Food costs for vegetarian, vegan and omnivore child nutrition: is a sustainable diet feasible with Hartz IV?
- 18.10.2022
- English Articles
- Eva Hohoff
- Helena Zahn
- Stine Weder
- Morwenna Fischer
- Alfred Längler
- Andreas Michalsen
- Markus Keller
- Ute Alexy
Peer reviewed / Manuscript (original) received: 05 April 2022 / Revision accepted: 13 July 2022
Introduction
Aspects of sustainability are becoming increasingly important for dietary recommendations of professional societies in German-speaking countries [1]. A central challenge is to combine an environmentally compatible and mainly plantbased diet with affordability, even among socially disadvantaged populations [1]. However, in recent years, prices for fruit and vegetables have increased [2]. In particular for socially disadvantaged families with children, this, among other factors, can be a barrier to switching to a plant-based diet, since food choices depend not only on taste preferences but also on price [3].
For families dependent on financial support from the state, the standard rates for Unemployment Benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld-II; ALG-II) in Germany were last raised on 1 January 2022 [4]. Hence, parents have a daily budget for their child's nutrition of € 3.25 for children under six years or € 3.55 for children between 6 and 13 years and € 4.29 for adolescents [5]. In addition, the proportion of ALG-II recipients at the Tafel Deutschland e.V.1 has increased, over the last years [6]. ...
Abstract
A plant-based diet is becoming increasingly important. However, the question arises whether such a diet is affordable for socially disadvantaged families in Germany. Therefore, in the present study, the costs of a vegetarian, vegan and omnivore diet were calculated using data from three-day weighed dietary records of 390 participants (6–18 years) of the VeChi Youth study and compared with the standard rates of Arbeitslosengeld-II (ALG-II) for food. The total cost of food (€/day and €/1000 kcal) differed significantly between the diets (all p < 0.01). The vegetarian diet was associated with the lowest food costs. Costs for vegan and omnivore diets did not differ significantly. The ALG-II standard rate for food is not sufficient for the nutrition of children and adolescents, regardless of the type of diet and also despite additional subsidies for lunch in school and day-care. This is especially relevant for boys from the age of 10 onwards.
Keywords: Child Nutrition, Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable Nutrition, Unemployment, Food Costs, Health Economics
