The cost of Healthy Eating?

[Novella]

Calluna yep I can definitely see how take away can add significantly to a families food costs, its one of the first things we cut out/reduce when trying to make savings

If you look at from the perspective of a shopping trolley full of frozen chips and other processed foods compared to that of one full of fresh produce, to feed a family for a week it does end up cheaper to buy the less healthy stuff as shown in these studies which is a real shame IMO

ETA The SCACOSS report looks at grocery items rather than takeaway, although the article here doesn't really make that clear sorry

I think funds from a 'junk tax' would be well spent on educating people how to eat a healthy diet on a budget, unortunately not everyone has the knowledge of how to eat well/shop well especially when there are budget constraints

[Calluna]

We shop in Carindale, one of thier higher end suburbs of Brisbane because the produce is better and I refuse to eat substandard food or end up throwing half my purchases because they are poor quality and rot quickly.
For enough fruit and vegies for 3 adults and a child for one week it costs $60 maximum. That includes things like cherry tomatoes, avocardos, some kind of melon, bananas, the odd purple carrot, etc. So not all super cheap basics.
DS gets to help choose what we buy each week and when I dish something up I give him options. If he then decides he doesnt want it, bad luck, its what he chose, if he doesnt eat it he goes hungry. I explain to him that we cant afford to waste food. He, to a point, understands that this means he doesnt have a choice beyond what the ones I gave him and he is fine with it. If he decides not eat it I either put it away and bring it out again later if he decides he does want it, or just leave it out for him depending on what it is. Because of this, we have very little waste.

[fionas]

I don't think it's just a question of cost, it's a question of how to cook healthy food on a budget. Some people would have no idea that you can make your own wedges and chips from potatoes. Being on a budget means being more inventive and some people have never learnt how to cook.

I'd like to see government-sponsored TV ads showing how to cook simple, cheap, healthy meals or a 5 minute segment within Masterchef.

If people have never seen their parents cook, they really are behind the eight-ball - being on a budget and worrying that you're going to stuff up the $20 of ingredients you've just bought because you don't know how to cook suddenly makes a Maccas run seem very appealing.

[Novella]

Its a really good point n2l and FS

I was floored watching the Jamie Oliver series when he went into US schools and a large number of the chidren could not identify what I would call your basic fresh vegies, onions, cauli and potatoes! How are these kids supposed to make healthy choices as adults if they don't know?

Education is a big component of healthy eating, then people can make informed choices about what they buy, although they still have to be able to afford it!

[~clover~]

Yeah, but thats not the point I was trying to make PZ. The pies & chips aren't healthy, but so many people don't understand that very well. Andwhen you don't know how to make a healthier meal for the same price, how do you do it?

The learning how to cook the cheaper healthier options IS a huge thing. We grew up on a tight budget. Our food was very basic, so I only really know basic foods. Chops, sausages, rissoles, mash, continental packet pasta's, peas, corn, carrot & broccoli. Those were our dinners every night. I'm still learning from others how to make different things now. We never had spag bol, or lasagne, or pasta's. Not that they are the healthiest of foods, but we just never had them. I never heard of lentils til a friend was cooking her DD a veggie lasagne. I've never eaten or used them myself. I wouldn't have a clue what to do with them.

I also had a DH who was raised on the same basic foods as me, so he only wanted those foods, so those are the foods our kids first ate & are used too. Its alot easier to just make sure they're eating than have them not eat a thing while you try to switch to healthier options.

I'm not making excuses here, I genuinly don't know much better, but I am learning. And I don't have the money to be buying some of that stuff if its something that noone will eat. I've done that alot lately by trying to get the kids to eat better. Their diet isn't too bad, but it could be better.

[Jellyfish]

I think the biggest factor is time, many families need and desire convenience. Another side to it is portion control; eating unnecessarily large meals bumps the cost.

I also find it strange that junk is cheaper... we earn very, very minimum wage (I'm at home, DP is an apprentice butcher) and we wouldn't dream of buying anything in a packet, it is just not worth the cost. When we need to watch our budget, first thing to go for us is meat and cheese in favour of bulking up with more veggies. We also grow veggies which has been a great investment (we have survived 'rego week' on $27 because of that gold mine lol), maybe I need to set up a charity that helps low income families create their own sustainable veggie patches... that seems a good idea to me! But we do have a lot of time, I can watch a pot making stock all day and don't have the stress of rushing around after a day of work to throw something together. I think time really is a big part of the picture.

[wysiwyg]

I think the biggest factor is time, many families need and desire convenience.

I agree I do think time is a massive contributory factor - I doubt it is a coincidence that the rise in obesity correlates with more people working and less time at home. Not only the time to cook but the time to buy - I know our diet is better when I am not working, if you can only shop after work then you are limited to the big supermarkets and is easier to be tempted by convenience there than shopping at markets for example. Time is also a factor in things like veggie patches.

But to a certain extent is all about individual choice - for some people maybe it is better to have a quick convenience meal so they can then go and spend two hours playing in the park with their kids, others the choice might be different. Depends on the individuals, depends on the kids, but it is a shame that price and lack of education on the matter effect that choice. I can be lazy about food choices sometimes, but I acknowledge that and in my mind the time I save with the laziness is put to good use in some other form that is good for my families overall wellbeing (activities, arts and craft, exercise etc).