Healthy Shopping Too Expensive in the Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley is the unhealthiest it has ever been. In the 2022 County Health Rankings, the obesity level of Dutchess County was 33 percent, which is up five percentage points higher than the 2012 ranking. Year after year, the obesity rates in the area keep climbing, which raises questions about whether the community is aware of the problem and trying to stay ahead of it.
To get some answers, I visited the STOP and SHOP in Hyde Park, where I spoke to 3 middle-aged adults about how often they consider shopping for healthy items that will benefit their long-term health. One lady stated that she “tries most of the time,” I then asked a man who had his cart filled with all types of sodas and snacks. Oblivious to this, I still asked, and he responded with, “I do not know if I ever consider how healthy the items are. I don’t really shop for healthy items,” turning his head to his cart as he finished his statement where my eyes followed and realized the reasoning for his answer. The final lady I interviewed focused more on my follow-up question: Can you shop for healthy grocery items in today’s economy? She answered, “It is hard; everything went so expensive, like the eggs and milk.” The two previous adults echoed that it is difficult but did not say it with the same passion or frustration as the last lady. Looking around the store, I found her frustration justified as the cost between organic and non-organic food items is often greatly differentiated. Organic strawberries vs. Non-organic strawberries had a price difference of $3. Organic pasture-raised eggs vs non-organic regular eggs possessed a price difference of around four dollars.
These seemingly minor price differences significantly impact the final amount spent at the grocery store, as you may have to sacrifice the hard-earned money you spend on quality groceries that might just last you a week. Spending a large amount on groceries is fine for those who can afford it and are willing to make the sacrifice. Still, those who opt to maintain their spending over their health will consider the cheapest option, which will put their body in a deficit in the long term.
With more studies telling the American public the dangers of our everyday food because of the ingredients within the products, it might be time for Americans to shop more health-consciously. Not everyone has the finances to afford this lifestyle. Still, we should petition the health officials and the governing body of New York to make the inexpensive food options healthy. We need to live our best lives with the best food possible.
