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For the first time in two years, our Health Unit has calculated the cost of their Nutritious Food Basket, where they look at the cost of providing proper nutrition to families per month.
The Health Unit’s Saman Shaikh, a Registered Dietitian and Public Health Nutritionist explains what they look at.
For a family of four (Two adults, two children) living in our area the cost of providing balanced meals has hit $1,109, with rent coming in at just over $1,560. In 2019, it was $959 for food per month, and rent was just $1,114.
It gets tighter too as the average family on Ontario Works is bringing in $2,760 per month, so after rent they have just $1199 for everything else, including food, bills, gas and other necessities.
Medical Officer of Health Linna Li says food insecurity can do some damage.
The numbers show exactly why residents here and abroad are looking for affordability action by all levels of government to make things a little easier month-to-month.
You can help make a difference.
With more and more people turning to food banks, donations of non-perishable food and cash are appreciated. You can do so at many grocery stores or the food banks themselves and through initiatives like the Build a Mountain of Food campaign and CP Holiday Train.
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