Updated: October 31, 2024
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Eating healthy is crucial for a person’s overall well-being. Aside from maintaining physical and mental health, a healthy lifestyle can also help financial well-being. Rising food costs make it more difficult to get nutritious foods.
Inflation in food prices contributes to food insecurity, healthcare costs and health insurance. Maintaining a healthy diet while spending less money can help you overcome challenges and prevent various health-related issues.
Food and Health in the United States
Knowing the impact of food on health can help you better understand how important it is to ensure healthy eating.
Food prices in the U.S. recorded a 10.9% increase in July 2022, the largest increase since May 1979. The 12-month percentage change during the same period is 13.1% for food at home and 7.6% for food away from home.1
Americans spend approximately $50 billion per year in healthcare costs because of poor eating habits. Almost 20% of healthcare costs related to heart diseases, stroke and diabetes are due to unhealthy eating. Additionally, up to 45% of cardiometabolic deaths in the country are attributed to an unhealthy diet.2
Around 60% of adults in the U.S. have a diet-related chronic disease. Of these, 74% are either overweight or obese. Meanwhile, the leading cause of death in the country is heart disease.3
Healthy eating offers various benefits. It boosts immunity, keeps the skin, teeth and eyes healthy, supports muscles, strengthens bones, supports brain development and lowers the risk of various chronic diseases.4
Inflation's impact can be felt in various sectors. For instance, food prices in the U.S. have shown an upward trend since the start of the year. The 12-month percentage increase was 10.9% in July 2022, the highest recorded jump since May 1979. This is also 1.1% higher than the food price inflation recorded a month ago.
Families all over the country are experiencing the impact of food price inflation. Aside from higher expenses affecting people’s finances, high food costs may also contribute to food insecurity.
Food prices play an important role in ensuring food security. The rising food costs may prevent individuals and families from accessing nutritious food necessary to stay healthy. This may lead to various issues, including a change in eating habits, malnutrition, developing chronic illnesses and greater odds of being hospitalized.
Affordability is one of the factors individuals consider when making a purchase. Rising food inflation can make it harder to get the right types of food. Additionally, availability can also be an issue.
The rise in food costs can be observed in almost all types of foods. However, price changes may vary. Based on the latest Consumer Price Index report, eggs recorded the largest annual price growth of 38% in July 2022. They were followed by butter and margarine (26.4%), flour and prepared flour mixes (22.7%), coffee (20.3%) and other fats and oils, including peanut butter (19.4%). Healthier options, such as fruits and vegetables, were 9.3% more expensive than a year ago.
Poor eating habits among Americans cost the country $50 billion per year in healthcare costs. Many individuals may settle for high-calorie foods and those with lower nutritional value. This may lead to various chronic diseases like obesity, heart diseases, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Thus, causing higher healthcare costs and needs.
Eating healthy meals helps the body in a lot of ways. It allows each part to function correctly, which ensures good physical health. However, the impact of an individual’s diet goes beyond their body. It can also contribute to financial health.
Physical and financial health are highly connected. Being able to afford healthy foods can prevent substantial medical expenses. On the other hand, struggling physically or financially can cause stress that may trigger unhealthy habits.
That’s why eating healthy is something every individual needs to fulfill. Knowing how to obtain healthy foods amid food price inflation can help.
Unhealthy diets account for almost 20% of healthcare costs for cardiometabolic diseases (CMD), such as heart diseases, stroke and diabetes. It’s among the leading causes of poor health, which accounts for up to 45% of CMD-related deaths. The average cost of CMD-related expenses due to poor diets is $301 per person, translating to around $50 billion nationally.
Due to unhealthy eating habits, 60% of adults in the country have one or more diet-related chronic diseases. These include being overweight and obese, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and reduced muscle strength.
Chronic diseases cause illness, disability and death. Health insurance providers have rules and restrictions when it comes to chronic diseases. Make sure you review these when choosing a plan.
If you’re concerned about getting diagnosed with a chronic illness, you may consider getting chronic illness insurance. It’s a type of insurance that pays the policyholder in the event of an illness diagnosis causing the inability to perform certain daily activities.
Food greatly produces energy for your body to function properly. Getting the right nutrients gives you the necessary boost to conduct your daily tasks and improve your work performance.
Diet also impacts financial health. Staying healthy helps you focus and make well-informed decisions. It allows you to work longer if you want, making sure you still have a steady source of income despite your old age. Additionally, healthy eating can be cheaper if you know how to plan your meals properly.
Having a healthy and balanced dietary plan offers many benefits. It boosts your immunity, which protects your body against various harmful factors. It also supports muscles, bones and brain development. Additionally, it can lower the risk of chronic diseases.
Creating a healthy plate can be overwhelming, but understanding what elements to focus on can help you get started. That said, the key is consistency. It’s important to make eating healthy a habit.
The table below shows what to consider when building a healthy eating plate.
