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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2009 Sep-Oct;33(5):530-9.
doi: 10.5993/ajhb.33.5.6.

Adopting a plant-based diet minimally increased food costs in WHEL Study

Joseph A Hyder  1 , Cynthia A Thomson, Loki Natarajan, Lisa Madlensky, Minya Pu, Jennifer Emond, Sheila Kealey, Cheryl L Rock, Shirley W Flatt, John P Pierce; WHEL Study Group
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Adopting a plant-based diet minimally increased food costs in WHEL Study

Joseph A Hyder et al. Am J Health Behav. 2009 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the cost of adopting a plant-based diet.

Methods: Breast cancer survivors randomized to dietary intervention (n=1109) or comparison (n=1145) group; baseline and 12-month data on diet and grocery costs.

Results: At baseline, both groups reported similar food costs and dietary intake. At 12 months, only the intervention group changed their diet (vegetable-fruit: 6.3 to 8.9 serv/d.; fiber: 21.6 to 29.8 g/d; fat: 28.2 to 22.3% of E). The intervention change was associated with a significant increase of $1.22/ person/week (multivariate model, P=0.027).

Conclusions: A major change to a plant-based diet was associated with a minimal increase in grocery costs.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Change in food costs from baseline to month 12, by group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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