Can We Eat Better Spending Less? Economy and Priorities in the Shopping Basket

A healthy diet is essential to good health. The quality of food depends on food choices which are largely conditioned by the price, availability, culture, preferences, social environment and the level of training responsible for the acquisition and preparation of food, among others.   The increase in food prices, the strong economic crisis suffered in recent years and therefore the high level of unemployment have resulted, among other things, in a reduction in the budget for food in Spanish families. Some studies link the reduction of food expenditure with a lower nutritional quality diet, as well as with weight gain and an increased risk of cardio metabolic complications. The following article proposes a number of strategies to “eat well” (healthy, accessible and sustainable) by changing the shopping cart without increasing the budget, prioritizing the acquisition of plant-based foods and “star foods” (better nutritional value/ price) following the pattern of the traditional Mediterranean diet.