Healthy eating environments

Healthy eating environments provide the conditions, opportunities and resources that support individuals, families and communities to practice healthy eating behaviours. One component of a healthy eating environment includes the affordability of healthy eating, measured as follows:

Average percentage of a reference family's after-tax income required for food according to the National Nutritious Food Basket (NNFB).

Over time, other components of healthy eating environments may be added.

The affordability of healthy eating in Canada is measured through two components: food price data and income data.

Food price data are collected by Statistics Canada and used in the food component of the Market Basket Measure (MBM). The food component is based on the National Nutritious Food Basket (NNFB). The NNFB is a survey tool used to monitor the cost and affordability of healthy eating. The 2019 national nutritious food basket includes approximately 60 nutritious foods and their quantities for individuals across various age and sex groups. The NNFB was last updated in 2019, to be consistent with the 2019 Canadian Food Guide.

Income data are measured through the Canadian Income Survey (CIS) and for the measurement of this indicator, after-tax income will be used.

The reference family used for this measure is a four-person economic family of one male and one female adult, with one girl and one boy.

Affordability of healthy eating is the percentage of the reference family's after-tax income required to purchase food, according to the NNFB, which is then averaged.

A lower percentage indicates that less of a family's income is required to purchase a basket of nutritious food, while a higher percent indicates that more of a family's income is required to purchase nutritious food.

For more background information on the MBM, please see these links:

• The proposed methodology for the 2023-base Market Basket Measure of poverty
• Dimensions of Poverty Hub update, 2023-base Market Basket Measure

Food costs and the ability to financially access nutritious foods are important determinants of food choices, diet quality and nutritional health. Moreover, higher diet quality has been associated with increased levels of health-related quality of life. Canada continues to experience inflation in food prices. Rising food prices impact all people living in Canada, making it harder for households to access nutritious foods. This is felt more significantly by some population subgroups. Monitoring affordability of healthy eating provides valuable insights into the quality of life of Canadians.

Market Basket Measure (MBM)

Canadian Income Survey (CIS)

• Data tables for this indicator will be released in Spring 2026.

For products related to healthy eating environments, including data tables, data visualizations, articles, and other product types see Analytical releases: Healthy eating environments or view all analytical releases.

• Canada's Food Guide (Health Canada)
• Food Guide Friendly (Health Canada)
• Measuring the food environment in Canada (Health Canada)