Eat healthier for just $6.42 a week

It’s a common belief that it costs a lot more to eat a healthy diet: not so, according to a new study from Auckland University.

The researchers used data collected over 12 months from 882 supermarket shoppers to develop two shopping baskets.

Both baskets contained commonly purchased items, but one contained the healthier alternative to the items in the other basket.

For example white bread vs multigrain, tasty cheese vs edam, and peaches in syrup vs clear juice.

Using average prices for the 12 months, a total cost was calculated. The less healthy basket cost $90.21 and the healthier basket cost $96.63, just $6.42 (or 7%) more.

Here’s something to ponder: overall the healthier basket contained a massive 29% less energy (kilojoules), 35% less fat, 52% less saturated fat, 56% less sugar and 20% less sodium than the regular basket.

Fruit and vegetables were not included as they are healthy options without alternatives.

Source: The New Zealand Medical Journal, 26 January 2007