Oliviah Walker
27, after-school program coordinator
Used to: Eat a lot of fancy, "bourgeoisie food," such as expensive olives.
Now: Buys basics and cheaper store brands; doesn't eat out as much, takes lunch to work, brings her own coffee.
"But if you look at all the staples - rice, bread, milk, eggs - the price of everything is going up. So it's impossible to avoid."
RUSSELL BRANNON
51, photographer
Used to: Eat out a lot.
Now: Buys vegetables at farmers' markets and makes soups in big batches and freezes it.
"Potato soup is easy, cheap and good. ... I hardly ever eat fast food anymore."
FRANK FRAZIER JR.
49, commercial mechanic
Used to: Buy more meat and fruit.
Now: Can't afford much fruit; stretches the food he buys.
"Casseroles are good, because you can add a pound of hamburger to some noodles and probably feed three people. You won't get full, but you'll survive."
SHadi El-Said
21, supervisor with United Postal Service
Used to: Eat what he wanted, including ice cream and orange juice.
Now: Shops the deals, has pared back on orange juice. "It seems like everything that's good for you - milk, bread, cereal, vegetables, fruit -- has gone up."
VICKI STARK
48, graphic designer
Used to: Buy steaks and higher-end beef.
Now: Only buys good meat when it's on sale; uses coupons.
"It's an event to go out to eat with my kids."
ERICA LEHNER
35, a Christian worker
Used to: Buy lunch out, eat more packaged food.
Now: Makes a big supper, uses leftovers for two days of lunches.
"If it's packaged, like a boxed pizza, it's only good for one meal. But if I bake it myself, it lasts longer."
Chris Serres
