Coping with the Rising Cost of Living: How Food Inflation Affects Nutrition and Health

According to a report released by Statistics Canada on November 14, 2023, prices continued to rise and in June 2022, the overall inflation rate was 8.1% and food inflation in particular was 8.8% - the largest yearly change in 40 years.

While 45.5 percent of Canadians prioritize cost over nutritional value when grocery shopping, a larger proportion than last year, 63.3 percent of Canadians are apprehensive that compromising on nutrition due to high food prices may have adverse long-term effects on their health.

Some organizations here in Neepawa initiated projects and programs to promote healthy and affordable food alternatives for families such as the Neepawa Eats Healthy’s Meal in 30 Project and the Field to Table Club.

The Neepawa Eats Healthy Committee is a group of dedicated partners representing local organizations and community members working together to improve health outcomes and launched the Meals in 30 Project.  The goals of the Meals in 30 project are to encourage local community members to cook and prepare healthy, budget friendly meals at home, build food skills, eat healthy and shop local.

Another program we have in the community is the Field to Table Club which was initiated by ArtsForward and other community partners where young kids are taught how to grow their own food, harvest it and cook or prepare the food for them to eat. This year, it has partnered with Touchwood Parks together with some kids who have been part of the Club since it started.

These kind of projects raise the awareness of the community about healthier alternatives and  interventions that could be done at the household and community level to cope up with the rising cost of living without compromising our health.