower food ideas.

Planning a baby shower? The costs can add up quickly if you aren’t careful. And the category that’s most likely to wreak havoc on your budget is FOOD.

So if you want baby shower food ideas that won’t break the bank, keep reading! We’ve got several tips to help you plan a baby shower menu on a tight budget.

We’ve also rounded up several real examples of simple baby shower food ideas where you can control the costs by preparing them yourself or saving time by buying prepared foods.

Let’s get started.

Related: How to Throw a Perfect Minimalist Baby Shower

9 Tips to Save Money on Food Costs When Planning a Baby Shower

THIS POST PROBABLY CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. IF YOU LIKE LEGAL JARGON, YOU CAN READ OUR FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY HERE.

Here are several ideas you’ll want to use to slash your food costs in half (or more!) when planning your baby shower menu.

(If you just want actual recipe and food ideas, skip to the next section.)

1. Avoid mealtimes for big savings.

The biggest way to cut costs on food when planning a baby shower is to time it right — aka not during a meal time.

A more economical option is to put out a nice selection of snacks and/or desserts for guests to enjoy.

2. Find a co-host and split the cost.

Simple math here: divide the cost in half (or thirds!) and your out-of-pocket expenses shrink. If you and another family member or friend — or even a group of friends! — can co-host a shower, it eases the financial burden on everyone.

There’s no need for a five-course meal or a dozen different desserts, especially if you’re planning a low-key affair. Keep your menu simple and streamlined to save money (and your sanity!).

When you avoid mealtimes, your costs already go down. But don’t make the mistake of then overdoing the appetizers.

You could do a few simple appetizers and 1-2 desserts. Or you could do JUST desserts (I’ve never seen a baby shower without desserts, which is why I didn’t suggest just appetizers).

4. Presentation matters.

This tip goes hand in hand with the above point. A inexpensive and/or simple menu doesn’t have to be boring, and presentation can make even the most basic spread look fabulous.

Pinterest is your BFF here. Get inspired and re-create a beautiful spread on a budget.

Guests will never know you didn’t spend that much! 

Related: The Best Baby Shower Verses for a Baby Shower (and how to incorporate them)

5.

Be your own caterer.

Having an event catered is expensive. No question about it. Plan to prepare and serve the food yourself (or recruit family and friends to help!) for a budget-friendly baby shower.

6. Skip the alcohol.

It goes without saying…alcohol ain’t cheap. If you want to plan a baby shower on a tiny budget, skipping the cocktails is one way to go.

If you can’t see yourself nixing alcohol from the menu, do your research and find some festive (yet cost-effective) drink recipes to offer guests.

Stick to water with fruit, an easy punch recipe and of course, coffee.

7. Shop around to find the best price on food and supplies.

Food can be bought for a fraction of the cost at discount stores (like Aldi!) and still tastes every bit as good. You can also shop in bulk — usually at a lower price per unit — at warehouse stores like Costco.

When shopping for supplies (paper plates, napkins, streamers, etc), be sure to check your local dollar stores for huge bargains.

8. Consider making it a potluck (see creative ideas!).

No one says you need to shoulder the burden of baby shower costs alone. You can take it beyond splitting the costs with one or two friends.

Is your crowd a tightknit group of family and friends coming together to celebrate a new baby? If so, it’s totally appropriate to ask everyone to bring along a side dish or dessert.

Don’t want to go this route? That’s okay.

Here’s a fun alternative to try instead: Ask guests to bring classic pregnancy craving foods along. Then, set up a “cravings table” for everyone to sample from.

You can provide a few additional items, but make the cravings table the focus of the event.

Another trendy and easy idea is to do a charcuterie board theme. Get 4+ friends to bring various ingredients. You can divide and conquer, with one person covering 1-2 categories (you don’t need all of these to make it work):

  • Deli Meats
  • Cheeses
  • Spreads &Dips
  • Fruits
  • Olives & Pickles
  • Nuts & Crackers
  • Chocolate

Make and serve these simple vanilla cupcakes as your one dessert to go with it.

