The cost of healthy eating

Much debate has centered on whether cost gets in the way of eating healthy. Ninety-nine-cent menus at fast-food restaurants are often thought of as budget-friendly, while the healthier fare sold at supermarkets—particularly fresh foods—is considered less affordable. Several health advocates, however, aim to debunk what they consider the myth that eating healthy is expensive.

"I always hold up a bag of apples, then a bag of chips, and ask people to compare the price," notes Shari Steinbach, a registered dietitian and "Healthy Living advisor" at Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer, Inc. "People think they have to buy special foods to eat healthy. A lot of times basic foods, such as fruits, veggies, whole grains, and oatmeal, are the healthy foods. That's where some education and training come in."

Continues Steinbach: "Look at how many people are eating out. We have to show them how easy it is to put a basic meal together and how much money it will save them."

The Produce for Better Health Foundation in Wilmington, Del. is helping to educate consumers on the value of fruits and vegetables—whether they're eaten fresh, frozen, canned, or dried. The group also works to put fruits and veggies front and center in government assistance food programs, says Christine E. Filardo, public relations director.

According to a recent study released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS), fruits and vegetables aren't a cost barrier to better health. The report showed that eating five a day can cost as little as 64 cents a day. "Consumers need to be savvy and consider not only the price per pound, but also the number of servings obtainable from a pound," ERS' Jane Reed and her colleagues wrote in the study.