Originally published July 15 2005
Healthy food choices may mean bigger bill
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A University of California-Davis study shows that buying healthier foods may cost the individual consumer as much as $10 more per grocery bill and cost the average family an additional $35 to $41.
Investing an extra 20 cents each time consumers buy a loaf of bread, by switching from white to wheat, could result in big health dividends in the long run, according to a UC Davis study.
UCD research economist Karen Jetter and Health Services assistant djunct professor Diana Cassady recently conducted a study investigating financial and geographical accessibility to healthy food choices, such as whole-grain products, in low-income areas.
With grocery stores lining Covell Boulevard, in addition to the many stores throughout the Davis community, the low-income profile, rather than geographic accessibility, may echo students' body-friendly food frustrations.
The Jetter-Cassady study concluded that switching to whole-grain pasta and bread, opting for skinless chicken, buying lean ground beef, and making other more nutritious substitutions could add between $35 and $41 to the average family's food bill or approximately $10 for an individual shopper.
Lance Benton, store director of the East Covell Boulevard Nugget Market, said higher costs in organic and raw foods stem from short shelf lives and market trends driven by supply and demand.
"Natural food is more labor intensive than mass-produced products."
Safeway assistant manager Danny Scott said he advises students to buy as much healthy food as they can within their tight budgets.
"You come to a [supermarket] and say, 'What can I spend with the least amount of money and will leave me with the highest return?'" he said.
Cross recommended avoiding trans-fatty acids in grocery selections, and said substitutions like Newman's O's for Oreos can save students both hydrogenated oils and 20 to 30 cents, depending on sale prices.
For example, she said homemade pizza could be prepared at a lower cost with fresher products than a delivered pizza.
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