9. If you can’t avoid a meal, consider a self-serve buffet.

Another affordable option could be a buffet-style menu. Here are a few ideas:

  • Brunch – Include breakfast pastries, a fruit platter, and a coffee bar (see if you can borrow a Keurig!). A waffle bar with toppings could be another fun option.
  • Tacos – Set out taco meat, hard and soft shells, cheese, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, and tomatoes.
  • Salad – This might consist of different types of lettuce, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, cheeses, and an assortment of dressings.
  • Soup – Borrow some slow cookers and make big batches of several types of soups to serve. You can also include soup fixings like shredded cheese and a variety of breads, croutons or crackers.

There are so many options. This crowd-pleasing choice will save both money and time.

Simple Baby Shower Food Ideas on a Budget: From Appetizers to Desserts

The key to keeping these items low budget is to apply the above tips.

Remember you only need 2-3 appetizers (make sure on is vegetarian friendly!), and 1-2 desserts max. Only do more if it truly brings you joy.

You don’t need to go crazy, and you don’t need to please everyone. Although I will recommend asking the mom-to-be what her favorite appetizer is and any diet restrictions, and make sure to include it.

These are grouped by category, with several recipes for each one. Hopefully you can find a few things that work for your event.

1. Crockpot Meatballs

These are SO easy to make! Just dump frozen meatballs in a crockpot, add a sweet or savory sauce of your choice, and boom, done.

Put a bowl of toothpicks next to the crockpot, and call it a day.

If you need specific recipes, here are a few that look delicious (#1 is esp. easy and delicious!):

  • Crockpot Grape Jelly & BBQ Meatballs
  • Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs
  • Best Crockpot Meatballs

For more easy crockpot ideas, from meats to dips, THIS post has great ideas.

2. Chips & Dip

This can be a super easy category with both hot and cold dip options, depending on the season and/or your budget.

  • Pita chips with layered hummus dip (warning: lots of chopping)
  • Tortilla chips with guacamole, Pico de Gallo, or 7 layer dip
  • Pita or Tortilla chips with an easy hot dip

3. Fruit & Dip

Sensing a theme yet? Dips can be super easy. You can get them pre-made at Costco or your local grocery store, or you can make them yourself.

Popular pairings for fruit are:

  • caramel dip with apple slices (bathe these in lemon water)
  • cream cheese fruit dip with strawberries
  • melted chocolate with strawberries or pineapple

4. Bread & Dip/Spread

This can be as simple or as complicated as you want. Grab a baguette or pita bread, slice it up and pair it with one of these dips.

Here are some recipe ideas:

  • Herb & Olive Oil Dip
  • Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip
  • Beer Cheese Dip (with bread bowl)

5.

Veggie Tray (with dip, of course!)

Make sure to include a couple different dips, such as hummus and veggie dip.

With this option, go easy on yourself and buy the dips from the grocery store. Your time is valuable, and the savings is negligible.

Of course, if you have a favorite homemade veggie dip that you think kicks the store version’s butt, by all means, go for it!

6. Chicken or Egg Salad Sliders

Chicken salad or egg salad are great options to make in advance that keep well in the fridge. You can also opt to pre-buy these (I’ve seen chicken salad at Costco!).

Pair with Hawaiian sweet rolls.

You can put the sandwiches together in advance, but I recommend keeping them separate and let your guests make their own to eliminate soggy leftover sandwiches.

7. Cold Salads

Another easy to prepare in advance option, OR purchase them from your local prepared food section.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Easy Creamy Potato Salad
  • Amish Macaroni Salad
  • Easy Greek Salad

Although for this one, I highly recommend going with the prepared food options. So easy, and the cost-savings of doing it yourself is probably negligible.

