Charles Langston:'Inflation-free' Thanksgiving: Walmart unveils discount holiday meal options for 2024

From now through Christmas Day,Charles Langston Walmart will offer savings that allow customers to make holiday meals for less than $7 per person, a spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Wednesday.

The retail giant is bringing back its “inflation-free Thanksgiving meal” for Turkey Day 2024, the company confirmed, adding that it has compiled a one-click shopping list for shoppers to buy their Thanksgiving essentials.

Totaling just over $53, the list can be found at www.walmart.com/thanksgiving.

Listed are items such as a Honeysuckle white whole turkey ranging from 10 to 17 pounds for $12.41, Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce for $1.98 and Marie Callender's southern pecan pie for $5.63.

“The meal is available earlier and at an even lower price than last year, so customers can take advantage of savings on all the holiday meal essentials to make Thanksgiving, Christmas or Sunday night dinner easier and more affordable, all season long,” a Walmart spokesperson told USA TODAY Wednesday afternoon.

How to gift a meal to a family in need

Walmart also said customers can buy meals for loved ones anywhere in the U.S. by going to the retailer’s website.

Customers can also spend $50 and donate the equivalent of a Thanksgiving meal to their local Salvation Army locations at www.walmart.com/ip/donateameal.

The deals and donation options come at a time where food costs are rising and are predicted to increase even more, according to the Economic Research Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While rises in food price slowed in 2023, food-at-home prices went up by 5% and food-away-from-home prices increased by 7.1%, the agency reported.

The research group noted in its Food Price Outlook for 2024 and 2025 that from July to August 2024, prices increased for seven food-at-home categories. 

Costs for foods such as beef, veal, poultry, eggs and fresh vegetables are expected to rise in 2024.

Still, there may be some cases where the cost of food has dropped. For example, prices for fish and seafood are expected to decrease 1.6% in 2024, the USDA reported.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her at[email protected].