Replacing fats and sweets with vegetables and fruits--a question of cost

Abstract

Objectives: We examined the association between diet quality and estimated diet costs.

Methods: Freely chosen diets of 837 French adults were assessed by a dietary history method. Mean national food prices for 57 foods were used to estimate diet costs.

Results: Diets high in fat, sugar, and grains were associated with lower diet costs after adjustment for energy intakes, gender, and age. For most levels of energy intake, each additional 100 g of fats and sweets was associated with a 0.05-0.40 per day reduction in diet costs. In contrast, each additional 100 g of fruit and vegetables was associated with a 0.18-0.29 per day increase in diet costs.

Conclusions: Diets high in fats and sweets represent a low-cost option to the consumer, whereas the recommended "prudent" diets cost more.

FIGURE 1—

Relationship between food energy density (MJ/kg) and energy costs (€/MJ), as plotted on a log scale. Note. MJ = megajoules.

FIGURE 2—

Relationship between fats and sweets consumption (g/day) and diet costs (€/day). Note. Regression lines are for each quintile of energy intake. Open circles denote lowest quintile.

FIGURE 3—

Relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption (g/day) and diet costs (€/day). Note. Regression lines are for each quintile of energy intake. Open circles denote lowest quintile.