Have you resorted to unhealthy meals just because they are cheaper?
- Replies 1
There are many advantages to maintaining a healthy diet – it keeps your body strong, lowers your risk of disease and helps you live longer.
But eating nutritious, balanced meals is not always possible for everyone. Sometimes, people don’t have time but more often than not, they don’t have the budget.
On the social news website Reddit, one Aussie asked other users if they had ever resorted to unhealthy meals because they were more affordable.
The Redditor said: ‘So, as we all know, groceries have gone up in price a lot over the past year. I try to eat healthy most days, but I've noticed that all the healthy stuff I try eating has increased in price. So some nights, I just resort to a frozen pizza, for instance, if they are on special. I got one for $2.50 half-price the other night.’
Some users responded that they did, and pizza was a popular choice.
One said: ‘My $5 Domino's pizza consumption has definitely increased this year.’
Another replied: ‘Yeah, everyone hates on Domino's but I can feed myself two meals for like 10 bucks.’
The frozen variety was also an option for Aussies with low budgets and depleted energy: ‘Sometimes, I eat a frozen pizza because that’s all the amount of effort I am willing to put into keeping myself alive at that point in time.’
Frozen pizza isn’t the most nutritious or the tastiest, but it is accessible and easy to prepare. Credit: Shutterstock
Others disagreed, saying that healthy eating goes a long way.
A user responded: ‘Honestly, I've found it cheaper in the long run to do healthier meals. Preheat an oven to 210, chop up some veggies into the same size chunks, drizzle some olive oil on them, making sure not to pack the tray too tight, and chuck them in for 25 minutes. You've got a pretty decent serving of veggies after that's quick, since most of the time you're just waiting on the veggies in the oven.’
Another Redditor agreed: ‘I was just about to post this. Roasted veggies are one of the cheapest and healthiest you can do. I’m a sh** cook, so I have these most days. I also roast chicken breast with them. Vegetable stir fry is also a good one.’
A third said: ‘Honestly, since I started tracking calories, I've found it cheaper to buy groceries. I was eating out more previously because it felt cheaper, but I was eating into the money I set aside for bills (no pun intended). My daily expenses are down, so I know it's helping me.’
Meanwhile, others said that this is a consequence of poverty. And it’s not only money that is lacking – many also do not have the time and the tools.
‘Welcome to the poverty trap. There is a reason that many poor people are either large or incredibly unhealthy. Why waste $$$ you don't have buying fresh ingredients when you can feed yourself for $5 on fast food? There are ways to eat relatively healthy food when pinching pennies, but the food is often unappealing unless you have a prior stock of spices and other staples.’
Noticing the parallels with the US, one user shared: ‘All the guides that have come out of America in recent years for “eating healthy while poor” go "here's how to eat on a budget, all you need to get are these simple ingredients..." and then doesn't mention the oil, the spices, the various pots and pans. You know, the stuff you actually need to be able to cook and cost money. They just assume that everyone has this stuff in their pantry when really, they are a luxury for someone who is struggling to pay the bills, or is down on their luck. Nor do they mention the time and effort it takes to actually cook a meal in those circumstances.’
Another chimed in: ‘Poverty is a compounding cycle where sh** food and stress contribute to sh** health which limits earnings which leads to more stress and sh** food… Good luck.’
Some studies have established the link between malnutrition and poverty. Australia is similar to other developed countries in that access to affordable but nutritious food in rural and disadvantaged communities is left wanting. For some areas, it is difficult to shop for fresh produce outside of supermarkets, which often requires a bit of commuting, resulting in food insecurity.
Food insecurity, which is defined as ‘whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable food in socially acceptable ways is limited or uncertain’ by American academic researcher Kathy Radimer, is estimated to be experienced by at least 5 per cent of Australians, with 40 per cent of those classified as severe. The most vulnerable are Indigenous people, unemployed citizens, single-parent households, low-income earners, rental households, and young people. But the figures are outdated as they are from 2004 – there is no regular measurement of national food security at a population level.
Malnutrition and poverty also create a vicious cycle that is hard to escape. Being poor with limited resources can cause food insecurity, but malnutrition reduces economic potential. Moreover, there are also negative long-term effects in health to think about. According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, poor diet is responsible for 7 per cent of Australia’s disease burden. Globally, poor diet poses the highest risk in the global burden of disease, with one in five deaths attributed to it.
With a record-high inflation rate leading to pricier food items, food insecurity becomes an even bigger threat. Just check out this feature from ABC:
We hope you’re in a secure and stable position, but just in case you’re struggling, help is available. We previously wrote some tips on how to stay healthy even when the cost of living is going up.
