A Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) is a survey tool that is a measure of the cost of basic healthy eating. In May 2011, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health surveyed seven grocery stores to determine what it costs for healthy food in this area. This year the weekly cost of food for the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph area was calculated to be $180.92/week.

Last week the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport released the 2011 Ontario provincial average for the NFB for different age and gender groups and a reference family of four. Provincial averages were calculated by using the average weekly cost of the food basket from all 36 boards of health. The provincial average for the 2011 NFB for a reference family of four is $177.83/week, representing a 5% increase from 2010.

To see a list of the weekly cost of a NFB by boards of health, click HERE.

For more information about the NFB and how it is calculated, click HERE.