8. Cookies or Bars

Cookies can be super complicated, but they don’t need to be. You don’t need royal frosting, decorated like an artist cookies.

Try simple sugar cookies without frosting, cut into baby shower shapes. Or go with a simple dessert bar for an even easier dessert.

Related: 15 Things to Do at a Baby Shower Besides Games

9. Cupcakes

You don’t get much easier than cupcakes. Go with a simple vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting for maximum ease (you can dye it pink or blue if you know baby’s gender).

You can even get by without purchasing frosting tips by using a gallon-sized ziplock bag to pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

10. Candy

Candy is a super simple way to make a dessert table look colorful and pretty. Borrow some glass vases and bowls to put these on display.

Choose colors and candies based on theme. Buy in bulk to save money, but going with candy can save you so much time, too!

You could even offer little favor bags at the candy table for guests to put together a to-go bag. Getting favors and food done in one fell swoop just makes sense. Plus it’s clutter-free!

You Might Also Like: Eco-Friendly Baby Shower Favors for a Sustainable Shower

Don’t Be Afraid to Host a Simple Baby Shower

As you can see, there are so many ways to cut costs when planning the menu for a baby shower.

It doesn’t need to be a super expensive endeavor. Your guest of honor will so appreciate the time and effort you put into celebrating her special day.

She’s probably not going to look back on her baby shower and think, man, I wish the hosts had worked harder on that baby shower food. She’ll look back and remember WHO was there, and maybe what gifts she received.

So don’t be afraid to divide the work if at all possible, and keep it simple.

You’ll save a ton, enjoy the shower itself more, and no one will know the difference.

Read Next: 25 Inexpensive Baby Shower Gifts – Both Practical & Affordable

Amy Thetford

Amy is a freelance writer and blogger who homeschools her tribe of tiny humans while pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a published author. She is fueled by coffee and the desire to do ALL. THE. THINGS. She has the attention span of a squirrel, though somehow manages to make it through each day with everyone fed and happy (well, mostly happy! Ha!) while striving to make every tomorrow better than the last. You can hear more of what she has to say over at Real Talk with Amy, where she blogs about all things motherhood.


Thank You for Sharing!

Prices for groceries and food in Turkey 2022

Turkey is one of the countries that combine relatively inexpensive holidays with a fairly high level of service. For many years it has been attracting travelers with picturesque landscapes, beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage.

This country is ideal for holidays with children. Excellent infrastructure, a high level of service, water parks, cheerful animators, children's cuisine and a popular all inclusive service system - all this will be cordially offered by most local hotels. That is why Turkish resorts are very popular among tourists.

Contents

  1. What to try
  2. Catering in hotels in Turkey
  3. Product prices
  4. Supermarkets
  5. Fast food in Turkey
  6. Prices in cafes and restaurants
  7. Baby food

Every tourist will find something to their liking: excursions, walks, rafting on the rivers, routes in mountainous areas or a regular beach holiday. The tourism industry of the country is well developed and offers any entertainment and excursions even to the most sophisticated travelers.

One of the country's most outstanding attractions, along with its architectural and natural heritage, is its amazing cuisine. In our article, we will talk about how food is organized in Turkey and how much food in catering establishments will cost.

What to try in Turkey

Turkish cuisine occupies a special place in world cuisine. This is a whole philosophy, which implies not only special cooking, but also table setting and serving dishes.

She absorbed the traditions of many nations. Neighboring countries had a special influence on its development: Greece, Syria, Iran. Favorable climatic conditions, geographical location, as well as religious restrictions played an important role in shaping the traditions of local cuisine.

The main ingredients of the dishes are vegetables, meat and seafood, which are usually cooked on the grill . Seasonings and spices are widely used in cooking. However, at the same time, national cuisine cannot be called too spicy.

So, what are the culinary associations associated with Turkey that almost every tourist has? These are mouth-watering and loved all over the world doner, kebab, dolma, brynza cheese, Turkish delight, baklava. We will tell you a little more about these and other dishes that you should definitely try.

