Is ‘Healthy living’ costlier? Study finds surprising data

We might be well in February, but some of us are still trying to keep up with the New Year’s resolution of healthy living, that we took at the start of 2025.
However, as it turns out – that resolution doesn’t come cheap!
According to a new analysis, a basket of healthy food costs more than double that of less healthy options.

What does the data say?

Food plays a major role in maintaining and improving our health and wellness. However, that health and wellness come at a cost. A new research suggests it is easier said than done as eating healthily has become significantly more expensive than the alternative. The Food Foundation found that 1,000 calories of healthy food such as fruit and veg costs £8.80, compared to £4.30 for the equivalent amount of less healthy food, such as ready meals and processed meats. This speaks for the fact that, on average, healthier foods are more than twice as expensive per calorie as less healthy foods.
As defined by the government’s Nutrient Profile Model, foods that are considered healthier are increasing in price at twice the rate of foods considered to be unhealthy over the past two years.
The analysis carried out for the Food Foundation looked at the average price of 450 items that the Office for National Statistics uses to calculate monthly inflation. It graded foods based on their nutritional value, according to guidance from the Food Standards Agency.
The analysis suggests the gap has widened in the last two years, with the price of healthy foods rising by 21%, while unhealthy options increased by 11%. As per the Food Foundation, 60% of an estimated eight million households dealing with food insecurity in 2024 have reduced how much fruit they buy, while 44% have cut down on vegetables.
Its research found that the poorest families would need to spend 45% of their disposable income on food to be able to afford to eat the government-recommended healthy diet, rising to 70% for those with children.
The charity is warning that low-income families are being priced out of being able to afford to eat healthily. The government has said it is committed to introducing an ‘ambitious’ food strategy that will tackle unhealthy diets.

The duel between healthy and unhealthy food:

Now that the cost of them has been made clear, let’s get on with understanding what is the definition of healthy food and what food doesn’t fall under that category.

Healthy food is food that provides the nutrients your body needs to function well. A healthy diet includes a variety of foods that are balanced in their carbohydrate, protein, fat, mineral, and vitamin content. A healthy diet consists of whole grains (brown rice, oats, quinoa, and whole wheat), fruits and vegetables, fish, lean meats, poultry, beans, nuts, dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese, or alternatives, mostly reduced fat.
On the other hand, unhealthy food is high in calories, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium, and low in essential nutrients. Unhealthy foods are often highly processed and can contribute to health problems. Processed meats like bacon, hot dogs, deli meats, ham, and sausages, fast food like burgers, pizza, and chips, and fried foods like french fries and potato chips are examples of unhealthy food. It also includes bakery products like donuts, cakes, and biscuits, sweetened beverages like sodas, ice creams, frozen yogurt, and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals.
For the analysis, the Food Foundation’s report makes a distinction between healthy and unhealthy foods according to the UK Nutrient Profiling Model, as well as the Eatwell Guide, which is the government’s official guidance on the types and proportions of food needed for a healthy diet.
By and large, foods that are high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) are considered unhealthy. Many of these are also considered UPFs, as they contain ingredients such as sweeteners, emulsifiers, flavors, and artificial colors.

The food inequality:

Despite the growing evidence that HFSS foods and UPFs are contributing to obesity in the UK – 26% of the UK population are classified as obese, equivalent to approximately 22.5 million people – the price of healthier food continues to be higher and is increasing at a faster rate.

This implies that families struggling with financial insecurity are finding it harder to afford and access healthier options.
As per the analysis by the Food Foundation, 60% of households experiencing food insecurity have reduced their purchases of fruit, while 44% cut back on vegetables, and 59% on fish. The report revealed that the most deprived households would need to spend 45% of their disposable income on food to afford the government-recommended healthy diet. This figure rises to 70% for families with children. The impact on children from the most deprived families is also clear through the report. On average, children consume less than half the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables, but over twice the recommended amount of sugar.
Those from the most deprived families consume 20% less fruit and vegetables and 17% less fiber compared to the least deprived.
There are no easy solutions to food inequality, as it is deeply tangled with income inequality. However, as per the Food Foundation, “This report exposes a troubling reality. But we can change this. Our food system can be reshaped so that the healthiest and most sustainable options are the most affordable, available and appealing.”
The Food Foundation called on the UK government to take action and pay attention to the policies recommended in the report, which “can improve access and affordability of nutritious food and shape healthy and sustainable food environments”.