Toronto 
Ottawa Public Health has released a study on food insecurity that details how much money families in the Ottawa region need to spend to eat healthy in a month.
The study finds that to eat healthy by including healthy food from the Nutritious Food Basket, a single person needs around $392 and an average family of four (two adults 31 to 50, a boy aged 14 and a girl aged 7) needs around $1088 per month.
Nutritious Food Basket contains a variety of healthy foods from Canada’s new food guide. Ottawa Public Health says the cost was calculated “using the average lowest cost of 61 food items and their quantities needed for individuals in various age and sex groups.”
Nutritious Food Basket does not include non-food items, personal care items, foods needed for special diets, processed/convenience foods and food from restaurants etc.
| Group | Age | Weekly cost of the NFB | Monthly cost of the NFB (weekly cost X 4.33) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | 2 to 13 | $39.42 to $58.03 | $170.69 to $251.27 |
| Males | 14 to 70 | $66.30 to $79.93 | $287.08 to $346.10 |
| Males | Over 70 | $62.06 | $268.72 |
| Girls | 2 to 13 | $39.42 to $57.31 | $170.69 to $248.15 |
| Females | 14 to 70 | $56.39 to $62.51 | $244.17 to $$270.67 |
| Females | Over 70 | $54.06 | $234.08 |
Table Credit: Ottawa Public Health/ Note: An individual is living alone, an additional 20 per cent is added to the costs of the NFB to account for added expenses.
As per Ottawa Public Health, a person relying on social assistance like Ontario Works will require an extra $588 for necessities like utilities, clothing and transit and will need to choose between paying for expenses like rent and utilities, transportation, and groceries.
A detailed report is given here.
