A recent study from AHS regarding the Cost of Healthy Eating in Alberta has learned there is a link between household food insecurity and poor health.

A presentation was made this morning at the Dawe Centre in Red Deer, where it was noted, not only do low-income household struggles with proper eating habits, but having a chronic disease drives up monthly costs, which means food becomes low-priority.

Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance Community Facilitator and Social Planner with the City of Red Deer Dianna Souveny said it’s critical to have as much data as possible.

“We can’t measure change without data. This is really good background information for people we often talk about on food security, but this allows us to actually take action on food security and what it actually looks like for the residents of Red Deer and the citizens we work with.”

The study also found homeless youth and adults; recent immigrants and refugees are all included in those with high risk of Household Food Insecurity in Alberta.

CAPRA will be using the research to help find solutions regarding household food security, something Souveny said is extremely important.

“We need to make sure if we are giving people a basic income, it’s enough to meet their needs. CAPRA advocates the whole living wage program and that allows people to have enough to live a dignified life and to be able to afford adequate food.”

The survey had 65,000 respondents across the province and featured 10 adult reference items along with eight child reference items.

Questions were based on food-related behaviours, experiences and conditions related to worry, quality, and quantity.

The estimated cost of feeding a family of four in Red Deer is just over $1,000, which is the lowest in the country.

The full report can be viewed on the AHS website.