Healthy Eating a Privillage of the Rich?

SEATTLE (AP) - A healthy diet is expensive and could make it difficult for Americans to meet new U.S. nutritional guidelines, according to a study published Thursday that says the government should do more to help consumers eat healthier.

A update of what used to be known as a food pyramid in 2010 had called on Americans to eat more foods containing potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin D and calcium. But if they did that, the journal Health Affairs said, they would add hundreds more dollars to their annual grocery bill.

Inexpensive ways to add these nutrients to a person's diet include potatoes and beans for potassium and dietary fiber. But the study found introducing more potassium in a diet is likely to add $380 per year to the average consumer's food costs, said lead researcher Pablo Monsivais, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and the School of Public Health at the University of Washington.

Personally,I think the study is more than a little flawed and possibly biased as it clearly is directed to those under some form of government entitlement program and the Government food pyramid is mostly billboard space available to the highest bidders. But, if we put that bit aside I think that 31.66 per month of additional spending is not much if it improves our health, lowers our drug use, and increases quality and length of life.
If you are on a budget what would you consider sacrificing in order to feed your family more nutritiously? Cable TV is on average $45 per month; One meal at a casual dining establishment like Olive Garden or La Rosa's would cost a family of four at least $31 and Fast food is not that much cheaper. What about some of the junk food we would cut out of our grocery budget? Let's not forget our sin items: cigs, sodas and alcohol. Cutting out a pack or so a week couldn't hurt our health, water is much cheaper than soda and alcohol despite the resveratrol in both wine and beer is still empty calories and not part of a healthy diet.

Good Nutrition should be a priority in EVERY household regardless of socioeconomic. The difference in quality will always be based upon budgets, education and priorities but making a conscious effort to make good choices is the meat of the issue.

Work Smarter Not Harder!
David Marcon, DC
www.drdavidmarcon.com