Half of Canadians can’t afford foods recommended in new guide: poll
Posted April 10, 2019 8:41 am.
Last Updated April 10, 2019 11:46 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – It appears to be getting harder and harder to eat healthy, even with a revamp to Canada’s food guide.
According to a new poll by Angus Reid, nearly half of those who responded say they find it difficult to afford the items on the new guide.
Those making $50,000 or less found it more difficult with 47 per cent saying they likely can’t afford to follow the recommendations.
Research Analyst with Angus Reid, Dave Korzinski, says they’ve been keeping tabs on the issue of affordability for years. He says households struggling to pay for food isn’t just related to the new food guide.
“Food costs continue to rise. We’ve got a bit of research in the report that shows that the expectation for 2019 is that food prices are going to rise about 3 per cent overall, and that really is outpacing any wage growth that you’ve seen in Canada over the last number of years.”
As those prices continue to rise, so does usage at Canada’s food banks. Korzinski says the struggle to eat healthy is hitting them as well.
“It’s certainly something where I think that the rising food costs are really going to have an impact on the people within that field and working in food security, trying to service a rising number of people that are using those services.”
The poll also found that many are divided when it comes to following a balanced diet. Around 48 per cent of those polled said it’s easy to eat healthy while another 48 per cent believe they can’t accomplish that even if they tried.
There was also a divide when it came to how to eat healthy. About 61 per cent of those polled said they have a hard time keeping track of what is healthy with changing diet trends.
Despite the questions on affordability, many Canadians feel that the new recommendations outlined in the food guide are valuable.
WATCH: CANADA’S NEW FOOD GUIDE UNVEILED
