The Cost of Eating Well

What is household food insecurity?

Household food insecurity happens when your household doesn’t have enough money for food. This is a reality for many families in the Southwestern Public Health region. In 2021-2022, 19.2% of households in our area experienced food insecurity — that’s nearly 1 in 5 households.

What causes food insecurity?

Food insecurity is caused by not having enough money to buy food. For many people living on low or unreliable incomes, basic expenses like rent, utilities, transportation, childcare, personal care items and medical costs often leave little to no money for food. As a result, individuals and families may eat less food than they need, skip meals or go an entire day or several days without eating.

How does SWPH monitor food affordability?

Every year, Southwestern Public Health monitors food affordability using the Ontario Nutritious Food Basket survey. Prices of food items are collected from grocery stores in the region to estimate the cost of eating according to national nutrition guidelines.

The cost of the food basket and the average cost of rental housing are compared to different household income scenarios. The results consistently show that many households cannot afford basic living expenses, including food.

View SWPH’s 2024 Income Scenarios to learn more.

Why does food insecurity matter?

Food insecurity affects both your physical and mental health. Without enough nutritious food:

Children and teens are more likely to experience:

• Poor overall health
• Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety

Adults are more likely to experience:

• Poor mental, physical and oral health
• Chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease
• Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and mood disorders

How can we take action to reduce food insecurity?

Food insecurity happens when people don't have enough money to buy food. Addressing this issue requires long-term solutions that help everyone afford basic living expenses.

Solutions include:

• Jobs that pay a living wage
• Social assistance rates that reflect the true cost of living
• A basic income guarantee
• Tax subsidies, exemptions and credits for households with low incomes

You can help by:

• Learning more: Read the 2023 report on food insecurity and poverty in Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas
• Spreading the word: Talk to your family and friends about household food insecurity and income solutions
• Getting involved locally: Support the Elgin St. Thomas Coalition to End Poverty
• Become a Living Wage employer: Visit the Ontario Living Wage Network for more information