A healthy diet consistent with Australian health recommendations is too expensive for welfare‐dependent families

Abstract

Objective

Examine the cost of healthy food habits for welfare‐dependent families in Australia.

Method

A seven‐day meal plan was developed, based on Australian public health recommendations, for two typical welfare‐dependent families: a couple‐family (two adults, two children) and a one‐parent family (one adult, two children). The cost of the meal plan was calculated using market brand and generic brand grocery items, and total cost compared to income.

Results

In Australia, the cost of healthy food habits uses about 40% of the disposable income of welfare‐dependent families. Families earning an average income would spend only 20% of their disposable income to buy the same healthy food. Substituting generic brands for market brands reduced the weekly food cost by about 13%. This is one of few economic models to include generic brands.

Conclusion

Compared with average‐income Australian families, healthy food habits are a fiscal challenge to welfare‐dependent families.

Conclusions

These results provide a benchmark for economic and social policy analysis, and the influence disposable income has on prioritising healthy food habits.