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Healthy Eating
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Food and Nutrition

Monitoring Food Affordability in Simcoe Muskoka

What is the Nutritious Food Basket (NFB)?

The NFB is a survey tool that measures the cost of basic healthy eating as represented by current national nutrition recommendations and average food purchasing patterns.

The foods surveyed included a variety of relatively inexpensive and widely consumed choices from Canada’s Food Guide that can be used to prepare a whole week’s worth of healthy meals and snacks.

Each year local public health dietitians and public health nurses conduct the NFB survey to determine how much it costs to purchase a basic healthy diet. The results of the NFB are used to monitor how affordable food is for individuals and families living in Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka based on various monthly income and expenses scenarios.

The results of the 2024 NFB survey continue to show, as in previous years, that many individuals and families living with lower incomes struggle to pay rent, bills, and purchase enough basic nutritious food for themselves and their families. In some cases, it is impossible.

Download the 2024 Nutritious Food Basket Infographic

Watch our Presentation – 2024 Nutritious Food Basket Survey Results (coming soon)

Visit Health Stats - 2024 Nutritious Food Basket income scenarios

 
        

The cost of the NFB is based on the average lowest cost of 61 health food items that are based on Canada’s Food Guide and found in selected grocery stores across Simcoe and Muskoka. The items do not include processed foods, special diet foods or personal items. Canada's Food Guide and the Ontario Nutritious Food Basket are not inclusive for all religious and cultural groups, and they do not acknowledge traditional Indigenous foods and food procurement practices. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit recognizes this as a limitation of data collection.

What Was the Cost of Healthy Eating Across Simcoe Muskoka in 2024?

The monthly cost of the nutritious food basket for a family of four is $1302.77

The monthly cost of the nutritious food basket for a single person is $452.83

How Much Is Left for Other Basic Needs* After Paying for Food and Rent?

Household and Income Type


 

  Percentage of Income Spent on Food or Rent 2024 Percentage of Income Spent on Food or Rent 2023 

A family of four with an Ontario Median Income 

 30%

29%

A family of four, Ontario Works

 100%

96%

A single person household (70+ years old), Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplements

 80%

76%

A single person household, Ontario Disability Support Program

177%

162%

For more information about the 2024 NFB income scenarios and results visit HealthSTATS 

*Basic needs refers to, for example, transportation, childcare, clothing, phone, personal care items etc.

When nutritious food is unaffordable and people in our community can’t make ends meet, they may cut their food budget to pay for other essential expenses. Many local families and individuals find themselves experiencing the following:

  • Worrying about running out of food
  • Eating little or no fresh vegetables, fruit, milk or meat
  • Choosing cheaper, lower quality foods that are often higher in fats, sugar and sodium.
  • Eating the same few foods for all their meals
  • Eating less food than they need
  • Going without eating so their children can eat
  • Skipping meals all together
  • Going a whole day or several days without eating

Although this seems like a problem due to the increased cost of food, it is actually a problem of not having enough money to buy food, or what is called ‘household food insecurity.’

Household food insecurity is a serious public health issue that can negatively affect the health of individuals, families, and our community as a whole.

Household food insecurity one of many markers of material deprivation that are directly linked to poverty.

Material deprivation is the lack of access to the items and activities necessary for a basic standard of living, including low income, limited assets, debt, and other indicators of social and economic disadvantage.

When income from social assistance and minimum wage jobs remains the same, but the cost of food and other basic needs continue to rise, it becomes more challenging to afford food, rent and other basic needs.

Income and policy solutions are needed to reduce poverty and household food insecurity.


Not having enough money to buy food (being food insecure) is a serious public health issue that can negatively affect the health of individuals, families, and our communities.

Household food insecurity impacts the health of children and youth

  • Children are at higher risk of household food insecurity, creating the potential for health problems that last into adulthood
  • Children living in food insecure households experience poorer physical and mental health, and youth are at increased risk of depression, social anxiety and suicide.
  • New research also shows that food-insecure adolescents face greater risk of injury.

Household food insecurity impacts the health of adults

  • Food-insecure adults experience poorer physical and mental health, including higher rates of depression, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease
  • Adults living in food-insecure households are more likely to delay, reduce, or skip prescription medication due to cost.
  • New research also shows that food-insecure adolescents face greater risk of injury.

 Household food insecurity impacts our whole community and health care system

  • Household food insecurity affects educational outcomes, as hunger and malnutrition, can impede children’s cognitive development, concentration, and academic performance.
  • Household food insecurity perpetuates a cycle of poverty, hindering economic development and reducing community productivity.
  • Household food insecurity can lead to increased social isolation and psychological distress, as individuals and families experience chronic stress and anxiety about their next meal.
  • The average health care costs of someone experiencing severe food insecurity are more than double those of people who are food-secure.
  • Because of its harmful effects on health, household food insecurity causes a large burden on an already fragile health care system.

For more information about how food insecurity impacts health and health care visit PROOF.

Reducing poverty and household food insecurity is difficult and requires a whole community approach to guide actions and find solutions. Although food banks and temporary/emergency community food programs are essential to bridge the gap for people who need food immediately, they are not designed to solve household food insecurity. Policies and programs that focus on poverty, income and employment are needed. 

There are several local groups who work on these issues.

Learn more:

To reduce poverty and household food insecurity is difficult and requires a whole community approach to guide actions and find solutions. Policies and programs that focus on poverty, income and employment are needed.

  • Learn more by visiting PROOF’s webpage
  • Talk with family, friends and community leaders to share your concerns and raise awareness about household food insecurity and income solutions.
  • Support, and vote for solutions that support adequate income and allow dignified access to food for everyone in the community.

Effective solutions include:

  • Affordable housing, public transit, and childcare

Contact us for a comprehensive list of SMDHU's policy solutions

Advocacy efforts to the provincial and federal government are needed to push for these types of changes to improve income and employment policies and programs, which can result in reduced poverty household food insecurity.

Action can be simple; all it takes is sending a letter to urge your political leaders to take action on poverty and household food insecurity. 

Use the Advocacy e-letter from Community Food Centres Canada to send the message directly to your local MP. Reach out to us if you would like a personalized, local letter that you can send to your local leaders.

Emergency food programs (also known as food charity) such as food banks, drop-in meal programs and soup kitchens may provide short-term relief for people experiencing food insecurity. Some of these programs may also offer other helpful supports and services.
For help finding a program:

Food Simcoe County – Meal Programs
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