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Cost of Eating Healthy

Hands holding vegetables.

The Cost of Eating Healthy in KFL&A in 2019

Everyone deserves the right to adequate, healthy, safe, affordable and culturally appropriate food. People who live with food insecurity cannot afford to buy the food they want and need for good health.

Request your PDF copy of the Cost of Eating Healthy report!

Seven house icons with grocery carts in them. One house icon with no grocery cart. Thirteen percent of households in the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) area live with food insecurity. This equals about 1 in 8 households in the KFL&A area.

Cost of Eating Healthy (transcript)

Narrator

Imagine having to choose between buying food and paying your utilities bill.

Words on screen

2019, the cost of eating healthy.

Narrator

Thirteen percent of households in Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox and Addington area live with food insecurity. This means that about 1 in 8 homes in the KFL&A area do not know if there will be enough food next week or next month. Households on fixed or low incomes are often forced to use their food budget to pay for other expenses. What does it mean to live with food insecurity?

Video description

Silhouette of woman holding arms out like a scale. One side of the scale shows a loaded grocery shopping cart, the other side icons for all the other expenses, such as dentist, car repair, household bills. Thought bubbles appear over the woman’s head.

First person

I am not able to find food that fits with my cultural identity.

Second person

I can not afford to buy healthy foods.

Third person

I have very little money left to buy food after paying the rent.

Fourth person

I skip meals so that there is enough food for my children.

Narrator

The cost to buy food for a family of four in the KFL&A area for a month is 955 dollars.

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Illustration. Bar chart.

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Amount of money left after the monthly rent has been paid for a family of four:
Ontario works, Kingston. 125 dollars
Ontario works, Napanee. 1,606 dollars
Full-time minimum wage earner, Kingston. 1,635 dollars
Full-time minimum wager earner, Napanee. 2,616 dollars
Median Ontario Income, Kingston 5,905 dollars
Median Ontario Income, Napanee. 6,966 dollars.
Cost of healthy food per month.

Video description

Illustration. Bar chart.

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Amount of money left after the monthly rent has been paid for a single female parent with two children on Ontario Works.
Ontario works, Kingston 1,201 dollars
Ontario works, Napanee, 1,525 dollars

Video description

Illustration. Adult female holding hands with boy and girl beside bar chart.

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721 dollars, cost of healthy food per month.
12 percent of households in KFL&A are female lone parent families.

Video description

Illustration. Bar chart.

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Amount of money left after the monthly rent has been paid for one person on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program.
Ontario works, Kingston 80 dollars
Ontario works, Napanee, 264 dollars
Ontario Disability Support Program, Kingston, 197 dollars
Ontario Disability Support Program, Napanee, 540 dollars

Video description

Illustration. Adult male beside bar chart.

Words on screen

322 dollars, cost of healthy food per month.

Narrator

What can you do? Learn more about the impact of food insecurity on health. Advocate for solutions that will ensure secure and healthy food for all. Share this information with your peers, colleagues, and partner agencies.

Video description

Photo of the Cost of Eating Healthy Report.

Video description

Photo of the Cost of Eating Healthy Infographic

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The Cost of Eating Healthy Infographic

Words on screen, narrator says

For more information contact KFL&A Public Health at 613-549-1232, or online at kflaph.ca

Food insecure households are likely to:

worry about running out of food,
compromise their food quality and or quantity,
reduce their food intake, and
experience disrupted eating patterns.

Food insecurity negatively affects health.

Children who are hungry are more likely to develop depression and asthma later in life.
Adults who are food insecure have poorer physical and mental health, and are more likely to have chronic conditions such as depression, diabetes and heart disease.
Food insecure adults with chronic conditions have more difficulty managing their conditions.

Food insecurity is highest among:

Indigenous Peoples and black Canadians,
low income households on fixed incomes,
single mothers, and
people who rent their home.

Households on fixed or low incomes are often forced to compromise healthy eating to pay for other expenses.

Heat and hydro, childcare, transportation, clothing, eye and dental care and personal items.

Amount of money left after the monthly rent has been paid for a family of four

Reference chart - Scenario 1 - Ontario Works, Family of Four

Amount of money left after the monthly rent has been paid for a single female parent with two children on Ontario Works

Twelve percent of households in KFL&A are female lone parent families.

Chart reference - Scenario 4 - Ontario Works, Single Parent

Amount of money left after the monthly rent has been paid for one person on Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program

Chart - Reference Scenario 5 and 6

Remaining monthly funds after the rent represents funds available for food and basic expenses, such as: heat, hydro, childcare, transportation, clothing, eye care, dental care, and personal care.

