Food Affordability

This table contains data on the average cost of a market basket of nutritious food items relative to income for female-headed households with children, for California, its regions, counties, and cities/towns. The ratio uses data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Census Bureau. The table is part of a series of indicators in the Healthy Communities Data and Indicators Project of the Office of Health Equity. An adequate, nutritious diet is a necessity at all stages of life. Inadequate diets can impair intellectual performance and have been linked to more frequent school absence and poorer educational achievement in children. Nutrition also plays a significant role in causing or preventing a number of illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, some cancers, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and anemia. At least two factors influence the affordability of food and the dietary choices of families – the cost of food and family income. The inability to afford food is a major factor in food insecurity, which has a spectrum of effects including anxiety over food sufficiency or food shortages; reduced quality or desirability of diet; and disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake. More information about the data table and a data dictionary can be found in the Attachments.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Contact Email [email protected]
Program Office of Health Equity, Healthy Places Team
Homepage URL https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OHE/Pages/HCI-Search.aspx
Temporal Coverage

2006-2010

Spatial/Geographic Coverage

California

Geographic Granularity Regional
Language English (EN)
Frequency Other
License Terms of Use
Limitations Use of this data is subject to the CHHS Terms of Use and any copyright and proprietary notices incorporated in or accompanying the individual files.
Secondary Sources

"Data source 1: Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. Official USDA Food Plans: Average U.S. Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodCost-Home.htm

Citation

Healthy Communities Data and Indicators Project, CDPH and UCSF. 2015.

Last Updated October 1, 2020, 16:05 (UTC)