
How Much Does Healthy Eating Cost
We check the price of healthy foods in grocery stores in Hamilton every year using the Nutritious Food Basket survey.
Nutritious Food Basket survey
We check food based on:
- Canadian eating patterns and buying habits
- Nutritional value of foods
The survey results below show the lowest average cost of 67 healthy foods in seven Hamilton grocery stores.
Foods in the Nutritious Food Basket Survey
The foods we check are in Canada’s Food Guide including:
- Vegetables and fruit
- Orange vegetables and fruit
- Dark green vegetables
- Whole grains and whole wheat products
- Non-whole grain products
- Milk and milk alternatives
- Meat, poultry, legumes, eggs and fish
You can make healthy meals and snacks with these foods.
2017 Nutritious Food Basket weekly costs in Hamilton
Chart provides a demographic breakdown of the per week costs of the Nutricious Food Basket.
Group | Age | $/week |
---|---|---|
Boys | 2 - 3 | $24.07 |
Boys | 4 - 8 | $31.03 |
Girls | 2 - 3 | $23.63 |
Girls | 4 - 8 | $30.15 |
Males | 9 - 13 | $41.43 |
Males | 14 - 18 | $60.01 |
Males | 19 - 30 | $58.30 |
Males | 31 - 50 | $52.51 |
Males | 51 - 70 | $50.57 |
Males | over 70 | $50.07 |
Females | 9 - 13 | $35.35 |
Females | 14 - 18 | $42.60 |
Females | 19 - 30 | $45.04 |
Females | 31 - 50 | $44.46 |
Females | 51 - 70 | $38.77 |
Females | over 70 | $38.03 |
Pregnant women | under 19 | $47.90 |
Pregnant women | 19 - 30 | $48.57 |
Pregnant women | 31 - 50 | $47.39 |
Breastfeeding women | under 19 | $49.65 |
Breastfeeding women | 19 - 30 | $51.92 |
Breastfeeding women | 31 - 50 | $50.74 |
Reference family of four |
Male 31-50, |
$187.13 |
How to calculate cost of food
To get the total cost of food for a week, an extra 5% is added for extra food items used to make meals such as spices, seasonings, condiments, baking supplies, soups, coffee and tea.
The total cost of food does not include processed and convenience foods, soft drinks, packaged snack foods, special dietary foods, baby foods, religious or cultural foods, soap, shampoo, toilet paper or other personal items.
Check what it would cost for you to feed you and your family using the Nutritious Food Basket (PDF, 173 kB)
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