Myth: Healthy Food Is More Expensive Than Unhealthy Food

Cooking healthy food on a budget can be done, and it doesn't have to take all day

Avoid buying processed foods; often you can make similar dishes quickly and easily for much less.travellight/Shutterstock

The idea that healthy food costs more than junk food is something I hear a lot. Students tell me they’d like to eat better but can’t afford to. There is a strong belief that cooking from scratch costs a fortune, and with takeaway meals priced as low as £1 ($1.30USD), they have little incentive to change their behavior.

The past decade has seen increased media attention on healthy diets, and stories about the cost of healthy eating are also on the rise, all of which influences public perception. Some studies comparing the price per calorie of foods suggest that less healthy foods are often cheaper, but they don’t tell the whole story. The metrics used to measure cost are important.