By Dylan Bettencourt
- Households are underspending on proper nutrition by more than R1,000 a month.
- Families prioritise basic staples to avoid hunger, while protein, fruit and vegetables are reduced or dropped.
Families across South Africa are buying cheaper food to survive, but the cost is showing up in poorer nutrition and worse health outcomes.
The latest Household Affordability Index shows a growing gap between what families can afford to buy and what they need to eat properly. In December 2025, the difference between basic household food and a nutritious diet was more than R1,000 a month.
To cope, households prioritise cheap staple foods such as maize meal, rice and bread to make sure meals can still be cooked. When money runs out, families cut back on protein-rich foods, fruit and vegetables.
The report shows that families are underspending on proper nutrition by at least 17% every month. This means meals fill stomachs but do not always meet basic health and dietary needs.
Over time, this coping strategy has serious consequences. Poor nutrition weakens immune systems, increases illness, and affects children’s growth and development.
Pictured above: A family grocery shopping.
Image source: File
