PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – A study intended to help people learn the real cost of food in Saskatchewan shows wide variations in prices between urban, rural and northern regions.
Nutritionists Terry Ann Keenan and Jacki Veregin, two of the report’s authors, presented their findings at a Food Secure Saskatchewan conference here April 22.
On average, the study found it costs $172.53 per week, or $747.04 per month, to feed a family of four a nutritious diet in Saskatchewan.
That included more than 60 basic items from the four food groups found in Canada’s Food Guide.
Read Also
Food can play a flavourful role in fun summer activities
Recipes – popsicles are made with lactose-free milk and yogurt so are perfect for those who can’t tolerate milk, while everyoneelse will also enjoy them
Average weekly costs ranged from $141.10 in Saskatoon and Regina, and $144.55 in Humboldt, $159.48 in Rockglen and $166.26 in rural regions. For the northern half of Saskatchewan, it jumped to a high of $255.67.
“Good food in rural Saskatchewan does cost more and it’s harder to find,” said Veregin.
Both researchers found most people don’t know the cost of their food because they often shop at superstores that offer everything from tires to toiletries.
“Most don’t have a sense of what food could and should cost,” said Keenan.
Citing the need for consistent policies to ensure some essentials are at the same price across the province, she said milk costs two to three times as much in small communities as in large ones.
“It’s a staple in our diet and something we need,” Keenan said.
Veregin was concerned it might get dropped from the grocery basket as a result.
“When people perceive food as being more expensive, they won’t buy them,” she said.
Keenan said shoppers often eliminate or substitute staples for something cheaper, which often means food higher in fat and sugar.
“Rather than let their children go hungry, they buy something filling and cheap,” she said.
In the long term, that leads to obesity, malnourishment and chronic diseases.
The report was intended to guide decision makers and others interested in food security for Saskatchewan residents, to discover if families can meet their nutrition needs, to examine how policies and practices affect households and to work toward building healthy communities.
“It’s a tool to initiate some discussion about what folks can do,” said Veregin.
She hoped the report exposes the differences in prices and guides government decision making for contributions to food aid programs, food banks, school nutrition programs and community clinics.
“People at higher government levels should be aware that some programs might be shortchanged as opposed to elsewhere where food costs are cheaper,” said Veregin.
She said often little is left over in limited income households, forcing many to dip into their food budget to pay for other rising costs like housing.
In order to help shoppers, the nutritionists created food cost calculators.
The calculator considers the ages and genders in a household and gauges the cost of feeding them healthy foods.
For a copy of the calculator contact a public health department.
Veregin and Keenan said lower income families might also want to consider participating in bulk buying programs to reduce grocery bills, or collective kitchens, where several people gather to plan and prepare food for their families.
In other findings, researchers discovered most people spend about 30 cents out of every food dollar on eating out, rising to 40 cents for single males.
The food costs study is a partnership of Public Health Nutritionists of Saskatchewan, the Saskatoon Health District and provincial health department staff.
