Higher food prices in the United States are making it increasingly difficult for Americans to maintain a healthy diet, with nearly seven in ten adults citing cost as a significant obstacle, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. The findings resonate globally, including in Thailand, where economic pressures and changing food environments similarly influence dietary health.
The national survey, conducted in late February to early March 2025 and involving over 5,100 American adults, revealed that a staggering 90% of respondents observed price hikes in healthy foods over recent years. Most strikingly, 69% reported that these rising costs are hindering their ability to eat a nutritious diet. Those on lower or fixed incomes experienced the greatest hardships, with 47% facing particular difficulty compared to just 15% among higher-income households—a gap that highlights the stubborn link between socioeconomic status and nutritional health (CNN).
Although the research is rooted in the American context, its conclusions shed light on patterns seen in Thailand and other nations undergoing rapid economic and cultural transformation. As the United States grapples with the consequences of unhealthy eating—including rising chronic disease rates and mounting healthcare costs—core issues such as affordability, food literacy, and the lure of ultraprocessed foods have proved universal.
Dr. David Katz, a preventive and lifestyle medicine specialist and founder of the True Health Initiative, observed that while cost is a barrier, food literacy—the ability to recognise economical, healthy options—may matter even more. “Beans and lentils are stunningly nutritious, and very economical. Cooking grains are highly nutritious, and very economical,” Dr. Katz told CNN, underscoring the potential for simple dietary shifts to improve health and lower expenses. “More dishes featuring these, and fewer featuring costly animal foods, would allow for a decisive improvement in diet quality while lowering overall cost. So, too, of course, would drinking more plain water and less sugar-sweetened beverages. The impediment is not prices, but food label literacy,” Dr. Katz added (CNN).
The broader picture is troubling: over a million Americans die each year from diet-related diseases such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Experts cite an annual economic toll of an estimated $1.1 trillion due to poor eating habits, including health care costs and lost productivity (The Harvard Gazette). Objective studies found that over half of US adults fail to meet basic dietary guidelines—yet paradoxically, almost 60% surveyed by Pew believed their diet was “somewhat healthy.” As Dr. Katz noted, self-assessment is often unreliable: “We do not rely on people to ‘guesstimate’ their own blood pressure; we should not be expecting them to ‘guesstimate’ their diet quality either.”
What factors drive American eaters? Taste came out on top for 83% of those surveyed, followed by cost, healthiness, and convenience. Such preferences give ultraprocessed foods—often high in sugar, fat, salt, and additives—an edge over fresher, arguably healthier options. Ultraprocessed products now make up an estimated 71% of the US food supply (National Library of Medicine), a figure that translates into heightened risks for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, depression, and reduced life expectancy (BMJ).
Surveys show that Americans who cook and eat more meals at home tend to rate their diets as healthier than those who frequently dine out. Among those regularly eating at home, roughly one-third considered their diet to be “extremely or very healthy,” while only 12% of frequent diners felt this way (CNN). This finding echoes global evidence linking home-cooked meals to better nutrition, and has direct implications for Thai families faced with similar pressures from shifting lifestyles and busy urban schedules.
The push and pull between affordability, availability, and dietary quality is not unique to America. In Thailand, data from the National Statistical Office shows the cost of healthier, less processed foods continues to outpace general inflation, narrowing choices for low-income Thais (Bangkok Post). In Bangkok and other major cities, the rise of convenience foods and Western-style diets fuels parallel increases in non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease (World Bank). Thai health authorities have repeatedly emphasised the need for improved food literacy, echoing Dr. Katz’s call for better public understanding of cost-effective, nutritious choices such as eggs, tofu, fellow legumes, and native vegetables.
Culturally, both countries face the challenge of shifting long-held dietary preferences. In Thailand, the historic tradition of communal home cooking—marked by fresh produce, fish, and rice—has given way in many families to processed snacks, instant meals, and imported fast food. Market studies show ready-to-eat meals and convenience foods now account for a rapidly growing share of the Thai food sector (Euromonitor). Efforts to revive traditional diets, such as the Thai Health Promotion Foundation’s campaigns for school and community kitchens, centre on practical education and local food systems.
International nutrition experts continue to champion plant-based dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, for their proven role in reducing disease and extending life at any age. Dr. Frank Hu of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health stressed: “It’s never too late to adopt healthy eating patterns… People also have a lot of flexibility in terms of creating their own healthy dietary pattern, but the common principles—eating more plant-based foods and fewer servings of red meat, processed meats, added sugar and sodium—should be there, no matter what kind of diet that you want to create” (CNN).
Looking ahead, food inflation and dietary inequality are expected to persist as global supply chains remain volatile and the climate crisis impacts agricultural yields. Public health experts highlight the urgency of policy interventions, such as subsidies for fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, clearer food labels, and nutrition education in schools (WHO). In Thailand, strengthening school lunch programs and supporting urban gardening could help buffer vulnerable families against economic shocks and improve food resilience.
For Thai readers, the practical takeaway is clear: healthy eating on a budget is possible, often by revisiting affordable, traditional Thai foods—such as khao tom, mixed vegetable soups, or stir-fries largely based on local produce and modest portions of animal protein. Increasing awareness about nutritious choices, reducing reliance on expensive or heavily processed options, and prioritising home cooking—individually or communally—can have substantial health benefits even in uncertain times.
As food prices rise worldwide, the challenge is not only economic but cultural and educational. Thais can draw from their culinary heritage to make balanced, affordable meals—while also advocating for systemic improvements that make the healthy choice the easy and accessible choice for all.
Sources:
CNN: Most Americans say higher food prices are keeping them from eating healthy, new survey says
The Harvard Gazette: Poor diet tied to $1.1 trillion in U.S. health care costs
BMJ: Association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and all cause mortality
National Library of Medicine: Ultra-processed foods in the US diet
Bangkok Post: Data on food costs in Thailand
World Bank: Thailand – Health challenges and NCDs
WHO: Healthy Diet Factsheet
Euromonitor: Thailand convenience food trends