Eating healthy does not consist of counting every calorie you put into your body. It consists of rewarding your body with nutritious foods that turn vitamins and minerals into fuel for your body. But what happens when 3 million people cannot afford to fuel their bodies with the nutrients it needs?
In today’s day and age, social media is a huge part of many people’s lives. On platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest, users can find a plethora of healthy recipes. These recipes can provide alternatives to some not-so-healthy snacks. These alternatives seem worthwhile until you read the ingredients.
The majority of alternatives include ingredients like almond flour, organic eggs and milk substitutes. A five-pound bag of normal flour costs about $5, while almond flour can cost as much as $15.99 for a three-pound bag. While these substitutions are healthier for the body, they are not cost-effective. Eating healthy has become a trend, a trend so hard to follow that it leaves 3 million people unable to nourish their bodies.
Now, let’s talk about fast food. Dunkin Donuts is one of the many fast food places students find themselves at before and after school due to the fact that it is convenient and close.
A medium coffee with non-sugar-free syrup and cream is $3.99. Now add Oatmilk and one pump of a sugar-free syrup and that $3.99 coffee order, just became a $5.10 order.
Like many, I find myself grabbing breakfast if I swing by Dunkin’ Donuts in the morning. As someone with a gluten intolerance, I do not have the luxury of being able to eat everything on the Dunkin’ Donuts menu. The one thing I find myself able to enjoy is the egg bites, which cost $6. To be put into perspective, egg bites come in a pack of two and are about the size of a munchkin. The blame does not need to be put entirely on fast food chains and social media. Since 2020, inflation rates have gone up tremendously and so has the overall obesity rate in our country. This further proves my point that 3 million people struggle each year to find affordability when shopping for healthier foods.
The days of going in and out of food stores within minutes are over. Shoppers now have to analyze prices to see what is more cost-efficient for them. I can almost guarantee that items containing healthier alternatives do not make it to the cart. Take this from someone who works at a grocery store. The main thing customers say in conversation is how expensive their groceries are and how they wish they were only coming in for fewer items so they would not break the bank as much.
Let’s be real: Why is the price of a four-for-four at Wendy’s the same as a head of cauliflower?
