Healthy food no more costly than junk food, government finds

Contrary to popular belief, many healthy foods are no more expensive than junk food, according to a large new government analysis.

 In fact, carrots, onions, pinto beans, lettuce, mashed potatoes, bananas and orange juice are all less expensive per portion than soft drinks, ice cream, chocolate candy, French fries, sweet rolls and deep-fat fried chicken patties, the report says.

"We have all heard that eating a healthy diet is expensive, and people have used that as an excuse for not eating a healthy diet, … but healthy foods do not necessarily cost more than less healthy foods," says Andrea Carlson, an economist and co-author of the report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.

"The price of potato chips is nearly twice as expensive as the price of carrots by portion size," she says.

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