Consumer News: Do you use your health insurance provider’s app?

How to get the best Tax Day food deals

• Focus on the highest-value deals: Offers like Krispy Kreme BOGO dozens and Pizza Hut $10 large pizzas deliver the most real savings, especially if you split them or use them to replace a full meal.

• Use app-only freebies the smart way: Deals from Wendys, QDOBA, and Paris Baguette require small purchases or sign-ups, so only use them on food you were already planning to buy.

• Avoid the spend to save trap: Discounts from Grubhub, Subway, and Round Table Pizza can be solid, but only if they replace a planned meal not if they get you to spend extra just to feel like youre getting a deal.

Tax Day isnt exactly anyones favorite day, but restaurants are doing their part to soften the blow.

This year, major chains are rolling out a mix of BOGO offers, app-based freebies, and creative tax return promos that can actually save you some real money if you use them right.

Heres a breakdown of the best offers, along with how to get the most value out of each one.

Krispy Kreme

This is one of the strongest deals out there. Buy any dozen donuts at regular price and get a dozen Original Glazed free, in-store or drive-thru. If youre ordering online, use code TAXBREAK to get a free dozen with your purchase.

How to maximize it: Split this with a friend, family member, or coworkers. Thats essentially half-price donuts without doing anything complicated.

Wendys

Get a free six-piece nuggets with a $5 purchase, but its app-only.

How to maximize it: Pair it with a value menu item or a cheap combo you were already planning to buy. Dont treat the $5 minimum like extra spending.

QDOBA

Their Guac Relief promo is a little different. Rewards members can submit a quick entry about paying extra for guacamole elsewhere and receive a $5 reward toward a future entre. New members also get free queso and chips just for signing up.

How to maximize it: This is more of a delayed win. Stack the $5 reward with another promo later in the week to double-dip your savings.

Pizza Hut

Offering $10 large three-topping pizzas across multiple crust options. No complicated hoops, just a straightforward discount.

How to maximize it: This is one of the best replace a full meal deals. Skip delivery fees and do carryout to keep the total low.

Grubhub

Running a fee return promo where some users can score $20 in credit by submitting past delivery fee receipts. Theyre also offering $10+ off $50 orders and eliminating fees on certain larger orders.

How to maximize it: Only use this if you were already ordering takeout. The savings disappear fast once delivery fees and tips stack up.

Smoothie King

Rewards members get $3 off on April 15 after joining through the app.

How to maximize it: Use it on a higher-priced smoothie where the discount actually moves the needle, not a smaller item.

Paris Baguette

Free pastry with any beverage purchase for rewards members.

How to maximize it: Turn this into a cheap breakfast or snack combo instead of just grabbing a drink by itself.

Kroger

Offering buy one, get one 50% off frozen meals (through April 22nd with a digital coupon).

How to maximize it: This isnt a one-day freebie, but its great for stocking up on easy meals and offsetting future takeout spending.

White Castle

You can save 15% off your next meal at White Castle through April 17^th when you use the code WC15OFF.

You'll need to order online, or via their app, to be able to use the coupon code.

Subway

For those who are Subway Sub Club rewards members, you can take advantage of a BOGO deal on select footlong sandwiches.

Enter code FLBOGO at checkout. You must order through the app or online until April 28.

Round Table Pizza

ParticipatingRound Table locations is offering 15% off your order between April 15-19.

Just enter code RTP978 when ordering to get the savings. This offer is valid for dine-in, carryout, or delivery.

Sales were more than 3% lower than in February

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Existing-home sales fell 3.6% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million units, marking the slowest pace in months.

• Sales were 1% lower than a year ago, reflecting ongoing weakness in the housing market.

• Economists point to low consumer confidence, elevated mortgage rates and limited inventory as key factors restraining buyers.

The spring housing market is off to a lackluster start. Sales of existing homes declined in March, underscoring continued weakness in the housing market, as affordability challenges and economic uncertainty keep buyers on the sidelines.

The timing of the Iran war, with a resulting surge in gasoline prices, likely didnt help.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales of previously-owned homes dropped 3.6% from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million units. The figure represents the slowest pace in roughly nine months and fell short of economists expectations.

The March decline reversed a modest rebound seen in February and suggests the spring home-buying season may be a disappointment for sellers.

On a year-over-year basis, existing-home sales slipped 1%, extending a multi-year trend of subdued activity in the housing sector.

Economic pressure

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun attributed the slowdown to growing economic pressures weighing on potential buyers.

March home sales remained sluggish and below last years pace, Yun said, citing weaker job growth and declining consumer confidence as key headwinds.

Mortgage rates, which briefly eased earlier in the year, have moved higher again, further straining affordability. Combined with still-limited housing inventory, these factors continue to push prices upward even as sales soften.