  • Adana kebab – minced lamb dish with onion and spices. Served in the form of long grilled sausages.
  • Patlyjan-kebab - incredibly tasty skewers of meat and vegetables. This is a traditional festive dish, which is usually served at weddings and other celebrations.
  • Jajik – cold soup made from cucumbers and ayran, somewhat reminiscent of okroshka.
  • Balyk-ekmek – fish that is grilled and then wrapped in a flatbread with vegetables or fried in crispy dough.
  • Kefte - small fried meatballs made of meat, onion and spices, served with a spicy sauce.
  • Turkish Delight is the most famous variety of Turkish sweets. It is said that in this country there are hundreds of Turkish Delight recipes: honey, nut, milk and even rose petals.
  • Syutlach - rice pudding. Incredibly light and tender sweet dish.

We would like to remind you that Turkey is a maritime power with access to four seas. That is why Turkish seafood is widely used in traditional cooking. You will be offered various dishes from them both in hotels and in any restaurant or street stall.

Catering in hotels in Turkey

Good food in Turkey is one of the advantages that has made the country's resorts a leader in the tourism market for many years.

Most of the local hotels operate on an all inclusive basis. And this applies not only to expensive hotels: all-inclusive meals in Turkey can be offered by any hotel, regardless of the number of stars. The difference is only in variety.

Thus, inexpensive, modest hotels of the category up to three stars will offer three meals a day, soft drinks and alcohol throughout the day. True, it is better not to count on special culinary delights in such places. As a rule, this is a monotonous menu with a minimum amount of pastries and fresh fruit.

Choosing an inexpensive hotel, you should definitely study the reviews of tourists. Sometimes a two-star hotel can offer more varied food than a three-star hotel.

Four-star hotels provide four meals a day. In addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner, there is also a late breakfast or dinner. Here, tourists will be offered a wider selection of dishes, sweets, pastries and fruits. Drinks are served at the bars throughout the day. And beach bars and eateries near the hotel offer light snacks from 10.00 to 17.00-18.00.

In addition, in "four" hotels, along with outdoor pools, there may be indoor pools, there are often water slides on the territory, and some hotels even have entire water parks. In hotels of this class, cheerful animators organize various entertainments, competitions, discos and entertaining games.

Five-star hotels are distinguished by even more varied and tasty food, which is organized in the same way as in four-star hotels. In addition, ultra all-inclusive meals in Turkey are found in five-star hotels. In this case, you will be offered drinks not only local, but also imported.

  • Best Family Hotels in Turkey

This catering concept also includes snacks throughout the day, replenishment of the minibar in the room with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, room service, and dinner at night.

Entertainment (other than those offered by animators) can include water slides, water parks, as well as rafting or kayaking. Some "five" organize the days of the national cuisine of a country, such as Japanese, Turkish, Arabic, as well as fish days.

Holidays with children means that you will spend most of your time at the hotel: by the pool or on the beach. That is why the all-inclusive system is very popular in this country.

In all the local hotels, the food system is organized according to the "buffet" principle. And this is an additional plus when young travelers are resting with you. Many parents are well aware that it can be quite difficult to please little picky ones.

However, with a large selection of dishes, pastries and fruits that can be tasted in unlimited quantities, this difficult task is greatly simplified. On the second or third day of rest, children usually already decide what they like. Thus, you can organize baby food in hotels in Turkey without any problems.

It is rather difficult to single out hotels in Turkey with good food, because the way of cooking, taste and serving of dishes depend on the skill of the chef who currently works in the hotel restaurant. If this aspect of relaxation is important to you, then even at the stage of travel planning, you should definitely study the latest reviews of tourists on selected hotels.

  • Turkish resorts for families

Almost all tourists note the huge variety and incredible presentation of dishes that chefs of restaurants try to surprise with. Food in hotels in Turkey will not leave anyone indifferent, so be careful not to gain a few extra pounds.

