D Caines

Healthy Eating in Jamaica: The Cost Factor

Issue:

Vol 64, Issue 3: June (2015)

DOI:

10.7727/wimj.2015.116

Pages:

181–5

Synopsis:

Commonly consumed foods and all available foods were studied to determine whether healthy foods are more expensive than less healthy alternatives in Jamaica. Healthy foods can be afforded if nutritionally informed choices are made, particularly for economically vulnerable families. Efforts to provide appropriate nutritional information should be expanded and strengthened.

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the importance of food cost in securing a healthy diet to combat non-communicable diseases. Several studies have evaluated whether healthier foods or diets cost more but a full range of health criteria has rarely been explored. Rather than merely comparing high and low energy dense foods, this study also included type of fat, vitamin, mineral and fibre content of foods in classifying them as healthy and less healthy.

Received:

26 Feb, 2015

Accepted:

09 Mar, 2015

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