Did you know that the rate of food inflation is currently double that of overall inflation? The US Department of Agriculture estimates the rate will be between 3% to 4% this year, the highest since the early 1990s. Figures show milk, beans, peas and lentils up 17%, cheese up 15%, bread up 12%, and eggs up 25% – all within this past year. In fact, the price of the world’s main grains – rice, corn, wheat – have all more than doubled. This may leave some to worry that fresh food choices may give way to less healthy alternatives. However, there are ways to eat healthy in the midst of rising food costs and lower budgets. Local farmers markets or co-operatives can be good sources of cheaper, fresh produce. And if you feel more industrious, planting your own produce, especially herbs, can save a you a great deal at the check out line. As well, the majority of flash-frozen vegetables actually retain most of their nutritional value, even after freezing. A tighter budget may even be an opportunity to eat healthier by cutting out expensive, fatty meats in favor of legumes as sources of protein. Read about more ways to cut food costs here.
Tags: diet, food inflation, healthy eating, nutrition
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:53 am
I think though food inflation seem to be a pit fall to our people, regardless of the eating habits being cut short their lifespan will increase since some of the harmful foods with certain qualities ie fats will be reduced automatically.
For those ignorant about the right proportions of various foods consumed,circumstances sometimes dictates.
Thank you for your continued beneficial information to me.
Conclatulations for the work, never loose hope with some patients for some may not do that willingly but because of the emotions from the ailments.
THANKS.