Eating smart is getting expensive.

chris0912

A study published in the journal Health Affairs (August 2011) found that following USDA dietary guidelines for healthy eating will give your wallet wicked indigestion.

While our food system is great at delivering sheer calories to the masses, it falls well short when it comes to supplying the specific nutrients everyone needs. In fact, the researchers say that it doesn't even produce enough fruits and vegetables to supply every American with the recommended minimum daily number of servings of these essentials. Put another way, there aren't enough whole foods to go around.

According to the study, meeting the government's recommendation for potassium alone costs an extra $380 per year. Getting enough fiber and vitamin D adds another $255. But for every 1% increase in calories obtained from saturated fat, food costs drop 28 cents, and for each 1% increase in calories gotten from sugar, you'll save seven cents. All of which helps at least partially explain why way too many people are eating junk, getting fat, and falling ill. It's a lot cheaper -- at least in the budgetary short term.