Shea McInnis used to love cooking.

But higher prices have reduced the PhD student to basic meal planning on a shoestring budget.

91裸聊视频淣ow it91裸聊视频檚 just about what nutrition I can produce with the dollars I have,91裸聊视频� said McInnes, who attends Saint Mary91裸聊视频檚 University in Halifax. 91裸聊视频淚 make a lot of decisions based on whether there91裸聊视频檚 a sale. The enjoyment and delight are gone.91裸聊视频�

Food inflation remains stubbornly high in Canada as grocery prices climbed at the fastest pace in more than four decades last month.

While overall inflation moderated in August, the cost of food purchased from stores was up a staggering 10.8 per cent compared with a year ago.

That91裸聊视频檚 the fastest clip recorded by Statistics Canada since 1981.

Higher prices swept nearly every aisle of the grocery store. Even items once considered cheaper substitutes for pricier products weren91裸聊视频檛 immune to inflation.

For example, frozen and dried vegetables 91裸聊视频� usually considered a budget-friendly option 91裸聊视频� jumped 14.1 per cent last month compared with a year ago while fresh vegetables rose a more modest 9.3 per cent.

A similar trend appeared to unfold in the meat department.

91裸聊视频淎 few months ago when beef and pork prices were increasing significantly you could substitute for chicken,91裸聊视频� said James Orlando, director at TD Economics.

91裸聊视频淣ow the opposite is happening where beef and pork price inflation is decelerating and chicken prices are increasing.91裸聊视频�

Several basic food staples also posted significantly higher prices.

Flour prices were up 23.5 per cent in August compared with the same month last year, pasta prices were up 20.7 per cent, bread 17.6 per cent, eggs 10.9 per cent, fresh fruit 13.2 per cent and fats and oils 27.7 per cent.

Even the simple potato pulled off double digit price gains.

Sustained higher prices are prompting Canadians to adopt new shopping habits to save money, a new survey released Tuesday said.

The survey found Canadian consumers are shopping more at discount stores, buying cheaper store brands, using loyalty programs and scouring weekly flyers for deals.

91裸聊视频淔ood inflation is lingering and is really starting to shape where and how people buy food,91裸聊视频� said Sylvain Charlebois, professor of food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University and director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, which conducted the survey along with Caddle, an online data platform.

The survey also found nearly a quarter of Canadians have cut back on the amount of food they purchased within the last year because of high grocery prices.

91裸聊视频淪ome people are actually buying less food,91裸聊视频� Charlebois said. 91裸聊视频淭here are dietary compromises being made by many Canadians.91裸聊视频�

In an effort to save money, McInnis said he91裸聊视频檚 cut back on both treats and healthy foods.

91裸聊视频淚 used to really enjoy going to the bakery section and buying some cookies or a cake for a treat,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ut now that I91裸聊视频檓 trying to get as much mileage as I can out of my money I91裸聊视频檝e cut that out.91裸聊视频�

He91裸聊视频檚 also stopped eating as much salad. The rising cost of vegetables and the risk of spoilage with fresh foods makes it91裸聊视频檚 not even worth it, he said.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e definitely made sacrifices at the grocery store to try to save money,91裸聊视频� McInnes said.

Some relief from soaring food prices could be in store as easing input costs reduce pressure on food prices.

91裸聊视频淲ith transportation costs and agricultural commodity prices now off their peaks, the trend in food price inflation should start to soften towards the end of this year and into 2023,91裸聊视频� Andrew Grantham, senior economist at CIBC Capital Markets, said in a client note.

Michael Medline, president and CEO of Sobeys Inc., said last week grocery store inflation may have peaked in Canada as price increases from food manufacturers stabilize.

The number and rate of cost increases being passed along to the grocery chain from food suppliers began decreasing in recent weeks, he said during an earnings call.