The cost of Healthy Eating?

[Novella]

I think there is a need to make healthy food choices affordable to all families. I dont see how a junk food tax would make healthy food more affordable but it may make it comparable to less healthy food choices but how does this help families on low incomes, the toral cost of food would go up? I do think money from a 'junk food tax' could be put in to researching and investing towards making healthy food choices more affordable, as well as creating healthy living programs.

[Phteven]

I'm totally down for a tax on junk food and for some of the revenue raised to be put towards subsidising fresh/healthy food. If the cost of junk food rises and the price of healthy food is driven down it provides an economic incentive towards a healthy diet.

[Floweryfields]

I'm totally down for a tax on junk food and for some of the revenue raised to be put towards subsidising fresh/healthy food. If the cost of junk food rises and the price of healthy food is driven down it provides an economic incentive towards a healthy diet.

I think it's a good idea too, but how do you (the general you) define junk food?

[briggsy's girl]

unfortunately, some of the way to reduce the cost of fresh food is to take money from the pockets of farmers, who struggle a lot as it is. we already pay the GST on convenience/processed/take away food - so adding another tax is going to make those items more expensive without combating the cost of fresh/healthier alternatives. it's a really messy situation to try and find a balance where "good" food and "affordable" food marry up... i dont' want to be responsible for screwing farmers out of their living - it's hard enough with cheap imports doing this to many of them. so i struggle with a solution to the problem


i will definitely say i'm not surprised at the variance in CPI increase and the cost of eating fresh being so different though...

[nothing2lose]

And if you don't have a fridge? Or a freezer? You've never been in a supermarket in your life? You've never seen your parents cook anything, let alone anything healthy? You can't identify basic fruits and vegetables let alone know how to prepare them?

What then?

Food poverty is intergenerational. It's not a moral issue, or an issue of laziness.

[Calluna]

We are living out of a bar fridge. Its a much less exciting game of tetris to fit everything in but we manage.
The staff at the fruit shop are always happy to help me pick the good fruit and veg from the bad.
The library has computers with internet access which is free
ETA - dont know about other community services but for a while, my dad was teaching a group of men with mental / drug issues to cook very simple meals. Microwave jacket potatoes, simple steamed veg, etc. If there isnt something like that in homeless shelters and community centres, there should be.

Im sure in some circumstances it you're right N2L, but I find it really hard to belive that the majority of people dont have access to information they need to cook a basic meal.

Going vegetarian is another way to dramatically decrease costs and the meals can be simple.

[briggsy's girl]

Going vegetarian is another way to dramatically decrease costs and the meals can be simple.

not always - $8 for enough chicken breast to feed four adults and a couple of kids for a low gi meal - trying to replace the protein with vege options isn't always going to be cheaper. especially if you don't like lentils (i have tried lentil alternatives cos i'd prefer that option, and they make me ill! i wish i could go there but i can't!!)

[Calluna]

There are always going to be exceptions to every situation, of course, but it is another option for most people.
There are so many different types of lentils and tonnes of recipes. To say you dont like lentils is like saying you dont like rice. Im not trying to say you should like them, just that for most people it would be an option.

[Cassius2]

I think there is a need to get rid of the big chain collusion and the overwhelming hold of the fresh food market.

[Livinthedream]

And if you don't have a fridge? Or a freezer? You've never been in a supermarket in your life? You've never seen your parents cook anything, let alone anything healthy? You can't identify basic fruits and vegetables let alone know how to prepare them?

What then?

Food poverty is intergenerational. It's not a moral issue, or an issue of laziness.

Ok, but how many people like this are there actually out there?
And do they form the majority of obese Australians?

Nah, the majority of fat Aussies are like that because of poor food choices/ lack of portion control and lack of excercise

Why sugar coat it?

[Phteven]

Why sugar coat it?

Cause we'll eat that too

[Livinthedream]

Cause we'll eat that too

Lol, I got that from you!