Healthy food on a budget
Published 12:01 am Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Although it seems that summer just arrived, the calendar tells us that it’s officially time to send the kids back to school. Fortunately, preparing for back to school offers one of those significant milestone moments when a date on the calendar can also signify a shiny new year — a chance to wipe the slate clean and start anew.
For many families it means a recommitment to proper rest and enhanced nutrition. Knowing that a good night’s sleep and healthy breakfast are important keys to success, bedtimes are adjusted and pantry cupboards and refrigerators restocked with wholesome food. That is, for those who can afford the cost.
A recent University of Washington study validated something cash-strapped consumers already knew: purchasing healthy food can be considerably more expensive than consuming items selected from the plethora of “not so healthy” options.
More than 1,100 King County residents participated in the study which evaluated their eating habits compared against the recently revised federal dietary guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Next, they tallied the amount of money participants spent on their grocery bills and utilized the data to identify the gap between the recommended intake of nutritional food and consumer shopping habits.
It’s no surprise that low-income families had the largest disparity between what they should be eating to meet the nutritional requirements and what they are actually eating. In fact, researchers determined that an additional $380 per-person, per-year would be needed to close the average gap for the nutrient potassium alone. Add another $250 per year to assure participants consumed enough food to meet the requirement for vitamin D and fiber. It doesn’t take an advanced math degree to determine that this equation simply won’t calculate, especially for struggling young families.
It’s a shame that sugar and fat cost far less than nutrient-dense items such as whole grains and organically grown items. The high cost of swapping out fruits and vegetables shouldn’t be such a huge economic barrier to a healthy diet.
Fortunately, educating families about low-cost nutritional alternatives is one way to close the gap.
Researchers suggest PR campaigns, such as the makeover for dried prunes, is one way to help teach consumers that nutritionally dense items don’t have to be more expensive. For more information about the smartest food choices, recipes, tips for negotiating grocery stores, and more, check out the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition’s website, nutrientrichfoods.org. When it comes to feeding our families nutritious food, perhaps it’s back to school time for all of us.