Elements | Proportion |
|---|---|
Vegetables | Vegetables offer vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are good for the body. They can help improve digestive health, fight inflammation and lower blood pressure. The recommended daily amount of vegetable intake is two and a half cups. |
Fruits | Eating fruits help your body get vitamins and minerals essential for bodily functions. It can improve digestion, regulate blood pressure and boost energy. Fruit intake for a healthy dietary pattern should be two cups per day. |
Grains | These are high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They can help lower the risk of stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity. They can also help with digestion and reduce inflammation. On average, an individual should eat six cups of grains per day. |
Dairy | This helps reduce blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. They are good for digestive and bone health. A healthy diet plan includes three cups of dairy per day. |
Proteins | Foods included in the protein group are meats, poultry, eggs, seafood, nuts, seeds and soy products. Protein-rich foods help repair and grow tissue, produce hormones, maintain joint health and blood glucose levels, support the immune system and prevent bone diseases. The recommended health dietary plan for U.S. adults requires an average of five and a half cups of protein foods daily. |
Eating nutritious food matters for a person’s overall health and well-being. While spending less on groceries while staying healthy may seem impossible, especially with rising food costs, there are strategies to make this achievable. Various government programs and nonprofit organizations also help low-income individuals and families.
Here are some tips to help you eat well while saving.
Try to start every week planning your meals. Determine what ingredients you’ll need. Scan your refrigerator and pantry to see what you already have. If there are foods near expiry, consider planning meals around them.
If you’re unsure where to start, you can use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate website. You can find resources and recipes to help create a healthy meal plan.
Try to come up with dishes you can freeze. Look for budget-friendly soup or casserole recipes online and create a large batch that can last you throughout the week. Freeze leftovers that you can eat again later. Consider looking for ways to use leftovers to create new recipes.
Once you already have a meal plan for the week, create a detailed list of all ingredients you’ll need. Bring the list when you go to the grocery store. This makes shopping easier and faster. You avoid forgetting essential ingredients. At the same time, it prevents you from buying unnecessary items on impulse.
If you value convenience, consider installing a grocery list app on your mobile phone. Some help you find deals and discounts, such as the GroceryPal App.
Consider canned or frozen fruits and vegetables if you can’t find affordable fresh produce in your area. These are also great alternatives if you want healthy foods that last longer. Many times, they’re also cheaper. You can find frozen fruits and vegetables in resealable packaging, which makes storing them easier. If you want, you can also repack the products into smaller packaging so that you don’t have to defrost everything just to get a small portion.
When buying canned vegetables and fruits, try to look for those that come in water instead of syrup. Check the label. Some canned goods have added sugar or salt. Avoid these as much as possible. Frozen foods with added butter or sauce also tend to have added sugar, salt or even empty calories, which aren’t healthy.
Coupons are among the best ways to save money on grocery bills. Look for coupons based on the ingredients you have on your grocery list. You can start your search online. No matter how small the discount may seem, it can lead to significant savings when added.
Money-saving deals can be tempting. However, it’s important to be strategic when it comes to coupons. Sort them out and choose quality deals. Don’t be tempted by big discounts if they’re for unhealthy processed foods.
Take advantage of coupons for other home items, such as cleaning products. By saving on these, you can have a higher budget for healthy foods.
Another cheap way of getting nutritious foods is to grow your produce. You can grow a garden even if you don’t have a spacious yard. Start with potted vegetables, herbs and fruits you can leave on your balcony or patio.
You can also check if there’s a community garden in your neighborhood that you can join. This will give you access to various fresh produce.
For some, growing a garden isn’t possible. If such is the case for you, it’s important to shop smart for produce. Generally, choosing what’s in season can save you money. It also ensures that the fruit or vegetable is fully ripe when harvested.
Cooking at home will save you a lot of money in the long run. Eating out tends to cost more, especially for families. Aside from this, it’s harder to ensure that only quality and healthy ingredients are being used.
That said, it doesn’t mean you should never eat out. Just make sure you limit it.
Include the food you bring to work or school when creating meal plans. Packing your lunch and snacks gives you complete control over the type of food you eat. This helps when building a healthy eating habit.
If possible, stock up on your favorite products or those you often use when they go on sale. That said, you have to ensure they’ll last for a while. Don’t buy things in bulk if they’re about to expire.
Depending on the product, choosing store brands or generic options can save you a significant amount. For instance, canned and frozen fruits or vegetables usually have cheaper store-brand versions.
If you’re shopping for the family, go for larger portions. Products in smaller packaging tend to cost more when added up than those sold in bulk.
To determine the price per unit of a large-sized item, divide the price by the weight stated on the package. Then, compare that to the cost of the individually packed option.
Saving on your grocery bills doesn’t end when you check out your items. You also have to ensure you maximize the foods you have bought. Knowing how to store and keep your produce fresh for longer reduces your waste and will also help you save more money in the long run.
