About The Project

Myth: healthy food is expensive

Even though most people think that eating healthy is more expensive than just buying ready-made food, you would be surprised to find out this is a myth. 

There is a strong belief that cooking from scratch costs a fortune, and since takeaway meals are extremely cheap, people do not want to change their behaviour. However, you can eat a nutritionally balanced meal for less than the price of a cheeseburger.

​

Rethinking the price of food

Students usually say they would like to eat healthy but they can’t afford it. Actually, it all depends on how you measure the price: if you compare the price per calorie, processed foods are more cost-effective than fruits and vegetables. But comparing the cost of foods by weight or portion size shows that vegetables, fruit, grains and dairy foods are less expensive than most foods high in saturated fat, added sugars or salt. Therefore, calculating the price per calorie won’t tell you how much food you are going to get or how full you will be. 

​

Why people choose processed foods

Empty-calorie foods fill your stomach but don’t give many nutrients. The fact that they are cheap and filling is why people, especially those who struggle financially, often buy them. For instance, a 240 calorie donut is going to be cheaper than a 105 calorie banana, but the calories from a donut are empty and will leave you wanting more, whereas a banana will satisfy your appetite. According to the nutritional economy perspective, even if some foods are cheap in the store, they are usually expensive in terms of nutritional value because they provide just a few nutrients. On the other hand, more expensive and nutritious foods can be a better deal.

​

Poverty and lack of knowledge

The issue here is not the cost, but the fact that people do not have enough knowledge, skills and time. Poverty is a persistent problem in the world, and that is partly why people make bad food choices: at the end of the day, after hours of studying, students are tired and the last thing they want to do is cook a proper meal. Another reason why students usually buy processed food is because it does not only seem cheaper, but also more filling. But while a cheeseburger might fill you up for longer than an apple, junk food damages your health.

​

Cooking healthy on a budget

It is possible to cook healthy and fulfilling meals in just a couple of minutes, and Jack Monroe has shown this several times: she is a British food writer and anti-poverty campaigner specialised in budget recipes. She started caring about it since in the past she struggled financially and just had £10 a week to feed herself and her son. She focuses on cooking simple recipes with healthy but extremely cheap ingredients, in order to help people who live on a tight budget taking care of themselves and letting them understand that their financial situation won’t have to stop them from maintaining their health.