wellness
Hyde Park Residents Turn to Lentils, Eggs, Tofu as Meat Hits $8.49
Hyde Park residents stock up on lentils, eggs and tofu at neighborhood spots as meat prices hit $8.49 a pound at area grocers.
How we reported this
Residents lined up at the 53rd Street Market on July 8 for bulk bins of chickpeas and black beans after a local health survey showed protein gaps in daily diets.
Nutrition tracking data from the Hyde Park Wellness Initiative released in June 2026 found that 62 percent of adults in the 60615 zip code fall short on the recommended 46 to 56 grams of protein per day when they cut back on red meat. The report tied the shortfall to rising costs and a push for lower saturated-fat meals ahead of summer heat.
Where to buy
The Hyde Park Produce stand at 55th and Ellis stocks fresh tofu for $2.29 a block and cartons of eggs from Illinois farms priced at $4.79 a dozen. Two blocks east, the Harper Avenue Co-op runs a Tuesday evening program that bundles lentils with recipes and sells 16-ounce packages of tempeh for $3.99. Both locations accept SNAP and offer free tastings on the first Saturday of each month.
City health records show plant-protein sales rose 18 percent in Hyde Park stores between January and May 2026 compared with the same stretch in 2025. A pound of dried lentils costs $1.69 at the co-op while ground beef sits at $8.49, a gap that has widened since the start of the year.
Next steps
Start with a lentil salad using items from the 53rd Street Market bins, add two hard-boiled eggs from Hyde Park Produce, and finish with a scoop of Greek yogurt from the co-op dairy case. Check the Hyde Park Wellness Initiative calendar for the next free session on combining beans and grains, scheduled for July 17 at the community room on 57th Street.