Sardines- Gen Z Seizes an Opportunity

[Trade]

https://www.mheducation.com/highered/blog/2026/03/sardines-gen-z-seizes-an-opportunity.html

I've been eating sardines for quite a while and these gen Zers have now bid up the price of the sardines that I buy to the point that I can barely afford them. Add to that I can hardly ever find the kind I like in the stores these days. Today I got lucky and the local Walmart had 7 cans of King Oscar wild caught sardines in extra virgin olive oil. So I bought all 7 cans at $3.58 plus 8% sales tax = $3.86 cents a can. That's over a dollar more than they were last year.
At 230 calories a can it would cost over $1,000 a month to eat a diet of 2000 calories a day of nothing but these sardines for a month. Not that I would recommend that. But eating a modest one can a day at that rate would put a significant dent in ones food budget.

 

[Grampa Don]

I like sardines and keep a few cans in the cupboard. I'm not as particular as you and only pay $1.50 for mine. Sardines aren't the only thing going up. Look at the price of soups.

 

[Trade]

I like sardines and keep a few cans in the cupboard. I'm not as particular as you and only pay $1.50 for mine. Sardines aren't the only thing going up. Look at the price of soups.

 

[C50]

Ahhh, sardines, the food of old men! I always have a couple of cans in the cupboard, I don't consider sardines a healthy snack but more of a quick and easy snack.

I buy mine at Acme and haven't noticed a significant price increase but also only eat a couple cans a month so maybe simply haven't noticed.

 

[Trade]

I like sardines and keep a few cans in the cupboard. I'm not as particular as you and only pay $1.50 for mine.

I tried a can of those $1.50 Sardines. But I didn't like them. I've been spoiled by those King Oscar sardines. They are beautiful sardines. The best sardines.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

I like sardines but haven't thought of buying the in years. I buy "Honey Boy" (brand) pink salmon, and a 14.75 ounce can costs $4.66 at Walmart. I don't like it made into a salmon loaf that's baked in the oven. I like it to have it refrigerated, then eat it just as it comes out of the can. I'll have half the can one day, and save the other half for the next day. The whole can has 500 calories. I'll usually have a baked potato to go with it.

 

[GoodEnuff]

I enjoy sardines now and then, especially the ones packed in hot sauce or add my own hot sauce to them. Hmmm...with a baked potato? Sounds like tonight's dinner, lol.

Hot sauce and/or cheese on it and I will eat pretty much anything.

 

[debodun]

I liked them as a kid on saltine crackers with mustard. Now the thought of eating them makes me nauseated.

 

[Rossana]

I watched a YouTube video on the best rated sardines not too long ago. Away from 2 other very expensive brands, King Oscar was rated one of the best you could buy based on quality and nutrition factor. There has been a big push on eating sardines lately and unfortunately, the price will reflect that.

 

[Grampa Don]

I like my sardines with Wheat Thin crackers and a side of pickled jalapenos. And I always get the ones packed in oil.

 

[Messy]

My son is gen z. He wanted sardines. I bought some cans. He didn't like it. He expected tiny ansjovis. So I gave the rest to the food bank. It's 1,50 euro at the Aldi here. 120 gram

 

[Nathan]

I like sardines....and smoked oysters. It's been a dog's age since I've had either<p>puts on shopping list</p>

 

[-Oy-]

Not a fan of tinned sardines. I eat mackerel fillets. Much leaner and lots of flavours. I usually go back to a rich tomato sauce

 

[Sunkist]

Sardines:

 

[hearlady]

I like sardines but haven't thought of buying the in years. I buy "Honey Boy" (brand) pink salmon, and a 14.75 ounce can costs $4.66 at Walmart. I don't like it made into a salmon loaf that's baked in the oven. I like it to have it refrigerated, then eat it just as it comes out of the can. I'll have half the can one day, and save the other half for the next day. The whole can has 500 calories. I'll usually have a baked potato to go with it.

You might like this. I eat it over rice.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

You might like this. I eat it over rice.
View attachment 500399

That's different from anything I've tried with salmon. Thanks - I saved your recipe. Those spices would add a lot of flavor.

 

[Trade]

Not a fan of tinned sardines. I eat mackerel fillets. Much leaner and lots of flavours. I usually go back to a rich tomato sauce

The problem with mackeral is that they are higher up on the food chain and therefore have more mercury. The same for tuna, even more so. The higher up the food chain, the more mercury. Sardines are way down on the food chain therefore less mercury.

 

[Trade]

My son is gen z. He wanted sardines. I bought some cans. He didn't like it. He expected tiny ansjovis. So I gave the rest to the food bank. It's 1,50 euro at the Aldi here. 120 gram

1.50 Euro! That's only a buck seventy five USD! You should have gotten him the good stuff. They would cost you at least twice as much or more.

 

[HoneyNut]

I got lucky and the local Walmart had 7 cans of King Oscar wild caught sardines in extra virgin olive oil.

You made a great choice, those rank really well for more healthy omegas and less dangerous heavy metal pollutants:

According to ConsumerLab's 2025 tests, top picks for canned sardines based on high omega-3 content and low mercury levels included King Oscar Wild Caught Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Wild Planet Wild Pacific Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Season Sardine Fillets in 100% Olive Oil (sold at Costco) has also been recognized as a top choice in previous testing.

 

[Babs2u]

I have plenty of oliv oil in my diet and try to buy sardines in water for myself and as a treat for the cats. My local Walmart has had only sardines in mustard for the past two weeks.

 

[Oldeagle66]

I've been eating sardines since childhood and always trying different brands. The only ones I don't like are Aldi sardines. They are more like 99 cent sardine bits. Terrible.

 

[Oldeagle66]

I like sardines but haven't thought of buying the in years. I buy "Honey Boy" (brand) pink salmon, and a 14.75 ounce can costs $4.66 at Walmart. I don't like it made into a salmon loaf that's baked in the oven. I like it to have it refrigerated, then eat it just as it comes out of the can. I'll have half the can one day, and save the other half for the next day. The whole can has 500 calories. I'll usually have a baked potato to go with it.

I just started eating Salmon right out of the can recently. I didn't know you could. I was always making fried salmon cakes.

 

[Michael Z]

I get sardines at Aldi at around a dollar a tin. Probably not the best but I just douse them in mustard or hot sauce. Mostly I just eat them for an easy protein.

 

[MarciKS]

 

[jujube]

Before I had to give up dairy, I loved sardines, mashed up with a little cream cheese and a splash of hot sauce, eaten on saltines. Has to be saltines.