High food prices may mean better diet
With food becoming more expensive, people are reconsidering their food choices at the grocery store -- and what they buy could end up being healthier in the long run. Janet Babin reports.
Renae Geraldi, left, and C.J. Miller shop for groceries at Lorenzo's Supermarket in North Miami, Fla. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: Where's the bright side? Where's the silver lining? I've been looking for it all morning. Just something positive to say about the economy. Here's what I came up with: High food prices might actually be good for our diets. Marketplace's Janet Babin reports from North Carolina Public Radio.
Janet Babin: Eggs cost about a third more than they did a year ago. Butter is up 10 percent and whole wheat bread will cost you almost 20 percent more than last year. These prices are stretching the family budget, and forcing us to rethink our food choices.
Dietician Linda McDonald runs the Web site Supermarket Savvy. She says this grocery store sticker shock might actually make us healthier.
Linda McDonald: This'll get people back to the basics. They'll spend more time in the perimeter of the store, where all the fresh foods are. I mean, basically that's where your more healthy foods are -- things that are more economical that maybe take a little more time to prepare.
For example, rice bought in bulk is cheaper, and healthier, than a microwave-ready side dish.
And food bought in bulk means fewer trips to the grocery store. When gas is 4 bucks a gallon, every food run counts.
I'm Janet Babin for Marketplace.
Comments
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From Redding, CT, 10/02/2008
I was born and raised in a city. When I moved to a rural area one year ago I wanted to take advantage of my 4 acres back yard. Now I'm growing my own rabbits, chickens and goats. Back yard meat and eggs is awsome. I also have a realy good veggie garden, this year I grew lettuces, tomatoes, green beans, peppers and chilly peppers. It takes some work but it is amazingly rewarding. The animals recycle almost all the leftovers. We are going green without no more effort than taking an hour a day to take care of it, but we do it as a family right when we're back from work.
From Northbrook, IL, 06/20/2008
As a dietitian, I am counseling people to take advantage of the economic conditions to improve their health. Have smaller portions of the high calorie foods, and fill up your plate with fresh or frozen veggies. Grow your own veggies for the least expensive option. Or go to farmers' markets for better quality and fresher foods than you will find at most groceries. cut down on junk foods. Ride your bike or walk instead of using the car as often. This is a great time to get back to the basics and improve your health.
Marla Heller, MS, RD
Author of The DASH Diet Action Plan
From Rochester, NY, 06/20/2008
Ms. Babin asserts that as food prices increase and the economy worsens, people will look for ways to save money in the supermarket, possibly by buying less expensive food, which tends to be healthier. What’s overlooked is that in this easy-credit, buy-“priceless”-things society, people are used to living outside their means and spending money they don’t have (and never will). It seems far likelier that people will keep eating out or buying expense microwave and prepared foods, rather than cut back on spending. After all, the fall of the sub-prime market is due, at least in part, to people buying houses well outside their means.
From Los Gatos, CA, 06/19/2008
I would love to see an end to outragously expensive processed "foods" or ready meals. The bags of rice/chicken & veggie thingies sold at Trader Joe's and other stores take no less time than a quickly sauted chicken breast then dropping fresh broccoli into boiling water for 3 minutes. The cost and calories and probably half and the nutritional content probably double. Then maybe we could put some of those farm subsidies to work on real food instead of cattle food. When did we get sold this idea that good and healthy food has to be slow food. I am a master of the 30 minute meal and I am 60 and at the low end of my BMI.
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