Prices continue to rise

Despite the slowdown in transactions, home prices remain elevated. The national median existing-home price rose modestly from a year earlier, reflecting ongoing supply constraints and a lack of available homes for sale.

Inventory has improved slightly but remains well below pre-pandemic levels, limiting options for buyers and contributing to persistent affordability challenges, particularly for first-time purchasers.

Looking ahead, NAR has tempered its outlook for the housing market, citing continued economic uncertainty and interest rate pressures. While some improvement in inventory could support sales later in the year, the near-term outlook suggests a slow and uneven recovery.

Other sources of protein are also becoming more popular

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• U.S. meat sales reached a record $112 billion in 2025, with volume up 2%.

• More than 98% of American households buy meat, and 90% of home-cooked dinners include it.

• 77% of consumers say meat is part of a healthy diet, a sharp increase from 2020.

While it is true that meat prices are nearing all-time highs, consumers havent cut back on purchases. In fact, a new report says consumers are buying more meat than ever, pushing total sales to a record $112 billion in 2025.

That coincides with a shift in federal health guidelines. As HHS Secretary, Robert Kennedy has taken a pro-protein stance in U.S. dietary policy making protein, including meat, a central pillar of what he argues is a healthier American diet.

In the 20252030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Kennedy emphasized that Americans should prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains.

The annual Power of Meat report from FMI The Food Industry Association and the Meat Institute, and unveiled at the Annual Meat Conference, shows that both dollar sales and volume increased last year, signaling continued strength in the category despite broader economic pressures.

A dinner table staple

Nearly every American household more than 98% purchases meat, and it remains a staple at the dinner table. On average, consumers prepare five dinners at home each week, and about 90% of those meals include meat or poultry.

The growth is being fueled largely by younger shoppers. Millennials and Gen Z accounted for 67% of the increase in units sold and are more likely than older generations to plan meals around meat.

The report also highlights meats strong positioning in consumers views of health and nutrition. About 77% of shoppers say meat and poultry are part of a healthy diet, an increase of more than 20 percentage points since 2020.

Consumers are focused on protein, flexibility, value, and taste, said Rick Stein, FMIs vice president of fresh foods, noting that the meat department is outperforming other grocery categories.

Shoppers are also increasingly incorporating meat into more occasions, from traditional meals to snacks, and are turning to digital tools for inspiration. About 15% now use artificial intelligence for meal planning, a sharp rise over the past two years.

Other sources of protein

Consumers seeking more protein in their diets but worried about rising meat prices can find other sources that, at the moment, dont cost as much. For example, after a huge increase in prices in 2025, the cost of eggs has fallen sharply so far in 2026.

Canned fishespecially tuna is another low-cost source of protein. So is dairy, including milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese.

When buying meat, chicken may be the most affordable, especially thighs and drumsticks. Chicken offers 20 to 25 grams of protein per serving.

Finally, ground turkey is usually a less expensive protein source than ground beef.

The company said it is cooperating with the investigation

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a formal investigation into Lululemon over concerns its products may contain toxic forever chemicals.

• The probe will examine whether the company misled consumers about product safety, quality, and health impacts.

• Lululemon says it phased out the chemicals in 2024 and is cooperating with the investigation.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into upscale athletic apparel maker Lululemon, citing concerns that some of its products may contain potentially harmful forever chemicals and that consumers may have been misled about their safety.

The investigation, announced Monday, involves a Civil Investigative Demand, seeking information about whether Lululemon accurately represented the safety, quality, and health impacts of its clothing.

Paxtons office is focusing on per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a class of chemicals commonly referred to as forever chemicals because they do not easily break down in the environment and can accumulate in the human body. These substances have been linked in some studies to serious health risks, including cancer, infertility, and endocrine disruption.

According to the attorney generals announcement, the investigation will review Lululemons restricted substances list, testing protocols and supplier practices to determine whether the companys products align with its marketing claims, which often emphasize wellness and sustainability.

Americans should not have to worry if they are being deceived when trying to make healthy choices, Paxton said in a statement, emphasizing that companies marketing health-conscious products must be transparent about potential risks.

Company response

Lululemon said it is cooperating with the inquiry and maintains that it no longer uses PFAS in its products, noting the chemicals were phased out in early 2024 and were previously used in a limited number of water-repellent items. The company added that it requires vendors to conduct third-party testing to ensure compliance with safety standards.

The investigation marks the latest effort by Paxtons office to scrutinize the use of PFAS in consumer products. Texas has previously taken legal action against chemical manufacturers over alleged misrepresentations regarding the safety of these substances.

No findings have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.