The tourist season in this country starts at the end of April and lasts until October. At this time, the largest number of tourists arrive. With the onset of cold weather, ski resorts in Turkey begin their work.

Prices for accommodation in hotels are reduced by two or three times. At the same time, service, food and service quality remain at a high level. Some travelers claim that this is the best time for walking, sightseeing and shopping, but these are those who do not care about a beach holiday.

  • National cuisine of Turkey: how to feed a child?
  • Description of food types in hotels

Food prices in Turkey

In general, Turkish food is relatively inexpensive, prices in shops are average for Europe, and in some regions even much lower. However, with the start of the tourist season, prices rise.

If you are planning to book an apartment with a kitchen and cook your own meals, or if you want to travel a lot around the country, eating in cafes and restaurants, then you will probably be interested to know what are the prices for food in Turkey. Let's dwell on this important issue in more detail.

Grocery prices 2022

Basic foodstuffs are best purchased in large supermarkets, and fruits in bazaars. Kidpassage devoted a separate article to local fruits and vegetables, their ripening seasons and prices.

Be sure to plan a trip to the market for fruit or souvenirs. Feel the oriental flavor, bargain. Unlike supermarkets, here you will be allowed to taste the delicious, juicy fruit before you buy it.

The behavior of salespeople may seem a bit intrusive, but that's how it is here. This is an old tradition of all oriental bazaars - to invite buyers and bargain. Treat it as a pleasant pastime.

Prices for fruits and vegetables are lowest in summer, when a huge variety of local fruits ripen. And after lunch, merchants are usually more accommodating and can give up almost half the price.

The table shows the approximate cost of products in Turkey (in Lira):

Name Quantity Price
Eggs 10 pcs. from 22
Pasta 500 g 7.90
Sugar 1 kg 21.90
Vegetable oil 1 l 32.5
Butter 1 kg 99.5
Airan 1 l 14.10
Milk 1 l 7-15
Classic yoghurt without additives 1 kg 23.65
Kefir 1 l 12-15
Yogurt Activia with additives 150 g 8.95
Margarine 250 g 11
Hard cheese 1 kg 140
Feta cheese 200 g 16.5
Bread 1 kg 16.90
Lavash 1 kg 40-60
Simit pcs. 3-4
Chicken wings 1 kg 62.90
Chicken breast tenderloin 1 kg 67.90
Sausages 1 kg 67.90
Ground beef 1 kg 130
Veal cut 1 kg 150
Sea bream 1 kg 130
Shrimps 0.5 kg 56.99
Grouper 1 kg 140
Fresh smoked salmon, pieces 250 g 75
Whole fresh Turkish salmon 1 kg 79.99
Potato 1 kg 13.90
Bow 1 kg 5.50
Carrot 1 kg 13.90
Cucumbers 1 kg 8.99
Tomatoes 1 kg 13. 90
Green 1 bunch 3.99
Cabbage 1 kg 12.9
Pepper 1 kg 16.90
Oranges 1 kg 12.90
Apricot 1 kg 29.90
Kiwi 1 kg 29.95
Avocado 1 pc. 9.90
Watermelons 1 kg 12.90

* Prices for fruits and vegetables can vary greatly depending on the season.

** Prices taken from Carrefour 9 online storefront0042

Seafood is better to buy at the market, as there is a wider range than in supermarkets. That's just coming to the fish markets is early. In addition, in the morning on the piers, fishermen sell fresh catch of horse mackerel, shrimps, red mullet, mackerel and other types of fish.

  • Turkish fruit

Supermarkets in Turkey

Turkish resorts have many chain stores and supermarkets. Next, we list the most famous of them and talk a little about the pricing policy of these stores.

Migros is the most famous and popular supermarket. This is due to the fact that many tour operators advise shopping here, because this supermarket has relatively low prices.

