The high cost of eating healthy

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
News Release

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For a family of four receiving social assistance or working for minimum wage, the cost of healthy eating is often more than they can afford.

The issue is not about food being too expensive or a lack of budgeting skills, but a result of inadequate incomes. After paying for essential expenses, such as utilities, transportation and rent, there may not be enough left over for nutritious food. This puts individuals and families at risk for food insecurity and hunger.

When nutritious food is not affordable, health is compromised in many ways.

People living with food insecurity face higher rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and depression.

These health issues lead to a poor quality of life and an increased strain on our health care system.

Without enough money for food, those in need are often forced to turn to emergency food programs such as food banks and soup kitchens.

The need for Ontario food banks has grown by 28% since 2008.

However, these services provide temporary relief, not a permanent solution to food insecurity.

To improve food security, changes must be made to public policy to ensure access to nutritious food for all.

This includes increasing social assistance and minimum wage rates, creating affordable housing policies, and providing accessible and affordable childcare.

These improvements would help those in need have the money to purchase healthy food.

For more information on The Price of Eating Well 2011, call the Health Unit at 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808, or visit www.healthunit.biz.

Quotes

“It is very frustrating as a Public Health Dietitian knowing there are many people in our community who do not have enough money for healthy food. It feels unethical to promote the recommendations of Canada’s Food Guide to people who cannot afford the balanced diet we encourage for optimal health. ”
- Erin Reyce RD, Public Health Dietitian, North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

“The link between food security and income is very important to make. We know the lower the income the more likely individuals are to be food insecure. Not being able to buy nutritious foods affects not only an individual’s health, but their quality of life.”
- Claire Towns, Dietetic Intern, North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

Quick Facts

 About 9.2% of Canadian households experience food insecurity. Of these households, 55% are employed.

 Use of emergency food programs in our community is steadily increasing.

 In January, the gathering place served their 200,000th meal since opening. Although a very important milestone for the soup kitchen, it demonstrates the ongoing need in our community for a daily hot meal.

 During the Christmas season, the Parry Sound Salvation Army distributed food vouchers to over 500 households. This is a 30% increase over the previous Christmas season.

 The North Bay Food Bank is experiencing its highest use in 25 years, serving about 2,000 people per month. This is an increase of 22% since 2010.

 The Price of Eating Well Report 2011 is developed from the information gathered in the Nutritious Food Basket survey. To view the Price of Eating Well Report 2011, visit: www.healthunit.biz/docs/Healthy%20Eating/Price%20of%20Eating%20Well%20final.pdf

 The Health Unit monitors the cost of healthy eating annually through the Nutritious Food Basket survey. 12 grocery stores are visited across the Nipissing and Parry Sound Districts and the costs of 67 food items based on Canada’s Food Guide are collected.

 Food security exists when all people at all times have physical and economic assess to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

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