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Articles Posted: 41; Links Seeded: 241
Member Since: 8/2006
Member Since: 8/2006
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A High Price for Healthy Food
News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Dec 6, 2007 10:13 AM EST
Article Source: The New York Times
Although people don’t knowingly shop for calories per se, the data show that it’s easier for low-income people to sustain themselves on junk food rather than fruits and vegetables, says the study’s lead author Adam Drewnowski, director of the center for public health nutrition at the University of Washington. Based on his findings, a 2,000-calorie diet would cost just $3.52 a day if it consisted of junk food, compared with $36.32 a day for a diet of low-energy dense foods. However, most people eat a mix of foods. The average American spends about $7 a day on food, although low-income people spend about $4, says Dr. Drewnowski.
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Farm subsidies plays a big role in this situation. The stuff of junk food - corn, soy, and sugar - are priced artificially low. And the effects are deeper than price alone. Inner city neighborhoods are often without a decent grocery store, perhaps related to the fact that produce is perishable and more expensive to sell than a shelf full of chips.
I would like to see fresh produce subsidized, and food stamps skewed toward fruit, vegs, lean proteins, and lean dairy.
There is at least some good news, too. Farmer's markets are springing up (again) the inner city, sometimes sponsored by a local church.
There was no mention of healthy whole grains, like oatmeal, which are very cheap. They only seemed to consider fruit&veggies; versus complete junk food, which ignores grains, the traditional staple of every diet. I'm assuming they would be lumped into the low-energy density high nutrition foods, but their cost is closer to junk food than to produce.
Good point. I think the author was zeroing in on packaged foods and fast foods, which given the scarcity of supermarkets in the inner city, makes sense. $3 will buy you 3 cheeseburgers (not with food stamps)- or a head of cauliflower.
The other thing is, as important as whole grains are for providing both caloric & nutritional density, they don't take the place of fruits and vegetables in the diet. And the sheer expense of fruits & vegs is a problem for lower income folk.