It may seem absurd to think about this, but the introduction of modern diets that have shifted the mindsets of people towards positive eating styles has somewhat also increased the price tags of healthy options.
Lately, a trend has been observed for diet plans and challenges that require the incorporation of organic foods in regular eating habits. While this trend is promoting a healthy lifestyle, it is also producing an impact on people with tight budgets and limited resources.
How this system operates and why this situation is not getting as much attention as it should, let’s discuss!
Why Have The Prices Increased?
Although it is questionable how usual foods like fruits and vegetables have gotten so expensive, it is still understandable. With the increasing urbanization and lower availability of fertile land, it is imaginable that we have limited resources to produce high-quality organic food.
And since it is produced in small quantities, it is only fair to sell them at a higher price to overcome the invested cost. Otherwise, if these things were to be sold at a lower price, it would imbalance the cost-profit ratio. Then, it will be unfair for the producers who work hard to harvest the food with utter attention to controlquality.
Another reason why this inflation is observed is due to social media and its influence on the public. It is a common observation that whenever a specific product or brand is featured in any celebrity’s social media handles, it becomes expensive. This is a usual way of marketing, and unfortunately, necessities like food are also a victim of this vicious cycle. When trending icons and idols follow some diet or recommend any food item, a great increment is also seen in its price.
On the other hand, people who strive to get better quality products at an affordable price struggle due to the unavailability of required resources. Unfortunately, this matter is not voiced enough to grab the attention of the policymakers. This is why no reforms have ever been introduced in the field of food quality and control.
Many people do not even realize that this is a problem in the first place. Because the growing population and majority of the masses do not value the importance of a healthy diet, they never raise their voice against it.
Effects of This Inflation on a Common Man
As discussed above, food inflation has severely affected the way people eat. Sometimes, even if a person wants to pursue a healthy lifestyle, he is forced to continue bad eating choices, due to his tight budget.
Individuals who fall back on the social scale have no choice but to obtain a less nutritional and more fulfilling diet so that they can afford other expenses. When you belong in the middle or lower class, the kind of food you consume becomes a less important priority.
For such people, residence and necessities like water and electricity come far before a fresh organic diet. Thus, they throw away this concept of healthy living and continue their normal lifestyle. And if you think about it, it is somewhat understandable. For a person who is struggling to make ends meets, food can never be the top priority.
This is the reason behind the ignorance of this matter. Because the affected public is too busy to cope up with the increasing rate of inflation, they do not even see this problem. Those who do, try to raise their voice in hopes of someone to take charge and bring some positive change.
In short, this matter is not getting the required attention. Food is an essential requirement of every person, regardless of which class he belongs to. Inequality in this field will only increase the social gap and discrimination. People who are the victims of this injustice are forced to make unhealthy choices just because they cannot afford to eat clean food. They should address their concerns on a platform where their issues can get resolved. Like the famous saying goes,
“If you aren’t doing anything to stop it, you are a part of it.”
Tips To Eat Healthy On a Budget
While some of the higher prices of food items are wrong and unacceptable, other times, it is also fair. So, if you are someone who wishes to adopt a healthy routine without breaking the bank, then following are some of our favorite tips that’ll guide you in your grocery shopping:
1. Home Cooking
Even though it seems to be a hassle, home cooking is a cost-effective way to consume a healthy meal. When you cook, you save a lot of money.
You can make a good quantity that lasts for multiple meals. This way, you can eat a couple of times in the same amount that you otherwise spend on small portions of the restaurant meals.
2. Prioritize Whole Foods
Sometimes, foods like whole grains and whole cheese are cheaper than readymade tortilla or pre-shredded cheese. Thus, always buy the whole foods and then make a little effort to get your desired result. You will be surprised to see how this tip changes your grocery budget.
3. Buy in Advance for a Week
In grocery shopping, it is clever to get everything that’ll be enough for a week. You can plan your meals and buy the required ingredients accordingly.
When you shop with a list, you avoid getting unwanted things. This will keep you focused, and you will only buy the necessary items. Moreover, this hack will not only save your money, but it will also save you time.
4. Look for Frozen Items
Sometimes, good quality fruits and vegetables are pricey as compared to their same frozen versions. Therefore, if you find your healthy options expensive, have a look at the frozen section, and maybe you will find something just as good as the original one.
5. Look for Sales
Shopping markets can never sell rotten food. Therefore, long before the expiration dates, they put food items on sale. Now, this food is completely fine to eat, but the store cannot risk it getting expired.
So, try buying groceries on the days of such sales. You will be shocked to see how this hack changes the way you usually shop.
6. Avoid the Non-Seasonal Items
When you are buying food items, try sticking to the seasonal products. Especially for the fruits and vegetables, the seasonal ones are highly cheaper than the non-seasonal ones.
Also, you will get the fresh produce as opposed to the items that have been preserved to increase its life.
7. Grow Your Own Food
If you cannot afford expensive organic foods, then grow them yourself. Buy seeds or preserve them from the food you consume, then plant them in your backyard and produce your food for free. It won’t cost you much, and you can also assess the quality just like you want.
In a Nutshell
Food inflation is something that has never been addressed on a bigger platform. This is why the people behind it never get exposed or punished. A healthy diet is a fundamental right of every human being, and no one can deprive anyone of it.
That being said, the higher prices of some products are reasonable and justified. There are indeed limited resources and higher demand when it comes to the food industry. Although people who do find this inequity as a hurdle in their way, they should raise their voice against it.
There are several ways how a person can decide what to consume. And, some of the tips described above will help them make better choices, that too, in a limited budget. Food is an essential requirement of everyone, and we should never let money or other parameters get in the way of living a healthy lifestyle.