Suppose you have $10 to feed your family for breakfast, a scenario that numerous people in America have to consider.

Many are more inclined towards picking junk food instead of healthy choices.

Although a healthier option seems more tempting, the doughnuts are cheaper and provide far more calories to suffice one's appetite.

Source: Why eating healthy is so expensive in America / Vox / Youtube

There is a strong correlation between unhealthy food and cheaper costs due to farmers' economic incentive to grow certain crops. Fresh produce does not receive the same government subsidization that crops like corn receive, thus encouraging farmers to grow more corn since they know they will have a fixed income.

Food destined for preservation is often handled by machines, whereas humans control fresh produce. Because of this, the cost of fresh crops is more expensive since human labor costs more than machine work.

"The seasons dictate our availability, and I have noticed a stark increase with meat prices because of COVID. Lots of people will go hungry, and it is a difficult problem to solve as a few individuals," said Lunardi's employee Joe Smith.

Not only are food prices increasing, but also regulating their prices is challenging. Since food prices are dependent on season, farmers grow less of certain crops during certain times of the year, thus decreasing their supply, while the demand remains the same. Not only will this increase the cost of food, but it will cause produce to be unavailable for less economically fortunate families, who would then have less access to foods since wealthier individuals will buy the product first. This significantly impacts individuals who live in a food desert: areas with limited access to healthy foods.

According to a Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) study, the researchers found that the least healthy diets cost about $1.50 less than the most nutritional diet. This study compares the prices and diet patterns of more nutritious foods to the less healthy ones. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish cost more than unhealthy diets that contain processed foods. For more impoverished communities, there is an economic incentive to buy cheaper foods so they can prioritize their other needs because they are saving money.

Additionally, the health effects of living with an inadequate diet are evident. A study published by The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that one-third of food insecure adults are obese, and that food insecurity is associated with obesity. Since obesity impacts the poorest individuals within America the worst, they are unable to have their medical necessities entirely met. This exacerbates people's conditions, making illnesses like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes far more deadly. Not only does this hinder the quality of life, but it has also managed to make heart disease become America's number one killer.

"I worry about the rising cost of food. Many are facing hardship and unemployment as a result of the pandemic. I also worry about workers in the food industry - agricultural workers who may be most vulnerable for the pandemic," said Addison Gaitán, a 9th Grade English and AVID teacher at Carlmont High School.

Gaitán recognizes the importance of maintaining healthy workers to continue providing labor amidst a pandemic. As many families continue remaining at home, the demand for food, especially raw meat, has gone up, forcing many workers to stay at their jobs.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the work environment for many of these laborers consists of hazardous encounters, whether it be to continuous exposure to pesticides, zoological diseases, dangerous tools, etc.

Not only is the work environment dangerous, but workers typically work overtime and are not provided health benefits from their employers. Due to this, laborers have their energy drained during an average year but are now working even harder to meet the consumers' growing demand.

Many agricultural workers are out and unable to work, with many becoming sick and having no health insurance due to a low paying job, thus driving the cost of many goods up. For families who struggle with incomes, this is equally as damaging since many are now unemployed and cannot purchase healthier foods to supplement a balanced diet.

"People often say that healthier foods are more expensive and that such costs strongly limit better diet habits," said Mayuree Rao, a researcher in the Department of Epidemiology at HSPH. "...evidence for this idea has not been systematically evaluated, nor have the actual differences in cost been characterized."

The studies asserted that unhealthier diets might cost less because consumer policies have concentrated on producing low-cost, high-volume goods. These studies lead to a more complex network of agricultural, storage, distribution, refining, manufacturing, and marketing capabilities that benefit sales of highly produced food products to help from the industry. Researchers claimed that creating a comparable foundation to support the manufacturing of healthier foods could increase accessibility and lower the costs of better nutritious diets.

"Food scarcity is a huge obstacle. My husband has helped to run a food distribution since late April, and demand has been high in Half Moon Bay where I live," Gaitàn said.

Food shortages have far-reaching consequences in the long and short term, including poverty, starvation, increased mortality, and political instability. Resolving the impact of food shortages should be dealt with urgently, utilizing both immediate and long-term initiatives.

Communities throughout the Bay Area are collectively standing together by establishing food distributions and assisting those in need. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food distribution programs strengthen the nutrition safety net through the issuance of USDA Foods and other nutrition assistance to children, low-income families, emergency feeding programs, and the elderly.

"Thanks to a lot of our local supermarkets and generous donors, it [the rise of food prices] has not hindered us, and we see a surplus of donations," said Rosa Ramirez, a Milpitas Food Bank employee.

The majority of food thrown out is usually edible and can be given to families in need, thus prompting the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to start an initiative to conserve food. By creating the "Food Recovery Hierarchy," the EPA made feeding food-insecure families one of their main priorities. This helps families struggling with the massive rise in food prices by ensuring that individuals or groups of people are well-fed and do not have to worry about necessities.

Healthier people enable the growth of stronger communities because people now are provided with the fuel/energy needed to continue their work and be productive members of society. Additionally, by preventing food from being thrown out, money is saved since the labor required to produce these crops is not wasted. This is especially crucial in a capitalistic environment where labor determines some of the cost of a product.

"I think we are making a considerable impact. I feel that we provide families and homeless, healthy meals," said Ramirez.