2018: Nutritious Food Basket Scenarios

Scenario 1 - Ontario Works, Family of Four

Monthly Income in Ontario
Income	Ontario Works, Family of Four
Income from Employment	not applicable
Basic Allowance	$494
Maximum Shelter Allowance	$756
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	$1,147
GST/HST credit	$72
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$154
Working Oncome Tax Benefit	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable
Total Income	$2,623

Monthly Expenses in Kingston
Expenses	Ontario Works, Family of Four
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(3 Bedroom) $1,998
Food	$955
Total Monthly Expenses	$2,953
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies etc.)	$-330
Percentage of income required for rent	76%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	36%

Monthly Expenses in Napanee
Expenses	Ontario Works, Family of Four
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(3 Bedroom) $1,017
Food	$955
Total Monthly Expenses	$1,972
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies etc.)	$651
Percentage of income required for rent	39%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	36%

Scenario 2 - Minimum Wage Earner, Family of Four (full-time/full year)

Monthly Income in Ontario
Income	Minimum Wage Earner, Family of Four (full-time/full year)
Income from Employment	$2,427
Basic Allowance	not applicable
Maximum Shelter Allowance	not applicable
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	$1,108
GST/HST credit	$72
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$154
Working Income Tax Benefit	$20
Employment Insurance paid	$-39
Canada Pension Plan paid	$-109
Total Income	$3,633

Monthly Expenses in Kingston
Expenses	Minimum Wage Earner, Family of Four (full-time/full year)
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(3 Bedroom) $1,998
Food	$955
Total Monthly Expenses	$2,953
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$680
Percentage of income required for rent	55%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	26%

Monthly Expenses in Napanee
Expenses	Minimum Wage Earner, Family of Four (full-time/full year)
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(3 Bedroom) $1,017
Food	$955
Total Monthly Expenses	$1,972
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$1,661
Percentage of income required for rent	28%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	26%

Scenario 3 - Median Ontario Income, Family of Four (after tax)

Monthly Income in Ontario
Income	Median Ontario Income, Family of Four (after tax)
Income from Employment	$8,075
Basic Allowance	not applicable
Maximum Shelter Allowance	not applicable
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	$395
GST/HST credit	not applicable
Ontario Trillium Benefit	not applicable
Working Income Tax Benefit	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	$-124
Canada Pension Plan paid	$-363
Total Income	$7,983

Monthly Expenses in Kingston
Expenses	Median Ontario Income, Family of Four (after tax)
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(3 Bedroom) $1,998
Food	$955
Total Monthly Expenses	$2,953
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$5,030
Percentage of income required for rent	25%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	12%

Monthly Expenses in Napanee
Expenses	Median Ontario Income, Family of Four (after tax)
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(3 Bedroom) $1,017
Food	$955
Total Monthly Expenses	$1,972
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$6,011
Percentage of income required for rent	13%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	12%

Scenario 4 - Ontario Works, Single Parent

Monthly Income in Ontario
Income	Ontario Works, Single Parent
Income from Employment	not applicable
Basic Allowance	$360
Maximum Shelter Allowance	$697
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	$1,147
GST/HST credit	$72
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$125
Working Income Tax Benefit	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable
Total Income	$2,401

Monthly Expenses in Kingston
Expenses	Ontario Works, Single Parent
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(2 Bedroom) $1,200
Food	$721
Total Monthly Expenses	$1,921
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$480
Percentage of income required for rent	50%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	30%

Monthly Expenses in Napanee
Expenses	Ontario Works, Single Parent
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(2 Bedroom) $876
Food	$721
Total Monthly Expenses	$1,597
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplie, etc.)	$804
Percentage of income required for rent	36%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	30%

Scenario 5 - Ontario Works, One Person

Monthly Income in Ontario
Income	Ontario Works, One Person
Income from Employment	not applicable
Basic Allowance	$343
Maximum Shelter Allowance	$390
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	not applicable
GST/HST credit	$24
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$68
Working Income Tax	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable
Total Income	$825

Monthly Expenses in Kingston
Expenses	Ontario Works, One Person
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(Bachelor) $745
Food	$322
Total Monthly Expenses	$1,067
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$-242
Percentage of income required for rent	90%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	39%

Monthly Expenses in Napanee
Expenses	Ontario Works, One Person
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(Bachelor) $628
Food	$322
Total Monthly Expenses	$950
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$-125
Percentage of income required for rent	76%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	39%

Scenario 6 - Ontario Disability Support Program, One Person

Monthly Income in Ontario
Income	Ontario Disability Support Program, One Person
Income from Employment	not applicable
Basic Allowance	$672
Maximum Shelter Allowance	$497
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	not applicable
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	not applicable
Canada Child Tax Benefit	not applicable
GST/HST credit	$32
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$71
Working Income Tax Benefit	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable
Total Income	$1,272

Monthly Expenses in Kingston
Expenses	Ontario Disability Support Program, One Person
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(1 Bedroom) $1,008
Food	$322
Total Monthly Expenses	$1,330
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$-58
Percentage of income required for rent	79%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	25%

Monthly Expenses in Napanee
Expenses	Ontario Disability Support Program, One Person
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(1 bedroom) $732
Food	$322
Total Monthly Expenses	$1,054
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$218
Percentage of income required for rent	58%
Precentage of income required to purchase healthy food	25%

Scenario 7 - Old Age Security or Guaranteed Income Supplement

Monthly Income in Ontario
Income	Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement, One Person
Income from Employment	not applicable
Basic Allowance	not applicable
Maximum Shelter Allowance	not applicable
Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement	$1,500
Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System	$83
Canada Child Tax Benefit	not applicable
GST/HST credit	$36
Ontario Trillium Benefit	$108
Working Income Tax Benefit	not applicable
Employment Insurance paid	not applicable
Canada Pension Plan paid	not applicable
Total Income	$1,727

