A prevalent misconception is that eating well costs too much money. Healthy eating costs an extra $1.50 per day equivalent to R25.80c, according to a 2013 analysis of 27 studies by the Harvard School of Public Health.
However, the study examined items according to their cost per calorie. For instance, it made note of the fact that 200 calories of brownies are less expensive than 200 calories of carrots.
Kelly Haws, PhD, an associate professor of marketing at Vanderbilt University, conducted research on how consumers perceive the cost and nutritional value of various foods. In 2017, the findings were released in the Journal of Consumer Research.
According to Kelly, most people think that being healthy equates to being wealthy. However, that’s not always the case. One of the issues is that we can equate “healthy” with other terms like “organic” or “gluten-free,” which do raise prices.
Haws further points out that due to their attractive displays and frequently higher costs, people tend to identify health goods with food co-ops and health food stores. Actually, you can find wholesome foods in any grocery store.
According to Kelly, there are serious risks to our health if we don’t comprehend food expenses. Some people might not even try to eat healthily because they believe that their only option is to live on a diet of inexpensive, poorly nutrient-dense foods. “That’s just not true,” she asserts.
There is no correlation between price and health. Don’t let fancy food cooperatives, organic labels, or marketing ploys deceive you. Regardless of your spending limit, picking healthier meals doesn’t have to be an extravagant experience.
