the goverment is talking about obesity, maybe they should make healthy food cheaper.?

Question

There is alot of obesity in this country I think its because that junk food is cheaper than healthy food, and everything has gone up to much in this country, so people are probably going for the cheaper option, which is the junk food. So why doesn't the goverment think about it that way

Answer 1

Unfortunately, we have a free market in this country, and the government doesn't set the prices.

There are states that do not charge sales tax on groceries, but do tax pop, chips, etc. That's pretty much the only leverage the government has, in addition to farm subsidies that keeps the price of produce down.

Answer 2

Junk food is high in preservatives and lasts forever, while healthy food is perishable. A lot of healthy food has to be thrown out because it spoils on the shelves or before it reaches the shelves. This, plus the need for refrigerated transport/warehouses further increases cost. It's not a conspiracy, it's just an unfortunate truth. Healthy food can be cheaper when it is in season and local. That's just a small window.

Answer 3

absolutely!!!!!!

A couple of months ago I decided to clean up my act and start eating better. I started making my own lunch and having good meals thinking this would save money. I rarely eat out either for takeaway or in a restaurant any more.

Thing is it costs me a hell of a lot more. The fruit and veg and healthier alternatives are sooooooo much more expensive. Instead of bananas or fruit it would cost much less to buy crisps and chocolate. Instead of fresh ingredients to make pasta dishes or curry type food or anything like that, the ready meals are cheaper.

Its crazy and I dont understand why. Fruit and veg especially should be so much cheaper and more of it coz it runs off the shelves so fast and isnt replaced


grrrrr im an angry healthy eater

Answer 4

the reason why junk food is so popular is because of convenience rather than cost. Also people are used to eating junk so their taste buds cannot deal with 'real food'. However i do think that the government should be doing more to tackle obesity for example limiting the number of places than can sell junk food, and promoting healthy eating rather than allowing fast food places on every street corner!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Junk food is cheaper in most cases because of subsidies and favorable tax treatment for growers of such things as sugar, wheat, and corn, cheap grazing rights, cheap state and federal irrigation water, and so on. So rather than making good food cheaper, a big step would be to stop subsidizing mega-growers.

That said, healthy food can be had relatively cheaply if you're willing to shop and cook smartly.

Answer 6

I agree with you plus they are saying that kids are getting fatter and that they need to do more PE at school my son is lucky if he gets to do PE once aweek ..so far this week it has been cancelled 3 times... they are also not allowed to play simple games like had during break time in case they knock someone over , no football,skipping,or just throwing aball to each other in case it hits another child... and even yesterday they were not allowed to play out side until the snow was gritted ... just in case a kid got hurt by a snow ball or fell in the snow and got hurt... for god sake they are children what better play than in the snow something that nature has given us... parents and teachers need to stop wrap the kids in cotton wool and let them have a life..... sorry think i went abit of your question but it all links together

Answer 7

The problem with obesity in this country especially where children are concerned is the governments need to make our streets and parks safe where children can play out and not sit in front of the computer or PlayStation's children dont play out anymore .

Answer 8

kids do not have the ability to over eat of their own accord so parents should be held responsible . if a parent thinks they might end up in jail because they give their cherished little 23 stone darling £10 a day school dinner money perhaps they might not not give it .

schools should send parents a receipt for meals and deny kids going out to shops during school hours !

it may sound harsh but parents are already held responsible if their kids get up to mischief out on the streets , something parents can't possibly hope to prevent so why not just apply some common sense .

with regards to junk food it doesn't exist , eating excessive amounts and lack of exercise causes obesity .

Answer 9

Totally agree with you and why don't they sack Prescott while they are doing something about food pricing, he's hardly a good anti-obesity role model is he? He's also a vile immoral thug! Good question mate, you should get a petition up.

Answer 10

I totally agree with you on this. it's also people being lazy and the unhealthy food is generally something you can stick in a microwave and zap it, or something you can grab from a macdonalds drive through! convenience food! however i would be more encouraged to eat healthily if the cost of healthy stuff was cheaper, i.e. fruit and veg etc.

I'm currently dieting and it's costing me so much more money to eat things that are good for me.

:D