Here are some steps you can take.
Best before dates are there to give you an idea of how long a product will stay in its best condition. Some items only have use-by dates. This refers to the date the manufacturers think the food is in prime.
It’s best to wash off fruits and vegetables before eating them. This is to prevent contracting illnesses due to bacteria.
For green leafy vegetables, it’s best to soak them in cold water for about five minutes. Herbs are best stored like a bouquet. Put them in the refrigerator with a. damp paper towel.
For meat and vegetables, consider cooking them for storage. You can do this by putting them in the microwave. Then, put them in the freezer. This will make them last longer. You can simply defrost them when you need to use them.
The right way of storing depends on the type of food. For instance, berries should be rinsed in vinegar, spread on a paper towel to dry and put in the refrigerator. Broccoli should be wrapped in foil to make it last up to four weeks. Bananas should be stored away from other produce. Lettuce must be kept with a kitchen towel.
Once your vegetables and herbs start turning, it’s best to freeze them in a plastic bag. Then, when you have the time, use them to create a vegetable stock. That said, avoid using starchy vegetables.
Health insurance protects you from substantial medical expenses. But staying healthy can prevent you from needing expensive medical attention in the first place. Additionally, health insurance plans cover medically tailored, nutritious meals and food prescriptions. Among these are Medicare, Medicaid, Food is Medicine Coalition and Humana.
Consider these options and weigh the pros and cons to determine the best health insurance.
Medicare consists of three parts. Each has different coverage. Part A refers to hospital insurance, Part B is for medical insurance and Part D is for prescription drug coverage. Medicare Part B offers nutrition therapy services coverage.
Medicare is a government program that caters to people aged 65 or older. Younger individuals with disabilities may also qualify.
Eligible individuals can submit a completed application for enrollment in Medicare Part B. You can also check with your local Social Security office.
Medicaid is both a federal and a state program. It provides health insurance coverage to qualified individuals under the age of 65.
Coverages vary per state. Among the optional benefits include nutritional coverage. Some may also offer prevention programs for diet-related illnesses. Contact your local Social Security office to determine if you’re eligible to receive diet-related coverage.
Medicaid provides health insurance to low-income individuals and families. Children, pregnant women, elderly adults, people with disabilities and individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may also qualify. That said, specific eligibility requirements may vary depending on the state.
The Food is Medicine Coalition is a nonprofit that focuses on advancing evidence-based medical and nutrition intervention. It advocates for public policy focusing on access to food and nutrition services for individuals with chronic and critical illnesses. It’s composed of different nonprofits and medically tailored and nutrition services providers across the country.
Food is Medicine Coalition is composed of different nonprofits and medically tailored and nutrition service providers across the country. Among them are God’s Love We Deliver, Project Angel Heart and Project Open Hand.
Generally, programs are for people with chronic or severe diseases. Specific organizations may have different eligibility requirements, so it’s best to contact the nonprofit directly.
Inflation can be felt in various aspects and industries, including the health insurance industry. That’s why health insurance premiums continue rising. This additional expense can prevent you from accessing healthy meals. That said, there are ways to get affordable health insurance.
Employers have different benefits packages for their employees. Ask your company if you’re qualified to get health insurance. Typically, it’s a cheaper option compared to private individual health insurance. You may also add your eligible family members as dependents.
Check if you’re eligible for Medicaid or Medicare. These are programs catering to low-income individuals and families. They tend to offer the cheapest health plans.
Depending on the health insurance provider, you may qualify to receive significant discounts. Ask your insurance agent or visit the company’s website.
The best way to find the cheapest insurance policy is to shop around and compare prices. You can start your search in the Health Insurance Marketplace. You can also ask for personalized quotes from private insurance companies. MoneyGeek has a health insurance comparison tool you can use to get an idea of how much your policy will cost.
Many often state they would eat better if nutritious foods were more accessible and affordable. However, there are many community food resources available to all. Find a variety of services below that help provide healthy food for low-income families, seniors, those on fixed incomes and all community members.
Programs | Benefits | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals with diminished mobility may | |
| Feeding America supports individuals There’s no need to apply or sign up to | |
SNAP is a government program that | Eligibility requirements are based on | |
| Low-income citizens and residents are | |
SFSP is a federally-funded program but | Children 18 years old or below | |
State education agencies administer Eligible children are entitled to | Children can receive free meals if they | |
This nonprofit organization aims to help | No Kid Hungry assists other |
Maintaining a healthy diet can be difficult due to various barriers, such as accessibility and affordability. With rising food costs, it may be more challenging. Finding the right resources and tools can help you with your journey.
About Nathan Paulus
Nathan Paulus is the Head of Content Marketing at MoneyGeek, with nearly 10 years of experience researching and creating content related to personal finance and financial literacy.
Paulus has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of St. Thomas, Houston. He enjoys helping people from all walks of life build stronger financial foundations.
