Newswise — People buy junk food because fruit and vegetables are just way too expensive — right? That’s the conventional wisdom. But somehow that didn’t sit right with us, so our Dole Nutrition Institute investigator hit the local grocery store to check out the facts on the shelf. What we found may surprise you. Watch our latest video as we compare a few prices to show that — more often than not – battling the bulge won’t bust your budget.
While our impromptu investigation is far from scientific, increasing academic research questions the idea that socio-economics is driving obesity trends. A recent study by RAND challenges the validity of “food deserts” — while an earlier study from the University of North Carolina found that people did not eat more fruit and vegetables when they had supermarkets nearby. Other findings suggest that subsidizing fruit and vegetables (thereby lowering the cost) would not necessarily have the intended effect, with one study showing that shoppers used cheap produce “savings” to buy more junk food. At the end of the day, a plant-based diet provides the most nutrient “bang for the buck,” while also saving on health care costs down the line
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