Do Affluent People Really Eat Better than People That Are Poor?

The unexpected truth about the diets of the rich and poor

Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash

Have you ever heard the saying, “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a healthy diet”?

It’s a common belief that affluent people can eat healthier than poor people because they can afford to buy more expensive, high-quality foods or because they have the time and resources to prepare elaborate, nutritious meals.

But is this true?

We will explore the complex relationship between income and diet and consider the many factors influencing what we eat.

We’ll also look at the potential consequences of this relationship for individuals and society as a whole and discuss what we can do to promote health equity for all.

The myth of the “health halo”

One of the reasons that many believe affluent people eat better than poor people is the concept of the “health halo.”

This refers to the tendency to view certain foods or habits as inherently healthy, regardless of their nutritional value or impact on our bodies.

For example, someone with a health halo might assume that a smoothie made with expensive, organic ingredients is…