HEALTHY EATING : CASH OR INSIGHT? 

In my practice of public health nutrition I have gleaned opinions and conceptions of people as regards healthy eating. 

There's general misconception that eating right is a function of money. That one has to be rich or attain a certain level of income to eat healthy. 

I'd say no and yes.

No, because i have seen gross malnutrition in agrarian communities with arable lands and abundance of harvest. Now, in such scenarios food availability and food quality are not a challenge at all, yet there is high prevalence of malnutrition. The simple reason is dearth of knowledge,, lack of nutrition awareness. 

There are also instances of financially buoyant individuals who make wrong food choices out of low level of enlightenment as per adequate nutrition. Most times, malnutrition in this segment of the population (financially buoyant) is in the form of over nutrition (over weight and obesity) and micronutrient malnutrition. 

I will say yes, because poverty and malnutrition form a vicious cycle that even affects development. In cases of extreme poverty, malnutrition is highly prevalent, especially if there is no access to farmlands and there is  little or no involvement in agricultural practices. This is evident in refugee settings, crude oil producing communities, urban slums, areas ravished by wars and conflicts. 

Knowledge of adequate nutrition and a good source of livelihood indeed contribute immensely to healthy eating and healthy living.

Do Eat Responsibly. .