The Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) is a tool which monitors the cost of healthy eating. During the month of May, the Brant County Health Unit visits six grocery stores throughout the region for a two-week period to determine the price of 67 food items in each store. The 67 foods included in the NFB survey represent a variety of inexpensive but healthy food choices, and are used to estimate the basic cost of healthy eating.
Foods in the NFB include:
- Meat, fish, poultry, legumes, and nuts
- Bakery and cereal products
- Dairy products and eggs
- Fruit and vegetables
The NFB does not include convenience foods, snack foods, or foods purchased for religious reasons (e.g. halal) or special diets (e.g. celiac disease). Other household items, such as dish soap, toiletry items or paper towels are not included in the NFB.
The results of the NFB survey in May 2019 show the cost of healthy eating as $209.01 per week for a family of four. Low income households in Brant may have difficulty affording healthy food once paying for other essentials, such as housing.