But eating nutritious, balanced meals is not always possible for everyone. Sometimes, people don’t have time but more often than not, they don’t have the budget.
On the social news website Reddit, one Aussie asked other users if they had ever resorted to unhealthy meals because they were more affordable.
The Redditor said: ‘So, as we all know, groceries have gone up in price a lot over the past year. I try to eat healthy most days, but I've noticed that all the healthy stuff I try eating has increased in price. So some nights, I just resort to a frozen pizza, for instance, if they are on special. I got one for $2.50 half-price the other night.’
Some users responded that they did, and pizza was a popular choice.
One said: ‘My $5 Domino's pizza consumption has definitely increased this year.’
Another replied: ‘Yeah, everyone hates on Domino's but I can feed myself two meals for like 10 bucks.’
The frozen variety was also an option for Aussies with low budgets and depleted energy: ‘Sometimes, I eat a frozen pizza because that’s all the amount of effort I am willing to put into keeping myself alive at that point in time.’
Frozen pizza isn’t the most nutritious or the tastiest, but it is accessible and easy to prepare. Credit: Shutterstock
Others disagreed, saying that healthy eating goes a long way.
A user responded: ‘Honestly, I've found it cheaper in the long run to do healthier meals. Preheat an oven to 210, chop up some veggies into the same size chunks, drizzle some olive oil on them, making sure not to pack the tray too tight, and chuck them in for 25 minutes. You've got a pretty decent serving of veggies after that's quick, since most of the time you're just waiting on the veggies in the oven.’
Another Redditor agreed: ‘I was just about to post this. Roasted veggies are one of the cheapest and healthiest you can do. I’m a sh** cook, so I have these most days. I also roast chicken breast with them. Vegetable stir fry is also a good one.’
A third said: ‘Honestly, since I started tracking calories, I've found it cheaper to buy groceries. I was eating out more previously because it felt cheaper, but I was eating into the money I set aside for bills (no pun intended). My daily expenses are down, so I know it's helping me.’
Meanwhile, others said that this is a consequence of poverty. And it’s not only money that is lacking – many also do not have the time and the tools.
‘Welcome to the poverty trap. There is a reason that many poor people are either large or incredibly unhealthy. Why waste $$$ you don't have buying fresh ingredients when you can feed yourself for $5 on fast food? There are ways to eat relatively healthy food when pinching pennies, but the food is often unappealing unless you have a prior stock of spices and other staples.’
Noticing the parallels with the US, one user shared: ‘All the guides that have come out of America in recent years for “eating healthy while poor” go "here's how to eat on a budget, all you need to get are these simple ingredients..." and then doesn't mention the oil, the spices, the various pots and pans. You know, the stuff you actually need to be able to cook and cost money. They just assume that everyone has this stuff in their pantry when really, they are a luxury for someone who is struggling to pay the bills, or is down on their luck. Nor do they mention the time and effort it takes to actually cook a meal in those circumstances.’
Another chimed in: ‘Poverty is a compounding cycle where sh** food and stress contribute to sh** health which limits earnings which leads to more stress and sh** food… Good luck.’
Some studies have established the link between malnutrition and poverty. Australia is similar to other developed countries in that access to affordable but nutritious food in rural and disadvantaged communities is left wanting. For some areas, it is difficult to shop for fresh produce outside of supermarkets, which often requires a bit of commuting, resulting in food insecurity.
Food insecurity, which is defined as ‘whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable food in socially acceptable ways is limited or uncertain’ by American academic researcher Kathy Radimer, is estimated to be experienced by at least 5 per cent of Australians, with 40 per cent of those classified as severe. The most vulnerable are Indigenous people, unemployed citizens, single-parent households, low-income earners, rental households, and young people. But the figures are outdated as they are from 2004 – there is no regular measurement of national food security at a population level.
Malnutrition and poverty also create a vicious cycle that is hard to escape. Being poor with limited resources can cause food insecurity, but malnutrition reduces economic potential. Moreover, there are also negative long-term effects in health to think about. According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, poor diet is responsible for 7 per cent of Australia’s disease burden. Globally, poor diet poses the highest risk in the global burden of disease, with one in five deaths attributed to it.
With a record-high inflation rate leading to pricier food items, food insecurity becomes an even bigger threat. Just check out this feature from ABC:
We hope you’re in a secure and stable position, but just in case you’re struggling, help is available. We previously wrote some tips on how to stay healthy even when the cost of living is going up.
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