Mediterranean-Style Diet Bad For Your Wallet

A decade-long study of 11,000 Spanish university grads has shown that a healthy Mediterranean-style diet is pricier than a less-healthy typical Western one.

Dr. Maira Bes-Rastrollo from the University of Navarra led the study, which was published in the September issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Researchers found that participants eating a Mediterranean-style diet high in fish, olive oil, legumes, fruit and vegetables were spending more on food. Those whose diet was more typical of Western eating habits - high in saturated fat, sugar and red meat - were spending less.

We already know that obesity rates are higher amongst the poor, and the relatively high cost of healthier, fresh foods (compared to processed ones) is partly to blame.

Dr. Bes-Rastrollo believes that a tax on unhealthy foods, or a subsidy on healthy foods, will help those on low incomes to eat healthily.

If you're struggling to budget for healthier foods, try:

• Eating less meat (usually the most expensive part of a meal)


• Buying in-season fruits and vegetables from local markets


• Opting for frozen produce - which is often more nutrient-rich than fresh, due to being frozen at the time of picking


• Buying in bulk for long-life healthy foods, such as wholewheat pasta or brown rice

Interestingly, the study participants most likely to gain weight were those who spent the most on food, regardless of whether they had a Mediterranean, or Western-style diet. So in some cases, simply buying less food might be the answer!