Healthy food is always more expensive right? Well, according to world-renowned chef, TV star and our new cover star, Gordon Ramsay, the idea that healthy foods have to be expensive is ‘absolute bollocks’.
A major 2022 report published by The Food Foundation revealed healthy nutritious foods is nearly three times more expensive than obesogenic unhealthy products, with more health foods costing an average of £8.51 for 1,000 calories compared to just £3.25 for 1,000 calories of less healthy foods. The report, titled the Broken Plate, goes on to show that one in five households would have to spend almost half their disposable income on food to achieve the government-recommended health diet.
But talking exclusively to Men’s Health UK, the 57-year-old believes that cooking healthier food is all about knowing what to do with it, and once you do, it needn’t break the bank.
‘Healthy food doesn’t have to be bland food, healthy food doesn’t have to be expensive foods,’ says Ramsay. ‘If you look at something like a simple bean casserole from flageolet beans or haricot beans, even lentils. I lived in India for a short time living in an ashram, and I came away with some of the best healthy food recipes I’ve ever cooked in my life. A chickpea curry, chickpeas are so cheap, but you can really tart them up to the next level so yeh, healthy food is never that expensive. Trust me. It’s what you do with it.’
Ramsay’s right, of course.
Some other ways to cut the price of your supermarket shop include sourcing in-season fruit and vegetables, buying food from the reduced aisle, and incorporating tinned foods. While tinned foods often get a bad rap, they are a more financially sustainable way of purchasing food that lasts longer, thereby reducing wastage. It’s important to note that socio-economic health disparities largely determine people’s access to healthy food. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t start somewhere and find ways to include a more nutrient-dense diet. Ultra-processed foods tend to be hyper-palatable (enjoyable and easy to overeat) due to their texture, high fat, salt, and sugar content. Along with their lower price point, this can make them tempting.
Ramsay’s advice to experiment with different options, although difficult, could lead to greater fulfilment and a healthier lifestyle.
The latest issue of Men’s Health is out Tuesday, or grab a digital edition today by hitting the link, where you’ll also get exclusive video content featuring Gordon.
Robert Hicks is the multiplatform director at Men’s Health UK. A Sport Science graduate and author of three fitness books published by Bloomsbury, Robert has written numerous articles on health, fitness and nutrition and created several documentaries, most notably Britain’s Steroid Epidemic and The Faces of Attempted Suicide. Robert has been working at Men’s Health UK for seven years.
Kate is a fitness writer for Men’s Health UK where she contributes regular workouts, training tips and nutrition guides. She has a post graduate diploma in Sports Performance Nutrition and before joining Men’s Health she was a nutritionist, fitness writer and personal trainer with over 5k hours coaching on the gym floor. Kate has a keen interest in volunteering for animal shelters and when she isn’t lifting weights in her garden, she can be found walking her rescue dog.
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