Why Healthy Food Should Be Cheaper Than Junk Food?

We all know that eating healthy is important for our physical and mental wellbeing. Yet, in many places around the world, healthy food is still more expensive than junk food.

This is a huge problem in poorer communities, where people are unable to afford nutritious foods and are forced to rely on cheaper but less nutritious options. This has serious implications for public health, as it means that those who cannot afford healthy diets are at an increased risk of developing diet-related health issues such as obesity and diabetes.

One of the main reasons why healthy food is more expensive than junk food is that it often requires more resources and labour to produce. For example, organic fruits and vegetables require more land to grow compared to crops grown with the use of pesticides or other chemical inputs.

They also tend to have shorter shelf lives, meaning they need to be replaced more often which increases costs further. Similarly, sustainable sources of animal proteins like fish or poultry are usually pricier than those from intensively farmed animals.

Another factor contributing to higher prices for healthy foods is the lack of access in certain areas. Many people living in rural or remote areas cannot access fresh produce due to a lack of transportation links or lack of Supermarkets nearby. This means that they have no choice but to purchase their groceries from convenience stores or markets which often sell processed foods and snacks with higher prices.

Finally, there are also economic and political factors at play which contribute to the discrepancy between prices for healthy versus unhealthy foods. Governments and businesses can influence prices through their policies on tax rates, subsidies, tariffs etc., as well as through marketing strategies that promote processed foods over fresh produce.

Conclusion:

It is clear that there are several factors contributing to why healthy food is usually priced higher than junk food.

If we want public health outcomes across all communities to improve, then it is essential that governments take steps towards making nutritious foods more affordable and accessible for everyone. Lowering taxes on fresh produce and increasing subsidies for organic farmers would be a good start towards achieving this goal.