However, some experienced travelers claim that the locals consider these stores expensive and that only tourists shop there. "Migros" is not only supermarkets, but also shopping centers, which even have been assigned a "star rating" from 2M to 5M. "Star" depends on the size of retail space and the range of goods. On their territory there are usually bakeries offering a huge selection of delicious Turkish pastries.

Metro is a relatively inexpensive store. Metro offers especially favorable prices for fruits and vegetables. No special documents or buyer's card, like ours, is required. In Turkey, they simply ask you to fill out a form with the name of the hotel.

Carrefour is the world's most famous supermarket chain. It is famous for its excellent design, average prices, wide selection and pleasant service.

Kipa - supermarkets with a huge selection of goods, but with rather high prices.

Tesco is a world famous supermarket chain. It is famous for a wide variety of goods and favorable prices. In the stores of this trading network, locals prefer to shop. Promotions and sales are often organized.

Supermarkets Bim is a chain store with low prices. Some types of goods here are almost a third cheaper than in other stores in the country. True, the choice is relatively small. In addition, there are no alcohol and tobacco products.

Sok Supermarkets, A101 are the most budget stores in Turkey. They specialize in selling locally produced goods. Here you can buy sweets, water and fruits relatively inexpensively.

Fast food

No matter how tasty the food is in hotel restaurants, no matter what delights the chef offers, you will definitely want to have a bite to eat on excursions or while walking around the city.

Street food in Turkey is a separate culinary section that no hotel will offer you. Local fast food dishes have proven themselves all over the world. Of course, you can visit McDonald's, where you will order a completely familiar menu. But Turkish street food is something you should definitely try.

Kokorech is the king of fast food.

The main ingredient is fried lamb giblets with spices. Cooked on a spit over hot coals. Kokorech is served with chopped vegetables in a crispy bun or with some kind of side dish.

The second most popular and famous street food dish is Dener kebab. We know it better as shawarma. This hearty and tasty dish in Turkey, as well as all over the world, is prepared from fried meat, fresh salad, tomatoes, pickles, onions and sauces.

This dish is called dener kebab in a white crispy bun. But the same thing, but in a thin dough - this is durum . On the piers you can enjoy such a dish as balyk-ekmek . This is fried fish with vegetables in a bun.

Borek - layer cake with filling. Locals prefer to eat it for breakfast. The fillings are very diverse: meat, cottage cheese, potatoes. Borek cigar (sigara böreği) - borek in the form of a tube filled with cheese. Su berei (su böreği) is a cheese borek that has a square shape. There are also square-shaped borek with meat filling (kıymalı börek), with potatoes (patatesli börek) and spinach borek (ıspanaklı börek).

Dondurma ice cream is a very unusual ice cream made from mastic and goat milk. It is viscous, like caramel, and a bit like chewing gum. From preparing delicacies, sellers put on a show and are guaranteed to improve your mood.

Simit – bagel made from yeast dough, covered with molasses and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

And here are other incredibly popular delicacies that are sold as fast food: mussels stuffed with rice, roasted corn, roasted chestnuts.

Approximate prices for street food:

  • kokorech - 15-20 lira;
  • Dener kebab - 20-45 lire / 200 g;
  • iskander kebab - 45-65 lire / 200 g;
  • dolma - 20 lira;
  • stuffed eggplant karniyarik - 25 lira;
  • kefte - from 45 lira;
  • sandwich with various fillings - 10-15 lira;
  • balyk-ekmek - 20-30 lira;
  • mussels, 1 pc. - 2-3 lira;
  • borek, 8 pcs. – from 20 lira;
  • gozleme - from 30 lira;
  • corn - 8-10 lire / piece;
  • roasted chestnuts - 20-25 lire / 100 g;
  • simit - 4.5-5 lira;
  • tea - 5-10 lire;
  • coffee - 15 lire.

