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Healthy Eating

The Real Cost of Unaffordable Food

As the cost of living increases everywhere, more and more people in Simcoe Muskoka do not have enough money to cover the cost of basic expenses and put healthy food on the table. Too often, individuals and families are forced to cut their food budget to afford other essentials like rent, utilities, transportation, clothing, medical expenses and childcare. Some people worry about running out of food, don’t have enough food for each meal, or miss meals altogether.

When people can’t afford to regularly buy healthy food, the negative health effects can last a long time and even a lifetime. We all share the real cost of unaffordable food as it impacts the health of our whole community and adds more pressure to our over-burdened health care system.

Each year local public health dietitians and public health nurses conduct the Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) survey to determine how much it costs to purchase a basic healthy diet. The results of the NFB are used to monitor how affordable food is for individuals and families living in Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka based on various monthly income scenarios.
The cost of the NFB is based on the average lowest cost of 61 food items that are based on Canada’s Food Guide and found in selected grocery stores across Simcoe and Muskoka. The items do not include processed foods, special diet foods or personal items.

What was the cost of healthy eating across Simcoe Muskoka in 2022?

The monthly cost of the nutritious food basket for a family of four is $1159.92

The monthly cost of the nutritious food basket for a single person is $419.00

How much is left for other basic needs* after paying for food and rent?

Household and Income Type

Money remaining for other basic needs*

A family of four, one full time earner making minimum wage

$1350

A family of four, Ontario Works

$137

A single parent with two children, Ontario Works

$319

A single person household (70+ years old), Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplements

$384

A single person household, Ontario Disability Support Program

-$266

The results of the 2022 NFB survey continues to show, as in previous years the survey was conducted, that many individuals and families living with lower incomes struggle to pay rent, bills, and purchase enough basic healthy food for themselves and their families. In some cases, it is impossible.

For more information about the 2022 NFB income scenarios and results visit Health Stats Nutritious Food Basket
*Basic needs refers to, for example, transportation, childcare, clothing, phone, personal care items etc.

When healthy food is unaffordable and people in our community can’t make ends meet, they will cut their food budget to pay for other essential expenses, such as rent and utilities. Many local families and individuals find themselves experiencing the following:

• Worrying about running out of food

• Eating foods lower in nutritional quality

• Eating the same few foods for all their meals

• Eating less food than they need

• Going without eating so their children can eat

• Missing meals altogether

• Going a whole day or several days without eating.

Although this seems like a problem due to the increased cost of food, it is actually a problem of not having enough money to buy food, or what is called ‘household food insecurity’.

Household food insecurity is a serious public health issue that can negatively affect the health of individuals, families, and our community as a whole.

Not having enough money to buy food (being food insecure) is a serious public health issue that can negatively affect the health of individuals, families, and our communities.

Household food insecurity impacts the health of children and youth

  • Children living in food-insecure households experience poorer physical and mental health, and youth are at increased risk of depression, social anxiety and suicide.
  • New research also shows that food-insecure adolescents face greater risk of injury.

Food insecurity impacts the health of adults

  • Food-insecure adults experience poorer physical and mental health, including higher rates of depression, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
  • Adults living in food-insecure households are more likely to delay, reduce, or skip prescription medication due to cost.
  • New research also shows that food-insecure adults face greater risk of injury.

Food insecurity impacts our whole community and health care system

  • The average health care costs of someone experiencing severe food insecurity are more than double those of people who are food-secure.
  • Because of its harmful effects on health, household food insecurity causes a large burden on an already fragile health care system.

For more information about how food insecurity impacts health and health care visit PROOF.

Addressing household food insecurity is difficult and requires a whole community approach to guide actions and find solutions. Although food banks and community food programs are essential to bridge the gap for people who need food immediately, they are not designed to solve household food insecurity. Policies and programs that focus on poverty, income and employment are needed. There are several local groups who work on these issues.

Learn more:

• Simcoe County Poverty Reduction Task Group
• Poverty Reduction of Muskoka Planning Table
• The Orillia Food Council
• Simcoe County Food Council (see Simcoe County Food Security Framework)
• Gravenhurst Against Poverty
• Circles
• Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness (SCATEH)
• The Muskoka Housing Task Force
• Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle (BANAC)
• United Way Simcoe Muskoka – Poverty Interventions

Addressing household food insecurity is difficult and requires a whole community approach to guide actions and find solutions. Policies and programs that focus on poverty, income and employment are needed.

These may include:

Advocacy efforts to the provincial and federal government are needed to push for these types of policy changes to improve income and employment practices, which can result in reduced household food insecurity.

Action can be simple; all it takes is customizing a letter to urge your political leaders to take action on household food insecurity.

To customize and send the letter visit Ontario Dietitians in Public Health website.

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