Monthly Expenses in Kingston
Expenses	Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement, One Person
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heant and hydro)	(1 Bedroom) $1,008
Food	$233
Total Monthly Expenses	$1,241
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$486
Percentage of income required for rent	58%
Percentage of income required to purchase healthy food	13%

Monthly Expenses in Napanee
Expenses	Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement, One Person
Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include heat and hydro)	(1 Bedroom) $732
Food	$233
Total Monthly Expenses	$965
Funds Remaining for other basic needs (e.g., telephone, transportation, child care, household and personal care items, clothing, school supplies, etc.)	$762
Percentage of income required for rent	42%
Pecentage of income required to purchase healthy food	13%

Determining the cost of eating healthy in our community

We use the Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) survey tool to measure the cost of eating healthy in the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) area. The NFB survey includes 67 food items that reflect a healthy eating pattern from Canada's Food Guide.

Plate with various food item icons.

KFL&A Public Health surveyed seven grocery stores in May using guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The lowest available price is recorded for each food item. The prices from all the stores are then averaged. An extra five percent is added to the total food cost to account for additional food items such as spices, seasonings, condiments, baking supplies, soups, coffee, and tea.

What items are not included in the Nutritious Food Basket?

Processed convenience foods
Popular snack foods
Special dietary foods
Infant foods
Religious or cultural foods
Soap, shampoo, toilet paper, and other personal care items

The survey also does not include costs associated with eating out at restaurants and extra costs for inviting company to share a meal.

What else should you know about the Nutritious Food Basket?

It assumes that most people have the necessary time, food skills, and equipment to create meals from low-cost food staples and ingredients.
It assumes that the consumer has access to quality food stores and the means of transportation to comparison shop.

What can you do?


Learn more about the impact of food insecurity on health.	Advocate for solutions that will ensure secure and healthy food for all.	Share this information with your peers, colleagues and partner agencies.

Calculating the weekly cost of a Nutritious Food Basket in the KFL&A area

Step 1: Write down the gender and age of each person in the household.

Step 2: Use the Nutritious Food Basket Costs from the Weekly Food Costs in the KFL&A Area table and write down the weekly costs for each person.

Step 3: Add the weekly food costs together for the subtotal.

Step 4: Use the Adjustments table for the group size. It costs a little more per person to feed a small group and a little less to feed a large group.

Step 5: To find out the monthly food costs, multiply your total by 4.33.

How to calculate the weekly cost of a nutritious food basket in the KFL&A area.

Weekly food costs in the KFL&A area

1. Nutritious Food Basket data results 2019 for KFL&A Public Health - includes family size adjustment factors.

Weekly food costs in the KFL&A area
Group	Age (years)	Food costs per week
Boy	2 to 3	$28.62
Boy	4 to 8	$36.80
Girl	2 to 3	$28.12
Girl	4 to 8	$35.80
Male	9 to 13	$48.48
Male	14 to 18	$70.29
Male	19 to 30	$68.64
Male	31 to 50	$61.92
Male	51 to 70	$59.45
Male	over 70	$58.78
Female	9 to 13	$41.84
Female	14 to 18	$50.31
Female	19 to 30	$53.29
Female	31 to 50	$52.52
Female	51 to 70	$45.71
Female	over 70	$44.76
Pregnancy	18 and younger	$56.47
Pregnancy	19 to 30	$57.39
Pregnancy	31 to 50	$55.91
Breastfeeding	18 and younger	$58.51
Breastfeeding	19 to 30	$61.13
Breastfeeding	31 to 50	$59.65

Adjustments

Weekly food costs in the KFL&A area adjustments
Adjustments
1 person multiply by 1.20
2 people multiply by 1.10
3 people multiply by 1.05
4 people make no change
5 to 6 people multiply by 0.95
7 or more people multiply by 0.90

Scenario references

May 2019: Nutritious Food Basket scenarios

Scenario 1
2 adults (male and female ages 31 to 50), 2 children (girl age 8, boy age 14); Ontario Works (OW).
Scenario 2
2 adults (male and female ages 31 to 50), 2 children (girl age 8, boy age 14); income is based on one minimum wage earner, 40 hours per week, $14.00 per hour (minimum wage in May 2015).
Scenario 3
2 adults (male and female ages 31 to 50), 2 children (girl age 8, boy age 14).
NOTE: Income from employment is based on median after-tax income- two-parent families with children, two earners (CANSIM Table 202-0605); however, EI and CPP contributions are calculated using median total income-two-parent families with children, two earners (CANSIM Table 202-0411). Assumption of a dual income family with a split of 65% / 35% between partners.
Scenario 4
1 adult (female age 31 to 50), 2 children (girl age 8, boy age 14); Ontario Works
Scenario 5
1 adult (male age 31 to 50); Ontario Works.
Scenario 6
1 adult (male age 31 to 50); Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
Scenario 7
1 adult (female age 70+); income based on Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS)