How much should a Colombian invest per month to eat well?

In 2022, 28% of Colombian households reduced their diet. In other words, in the last 12 months, they had to reduce the quantity and quality of food consumed at least once.

Along the same lines, according to the Food Insecurity Experience Scale presented by the National Administrative Department of Statistics (Dane) and the FAO, in 4.9% of households in Colombia at least one person was left without eating throughout the year. day, due to lack of money and other resources.

(Read more: The impacts of hunger on the country’s economy)

These results allow us to observe the relationship that exists between the persistence of poverty and the situation of hunger in the country.

According to data on monetary poverty recorded by Dane, 19.6 million people have a per capita income of $354,031 or less, while 6.1 million have an income of less than $161,099.

Considering that the minimum wage is located at 1,160,000 pesos, a large part of the population does not earn enough to have a healthy diet.

Feeding

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According to the healthy eating guidelines of the Colombian Institute of Family Well-being (ICBF), a balanced meal should include in different proportions: cereals, roots or tubers; fruits and vegetables; milk and milk products; meat, eggs or dried legumes; fats and sugars. All this complemented with physical activity and water.

In this sense, the ICBF indicates that, on average, in 2023 the cost of a healthy diet per month costs $643,390 per person.

(See: 28% of Colombian households decreased their diet in 2022)

If an analysis is made by age group, the value for those under 2 to 5 years of age is $375,094; for boys and girls from 6 to 9 years old is $464,997; and for those who are between 10 and 13 years old the cost amounts to $630,295 monthly.

On the other hand, for men between the ages of 14 and 17, the price of a healthy plate per month is $884,868; while for women in the same age range it is $666,094.

As regards male adults between the ages of 18 and 59, the cost is $833,919. In the case of women the figure remains at $666,094.

Similarly, a healthy diet for those over 60 represents an expense of $625,759 a month.

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