2016What is the cost of

healthy food?

Why does it matter?

Why can’t people afford healthy food?

Who can’t afford healthy food?

What can individuals and communities do?

WINDSOR-ESSEX COUNTY HEALTH UNIT519-258-2146 ext. 3100 • www.wechu.org

The Real Cost of Eating Well in Windsor-Essex

What is the cost of healthy food? Every year, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit surveys the price of food items from grocery stores across the city and county. Using this data and a survey tool called the Nutritious Food Basket, we calculate the cost of one week’s worth of groceries.

In 2016, the cost of groceries for a family of four was $203.03. To arrive at this cost, we priced 67 food items in nine area grocery stores, calculating the average lowest retail price. The items included meet recommendations from Canada’s Food Guide. The assumption is that people have the time, skill, and equipment needed to cook low-cost staples. The survey does not include prepared convenience foods or household non-food items.

Why does the cost of food matter? We know that when money is tight, people are forced to cut into their food budget to pay for other living expenses. They skip meals, eat fewer vegetables and fruit, drink less milk, and fill up on non-nutritious foods that cost less. The result of this unhealthy diet over time is an increased risk of chronic illness, and poor growth and development in children.

Why can’t people afford enough healthy food?For people living on minimum wage, Ontario Works, or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), it’s hard to make ends meet. After paying rent, they still have to pay for other necessities such as:

• Heat and hydro• Transportation, car maintenance, and gas• Child care• Phone• Clothing• Eye and dental care• Home maintenance• Costs for children in school• Household cleaners and personal hygiene products

This means that little money is left for buying nutritious food. Too often, it’s so little that people go hungry.

In Windsor-Essex County the weekly cost of groceries for a family of four is now $203.03. That’s an increase of 19.3%**** since 2012

When income is low and living expenses are high, people don’t have enough money for food. Last year in Windsor-Essex, 122,807 people were served by food banks. Of these, 41,942 were children. (Windsor-Essex Food Bank Association, January 2016)

COST OF NFB IN WEC 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Cost of healthy eating in WEC $170.23 $179.54 $188.04 $200.07 $203.03

Increase from previous year ($) $3.85 $9.31 $8.50 $12.03 $3.04

Increase from previous year (%) 2.3% 5.5% 4.7% 6.4% 1.52%

Households with Children Single Person Households

Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3 Scenario 4 Scenario 5 Scenario 6 Scenario 7

Ontario Works Minimum Wage Earner

Median Ontario Income

Ontario Works Ontario Works

ODSPSenior

OAS/GIS

IncomeTotal Monthly Income (Including Benefits and Credits)

$2,227 $2,940 $7,448 $2,016 $768 $1,206 $1,563

ExpensesEstimated Monthly Rent*

$925 $925 $925 $824 $535 $689 $689

Healthy Food (Nutritious Food Basket, 2014)

$879.12 $879.12 $879.12 $663.74 $296.38 $296.38 $214.23

Monthly Income Remaining for Other Expenses**

$422.88 $1135.88 $5643.88 $528.26 $-63.38 $220.62 $659.77

% Income Required for Rent***

42% 31% 12% 41% 70% 57% 44%

% Income Required for Nutritious Food

39% 30% 12% 33% 39% 25% 14%

% Income Required for Rent & Food

81% 61% 24% 74% 109% 82% 58%

A single male living on Ontario Works could spend close to his entire income on the rent for a bachelor apartment. There would be little money left for food or other expenses.

The situation is not much better for a family of four on Ontario Works. After paying for rent and food, they have only $422.88 left to cover all other expenses.

Consider these real-life situations for people living in Windsor-Essex County:

* Private Apartment Average Rents. https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/catalog/productDetail.cfm?lang=en&cat=102&itm=1&fr=1472132413287 ** People still need funds for utilities, phone, transportation, cleaning supplies, personal care items, school supplies, medical and dental costs and other costs. *** Housing that is more than 30% of the income is considered unaffordable housing. **** Percent increase does not account for inflation.

Family of Four = 2 adults (male and female ages 31-50) and

2 children (girl age 8 and boy age 14).Single Male (age 31-50). Senior Female (age 70+).

Single Mother (age 31-50) and 2 children (girl age 8 and boy age 14).

What can we do?All people in Windsor-Essex should have access to a nutritious, adequate diet, and each of us has a role to play to ensure it. Start by educating yourself about what causes hunger and poverty, then get involved.

To become involved:

• Share your gardening skills or donate growing space to local groups, like the Windsor-Essex Community Garden Network. To find out more, contact wegardencollective@gmail.com.

• Donate time, food, or money to support our local emergency food programs (i.e., food banks and meal programs).

• Think about where your food comes from and buy local products more often. Visit www.welookforlocal.ca to learn more about foods that grow locally and where to buy them.

Advocate for:

• Improved social assistance and minimum wage

• A change in living wage policies

• More affordable housing policies

• Accessible and affordable child care

To learn more about poverty-reduction strategies that could improve access to healthy food for all Canadians, visit www.dignityforall.ca You can also sign on to Dignity for All’s national campaigns to end poverty.

If you, or someone you know, are having difficulties accessing food, go to www.211ontario.ca or call 211 to find a local emergency food program that can help.

Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health Food Security Workgroup. Income-related policy recommendations to address food

insecurity. www.osnpph.on.ca/membership/documents. Published November 2015.

T H E R E A L C O S T O F E A T I N G W E L L I N W I N D S O R - E S S E X 2 0 1 6

Food costs is an issue that affects our community. When people are short of money, they are unable to afford healthy foods, which can impact their health.

That’s why working to eliminate poverty is everyone’s responsibility.

Adapted with permission from the Huron County Health Unit.

© Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, October 2016.

For more details about the Nutritious Food Basket contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

www.wechu.org

519-258-2146 ext. 3100