2.4.5 Monetary cost of food
Health eating can be expensive especially to the low income groups. The cost of food often contributes to the types of food that individuals will buy. This factor affects some groups in a population more than others. The price of food has been found to be a determining factor for food choices for the low socioeconomic groups that includes students, retired people and the unemployed group in the communities around the world (Johansson & Andersen, 1998).
It has been found in other studies that people who are in the low socioeconomic group generally consume less fruits and vegetables compared to those in higher socioeconomic groups (Anderson & Morris, 2000). This is shown by Mooney (1990) in a particular study in the
…show more content…
The 1980s saw a migration in many shopping facilities which included the supermarkets, moving out of city and town centers in the UK (Pollard, 2002). That commotion caused the local and small retailers to either close down or rather increase their prices. The groups that suffer from this scenario are the low socioeconomic groups without transport since their families heavily rely on small retailers for their groceries. These families will either settle to pay higher cost of food or pay for transport to get cheaper foods which still require payment for transport to the supermarkets and therefore end up increasing the costs associated with food …show more content…
Many would agree that healthy food does not taste good than ordinary food stuff (Thompson et al. 1999). Dittus et al. (1995) found that a belief in the health benefits of fruit and vegetables may well increase consumption and found that an individual’s concern about nutrition is positively related to their dietary behavior. The study recommended that more advertising and encouragement of the benefits of fruits and vegetable consumption be done so as to increased fruit and vegetable intake.
2.5 Fruits and vegetables consumption and diseases
It is only recently that people have noticed the significance of fruits and vegetables in their diets and also the role they play in prevention of diseases (Hyson, 2002). This recognition of the health benefits is well documented to enable individuals to make informed decisions when it comes to taking good care of their health. According to Hyson (2002) ‘the current evidence collectively demonstrates that fruit and vegetable intake is associated with improved health, reduced risk of major diseases, and possibly delayed onset of age related indicators.’
2.5.1