Newfoundland Nurse Reveals $400 Grocery Haul Amid Rising Food Prices

Canadians are increasingly facing challenges at the grocery store, with rising food prices putting pressure on household budgets. In a recent TikTok video, registered nurse and mother Brittany Norman from Newfoundland and Labrador highlighted the stark reality of grocery shopping in isolated regions by showcasing her $400 haul.

Norman posted her grocery haul on her TikTok channel, @itsbrittanynorman, to raise awareness about the high prices of food in Canada. In her video, she explained, “If I get one comment about, ‘Oh, you’re buying brand name,’ I don’t have a choice.” She noted that her community has limited options, with only one grocery store and a Walmart that does not offer the full range of products one might expect from a Superstore. The nearest Costco, she mentioned, is a staggering 15-hour drive away, making it impractical for her to shop there.

The purpose of sharing her haul was “educational,” she stated, as she believes that grocery prices in Canada are becoming increasingly unreasonable. Her shopping list included a variety of items such as meat, fresh produce, packaged goods, and baby formula. Notable prices included $9.54 for 0.44 kg of lean ground meat, just under $10 for a bag of cherries, $10.47 for two chicken breasts, and $53 for baby formula on sale.

To provide context, a comparison made by Daily Hive found that the same items would cost approximately $250 if purchased in Toronto. Norman displayed her purchases on her kitchen counter, expressing disbelief at the total, saying, “It looks like a lot. It’s not. Four hundred dollars.”

She further questioned how families manage to afford such high prices, stating, “How does everybody afford this? How are people doing it? I want to feed my kids healthy food, so this is what it costs. Wtf?” Her sentiments resonated with many viewers, prompting a flurry of comments. One user from Alberta remarked, “Wow, I thought Alberta was bad,” while another from Northern British Columbia expressed similar frustration, stating, “I legit get depressed going grocery shopping! My family can afford it, but doesn’t mean they should be this price! Why is a pack of three cucumbers $8?”

The situation is even more dire for some Canadians. One viewer from the Northwest Territories shared, “That would cost me $800 easily; we only have one store. Isolated for two months out of the year.”

The outlook for food prices is concerning. According to the Dalhousie Agri-food Analytics Lab’s Canada’s Food Price Report (CFPR) 2026, an average Canadian family of four is projected to spend $17,571.79 on food in 2026, representing an increase of up to $994.63 from 2025.

As Canadians grapple with the rising costs of groceries, Norman’s video serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by those living in remote areas. Her experience is not just a personal account but a reflection of a growing concern across the nation regarding food affordability.