The NAFB is a tool developed by Alima to estimate the cost of a basic balanced grocery basket that covers the nutritional needs of the Quebec population.
It tracks changes in the cost of a healthy and low-cost food basket accross different communities, and can be used as an advocacy tool to promote access to healthy eating.
The cost of the NAFB is calculated from grocery store price surveys.
The NAFB consists of a list of foods with quantities adjusted for different age and gender groups. Its contents are periodically revised to reflect current dietary recommendations and changes in eating habits.
Alima conducts these price surveys four times a year to monitor the cost of food in the Montreal area.
The contents of the basket meet specific nutritional objectives based on the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) and Canada’s Food Guide.
The NAFB is conceived to be affordable by relying on economical foods and promoting home cooking.
Discussion groups were held in several Quebec regions to gain a better understanding of Quebecers’ consumption habits and develop a basket that reflects their reality.
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Alima can support NAFB cost calculations in several regions each year. An online platform and tools are available for food security stakeholders to monitor the cost of a healthy diet in their area.
To learn more, watch our latest webinar (french only).
For more information or to discuss a collaboration, contact our team at ppne@centrealima.ca.
In the 1930s, Alima developed an initial list of low-cost foods and a recipe book based on these foods. These tools were used by Alima employees during their nutritional consultations. This initial list of nutritious, low-cost foods is also how the food baskets got their start in Canada.
The first Nutritious and Affordable Food Basket (NAFB) was developed in the 1950s. Over the years, successive updates were made to adjust the basket to dietary recommendations and the population’s eating habits.
Since then, Alima has been monitoring the price of NAFB in Montreal. Several health regions in Quebec use Alima and its NAFB to assess the cost of food in their communities.
In 2021, the basket was updated to correspond to the current reality of lost-cost healthy eating. Its name changed to the Nutritious and Affordable Food Basket (NAFB):
Its contents were revised to match the 2019 Canada’s Food Guide recommendations and Quebecers’ eating habits.
The price survey methodology was revamped.
An online platform was created to make the tool more accessible to various food security stakeholders.