Australians find healthy food out of reach

A new survey has found 70% of people believe healthy food is more out of reach than this time last year, and around one in two admit to buying less healthy foods because these cost less.

Australia’s peak nutrition body is trying to make healthy eating a little easier for cash strapped consumers with some budget-boosting tips that urge Australians to get ‘back to basics’.

According to the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), food is often the largest part of a family budget, so Australians need to shop and eat smarter.

“We find that as money gets tighter, health and food are often the first things out the door – and this new research backs this up,” said DAA Spokesperson, Sandra Murray.

The US study revealed more than half the consumers surveyed are more concerned about their eating habits today compared with 12 months ago, but 44% report their budget stops them from eating healthier foods.

Ms Murray, an Accredited Practising Dietitian, said: ‘People often think fruit and vegetables are expensive, but when you look at the price per kilogram, they’re not.

“For example, the humble potato costs about $1.75 per kilo but if you turn it into hot potato chips it’s about $5 per kilo, and when made into potato crisps, the price skyrockets to at least $20 per kilo.”

According to Ms Murray, fruit is the original ‘convenience’ food, and parents should be encouraging children to eat fresh whole fruits over juices and fruit flavoured treats.

She also recommends buying direct from farmers or visiting local farmers markets to buy meat, seafood, fruits and vegetables – and encourages Australians to go with a plan of what to buy.

Budget-boosting tips from DAA:

Plan your meals and recipes for the week.

Plan your food shopping – scan grocery stores leaflets for specials, and shop when you’re not hungry and without your children.

Create a shopping list and stick to it.

Take your lunch from home and save more than $40 per family member per week.

Eat fresh fruit and vegetables that are in season as this is when they are at their cheapest.

Compare the per kilogram price of foods to work out your best choice.

Shop at local markets to take advantage of the cheaper produce – or even grow some of your own!

Freeze leftovers rather than wasting these. Have a leftover night every week.

If you have a large family, buy your meat in bulk from your local butcher and store in the freezer. In fact, you can buy lots of different products in bulk (such as rice, pasta and cereal).

Bake at home. Occasional treats such as desserts, biscuits and cakes can be modified to be healthier by making these at home – and they’re often cheaper and tastier!

Buy generic brands (no name, home brand) and shop for specials when you can. Most of the time, these are just as nutritious as brand name products.

If you find that your veggies and fruit spoil, buy some frozen and/or canned vegetables and fruit. These will last longer, and mean you always have some at home.