Healthy Eating Costly in North: Report

Healthy Eating Costly in North: Report

Tuesday, April 05, 2011 at 15:15

A report about food costs in the province’s north has again revealed that it costs much more to eat healthy in northern Saskatchewan than in the South.

The Cost of Healthy Eating in Northern Saskatchewan 2009 was prepared by the Population Health Unit for the two northern health regions as well as the Athabasca Health Authority.

It revealed that a healthy food basket that would feed a family of four would cost $185 in a large southern city, $227 in the northeast, $257 in the northwest and $350 in the far north.

The lead nutritionist on the report, Cathryn Abrametz, hopes policy makers pay attention to the report, but she says it can also be used by average citizens.

She says it provides them with support and advice on how to join community kitchens, community gardens or good food box programs.

This is the third report since 2001 done on food costs and while each have studied different areas, all have confirmed it costs much more to have a healthy diet in the North.