Researchers and media continue their debate about importance of highly nutritious food in our diet. But how affordable is this highly nutritious food with the current economic climate?  A longstanding debate is all about whether foods packed with calories, but low in nutritional value, are more accessible and affordable than foods that cost more but are more nutritious–especially for low-income families.

Researchers at the University of California – Davis and the University of Washington tested their hypothesis that lower-cost diets among low-income women would be higher in calories but lower in nutrients. Their tests concluded that the more energy-dense (high-calorie) the diet, the less nutritious it is likely to be. Additionally, low-income women who ate more nutritious diets spent more money per calorie than those who ate less nutritious diets.

The study tested low-income women from four counties in California who consumed 152 food and beverage items over the three months. The data was used to estimate intakes of energhy, fats, dietary fiber, added sugars, vitamins and minerals. The survey showed the women reported a mean energy intake of 2,061 kcal per day and men dietary energy density of 0.94 kcal per gram. The consumprion of higher energy–dense diet was associated with higher intakes of fat and lower intakes of calcium and vitamin A. Mean daily diet costs were $6.11 per day, or $0.66 for every 2,000 calories. As cost increased, dietary energy density (calories), total energy, fat, sugar intakes decreased while vitamin A intake (nutrition) increased. 

“Results of this project point out the need for nutrition guidance for low-income audiences. these new materials must include strategies for improving the quality of diets without increasing costs,” said Etta Saltos, CDREES national program leader for human nutrition. “USDA’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), which teaches food budgeting skills, is an excellent example.”

USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) funded the study through the National Research Initiative (NRI) Human Nutrition and Obesity program.

Source: Researchers Weigh In on Debate About Affordability of Highly-Nutritiouis Food, March 30,2009; http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2009news/03301_food_study.html; The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2009.