Today begins my community's food bank challenge -- The Great Food Fight 2007. Beginning at 5pm, and continuing for 24 hours, we hope to defend our current Guinness World Record title of collecting the most food in one day. Our challengers? Winnipeg. Last year we collected 100.257 tonnes of food. The food bank is pretty important when you consider the cost of healthy eating in the province.
Did you know? In Saskatchewan, it costs an average of $172 per week to feed a family a healthy diet. That amounts to $747 each month for a family with two adults and two children.
Food costing was conducted in 99 stores throughout the province in June of 2006. The costs were calculated based on a "nutritious food basket." This basket contains 66 commonly purchased, healthy food items.
Food costs vary depending on where you live. Weekly costs for a family of four are the highest in the northern part of the province ranging from $171 to $255. This is followed by rural areas at $166. Weekly costs in other centres, including large cities such as Saskatoon and Regina, range from $141 to $159.
Data on food costs help us identify the barriers that people face. Some do not have enough money to buy nutritious food. Some individuals and families that receive income assistance or minimum wage, have little money left after paying for food and shelter. People with a lack of money may view food as the most flexible part of a budget. They may choose low cost food items that fill them up but do not meet their daily nutrient needs.
Some Saskatchewan communities benefit from school nutrition programs that aim to help children learn. The costs of nutritious snacks used in these programs vary. They depend on where the school is located in the province. Some schools pay up to 86 cents per student-over 50% more money than the same foods in other schools. Nutrition programs that only have access to higher priced foods may be left with budget shortfalls.
by the Public Health Nutritionists of Saskatchewan