This is from a U.S.-centric viewpoint, though insights from other countries are appreciated.
Nearly every article on the topic says healthy food is 1.5-2x+ the cost of UPFs and other foods generally viewed as unhealthy. That hasn’t been my personal experience at all, bit clearly there is more to the story – because every source on the internet contradicts my opinion.
Groceries are pricey and it’s hard to budget as a single person because of portion sizes. Even so, foods like poultry and vegetables are far cheaper to cook at home than to buy at a restaurant or (from a nutritional perspective) the frozen foods section at Kroger.
Some foods – like certain kinds of beef or fish – are either similar to or slightly cheaper to get a restaurant or frozen food item as opposed to making healthier types at home.
I guess some fruits are kinda pricey and eating healthy is a challenge in a food desert, but otherwise I’d spend so much more on UPFs as opposed to buying whole foods.
What part of the story am I missing?
In: Economics
I think lots of articles may be considering the calorie for calorie angle. While you’re right, it can be incredibly affordable to eat whole foods regularly. That same amount of money spent on UPFS would likely sustain you calorically longer than the whole foods because they rely heavily on added fats and sugar derivatives. This perspective is obviously disregarding the nutritional imbalances you’d be left with, but I think its how many people come to this *healthy food is expensive* conclusion.
Latest Answers