The answer to the question of costing more

So, here’s the answer to the question.

Ultra-processed food items — which aren’t perishable like fresh produce — are becoming cheaper. “Junk food is cheap because you can keep it forever. You can buy it in bulk, you can produce it in bulk, you can deliver it when it’s cheap to deliver it.”

Think about the supply chain. Fresh produce, fish and meat need to be refrigerated and restocked, unlike shelf stable items. Those transportation and replenishment costs get passed on to the consumer.  Food waste comes into play and the sellers don’t like to lose money over that issue.

Other factors include labor shortages, inflation, and most importantly: supply and demand. Remember the great egg price hike last year? They reached an average price of $5.83 a dozen. Now it's down to about $2.92.

That spike was driven by an avian bird flu that wiped out some 43 million chickens. Shorter supply with steady demand meant higher prices.

The World Obesity Federation predicts that, without an intervention, roughly 51% of the global population could be obese or overweight in the next decade – with an economic impact measured at $4.3 trillion by 2035.  

Increasing access to nutrition is a top priority and it's a great reminder: food doesn't have to be expensive to be healthy.

"Frozen vegetables are great. The nutrients are preserved. Pre-cut, toss them into your pasta, toss them into your soup, it's really quick, it's really low cost."

According to a botanist:

          If you prepare it at home, healthy food is far cheaper than junk food. The issue revolves around prep time, not cost. That junk food costs more than good food is obvious to anyone whose ever been inside a super market.

For $20 you can buy the following and it would feed an adult for one day:

• 17 oz Fruit Loops cereal

• 1 box Snickers Ice Cream treats

• 12 oz frozen chicken & chirizo sausages

• 1 box of frozen pizza snacks.

Or for the same $20 you can buy the following, which will feed an adult for eight days:

• 3 lb steel cut oats

• 1 fresh cauliflower

• 2 sweet potatoes

• 3 whole zucchinis

• 2 butternut squashes

• 1 lb. kidney beans

• 2 lb. brown rice

• 2 cans 14 oz tomatoes

And for about $7 you can make a big pot of lentil soup with ham and vegetables that will provide high protein, low fat hearty goodness, enough about 15 adult meals. That’s less than 50 cents a meal. Note: I have not double checked this for accuracy.

So – it’s a combination of things. Time to cook at home. Changing your tastes to healthier foods. Shelf life for foods. Learning to avoid those quick grab-and-eat type foods, and/or the drive through.