Prices in cafes and restaurants 2022

Cafes and restaurants are ubiquitous in Turkish resort towns. They are designed for any tourist, regardless of income. Away from the beaches and popular tourist routes, there are catering establishments where you can eat relatively inexpensively and tasty. In such places, the townspeople prefer to eat. In institutions where there are many visitors, prices are much higher.

The difference in prices is quite large and depends primarily on the location or prestige of the institution. For example, breakfast in a bakery or bakery will cost about 25-40 liras per person, but on the seashore - from 125 liras. Lunch for two in an inexpensive restaurant will cost you 140 lire.

Cafes with home cooking are popular, usually decorated in the national style and specializing in traditional cuisine. The price of dishes offered by such establishments is from 12 lire.

Please note that in many canteens and cafes, closed bottles of water will immediately be placed on your table, which will then certainly be included in the bill. If you do not need water, inform the waiter and they will be removed from the calculation.

Here is the approximate cost of dishes in cafes and restaurants:

  • soups - 12-25 lire;
  • kebab - 50-110 lira;
  • steak - 75-100 lira;
  • chicken kebab - 35-45 lire;
  • omelet with additives - 15-25 lire;
  • spaghetti carbonara/bolognese - 30-35 lire;
  • stuffed mussels – from 3 lire/piece;
  • salads - 15-30 lire;
  • dishes with squid, shrimps, fish - 60-100 lire
  • coffee - 15-25 lira;
  • tea - from 4 lire;
  • ayran - 12 lira.

Baby food in Turkey

Parents who travel with their children are usually concerned about the state of affairs with children's food, and whether to stock up on groceries or rely on the range of local shops and pharmacies.

Undoubtedly, the locals also have children whom they feed with something. But still, I would like to know in more detail about the baby food that is sold in stores, as well as what to eat in Turkey for little travelers.

For the youngest tourists, any supermarket offers milk mixtures presented by Hipp, Humana, Bebelac, Milupa Aptamil. If your baby needs any special food, then it is best to bring it with you.

Instant cereals are presented by Hipp, Hero Baby, Milupa, Bebelac, Humana. It is problematic to find gluten-free, dairy-free and monocaches. There are practically no cereals from buckwheat on sale. On the shelves of shops and pharmacies, you can mainly see instant multi-cereal cereals with various fruit fillings.

Canned purees are from the same companies as cereals. In Turkey, fruit, vegetable and meat and vegetable purees are widespread.

However, it is rather difficult to find meat purees, as well as monocomponent canned food. Most vegetable purees consist of several types of vegetables. So if you are just starting to introduce complementary foods into your baby's diet, they are not a good fit.

  • What to take with you to Turkey: a checklist for tourists with children
  • Turkey for children

When buying canned fruit purees, pay attention to the ingredients. Often the composition includes apricots, peaches, tangerines - fruits that can cause allergies.

There are practically no fermented milk products developed and adapted for children in this country. However, it should be noted that food in Turkey is of excellent quality, which is controlled without fail.

Therefore, you can buy dairy products in supermarkets and cook cottage cheese and cereals from them yourself. Usually for kids they buy yogurt, which is sold here without additives and fillers, as well as kefir or ayran. Older children can be offered dairy and yoghurt products from Danone, but you should pay attention to the composition.

If the child is already old enough, then feeding him is not a problem. Cafes and restaurants offer children's or dietary menus. Children usually enjoy eating Turkish pastries, sweets, fruits.

And if you eat in a hotel on an all-inclusive basis, then no worries at all: the choice of dishes is huge, and many hotels offer a separate menu, which includes boiled vegetables, cereals and dishes without seasonings, suitable for delicate children's stomachs. Read about what to feed a child in Turkey in our special article on this topic.

We will be very happy if our article helped you learn about what to eat in Turkey and how much it costs. We wish you a pleasant journey and a good rest!

crockery, textiles, decorative and household goods

Hits shop

Our customers choose, so do you!