The Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) is a survey tool designed to track the cost of healthy eating in line with Canada’s Food Guide. It involves collecting the prices of a standardized list of 61 food items from a sample of large chain grocery stores that reliably offer a full range of products. The survey results, gathered in various locations such as Renfrew County and District (RCD) in May 2024, reflect the average lowest cost of each food item and the required quantities for different age and sex groups. The food list represents a week’s worth of groceries for families aiming to meet recommended nutritional guidelines.

Note: The NFB tool used to calculate the monthly cost of food assumes that people have the time, skills, and equipment to make meals from scratch. Also, the Canada Food Guide and NFB may not cover the dietary needs of all religious and cultural groups. They do not include traditional Indigenous foods and food acquisition practices. Additionally, the NFB excludes certain items like pre-packaged food, baby food, special dietary products (like gluten-free), or cleaning and personal hygiene products.

The cost of nutritious food, combined with average monthly rent, is then compared to household income from employment or social assistance. The monthly income estimates include family and tax benefits available to Ontario residents, while rent estimates are based on inflation-adjusted data from the 2021 Canadian Rental Housing Index (CRHI). However, since CRHI rental prices may be up to 70% lower than current market rates for new rentals, RCDHU advises interpreting the income scenarios with caution.

Ten income scenarios (see the table below) reflect various sources of income—such as wages or social assistance—and including eligible federal and provincial benefits like the Canada Child Benefit, Ontario Child Benefit, and GST/HST Credit. Despite these supports, many individuals and families in RCD face significant financial strain, often with little or no money left after covering rent and food costs. This demonstrates that income from minimum wage jobs and social assistance programs, including Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program, falls short of meeting basic living needs.

Each year Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) monitors food affordability and food insecurity.

• Read the 2023 report here: Food Affordability in Renfrew County and District, 2023 (Updated: May 2024)  l  Abordabilité des Aliments dans le comté et district de Renfrew en 2023
• See the infographic: Infographic: Food Affordability in Renfrew County and District, 2023   l  French Infographic: Abordabilité des Aliments dans le comté et district de Renfrew en 2023
• Food Affordability 2022 Report (English & Français)
• The Cost of Eating 2019 Report (English)
• The Cost of Eating 2018 Report (English)