Healthonomics

As I sat down to eat my double cheeseburger with a side of chicken tenders, I wondered what made me purchase a meal I would have almost never bought before college. Sure, the meal was delicious, but after I consumed the pile of meat I knew I had to look into this matter.

Sometimes I want this on Saturday! Photo

My thought process was simple: this was the easiest, most time efficient, and cost effective meal there was. For some reason, Penn State doesn't think East Halls residents want pasta or salad on the weekend—they only want it during the work week. Hm. Well, this leaves us soulless freshman to choose between a fast food style dinner at Flipps, an outrageously expensive microwavable "healthy" meal, or a long, often cold, walk to the more sensible Redifer Commons.

Having blown my meal points last semester (I practically had to live off granola bars that I had in my room),  I ponder the costs and benefits of every purchase on my meal plan.  But why was a double cheeseburger and chicken tenders my cheapest choice? Why does it seem like eating healthy in America is so difficult?

Is my love for donuts the governments fault? Photo

As you may discover if you ever take a macroeconomics course, the government plays a large part in daily processes that we may not even notice. The New York Times explains how the government subsidizes important farm foods and crops, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, sorghum, milk and meat—some of which are found grain-based desserts like cookies and granola bars, which make up a large portion of America's calorie intake. 


Economics Online defines a subsidy as "an amount of money given directly to firms by the government to encourage production and consumption." Subsidies provide both the producer and consumer with added benefits. The producer gets more money and the consumer gets cheaper goods. By this definition we can see how the government can have a direct effect on our eating habits as a country. While cheap and abundant food can be a blessing, our over consumption of unhealthy foods is not. 

The effects of a subsidy. Photo

According to the The Journal of Nutrition, the comparative low cost of cheap foods has turned obesity into a socioeconomic issue. This is a problem that I personally could experience on a small scale with my meal points. I would much prefer to eat a healthy meal, but when the cost of a healthy option is 50-100% more money, I have economic incentive to choose the cheaper option.

What are your thoughts? Should the government change its policies? Or is it not the governments fault, but our own fault? I want to hear your thoughts!