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How food prices, restaurant access, and location are changing what Americans put on their plates

February 5, 2026

• Where you live plays a major role in how much it costs to eat healthy, with annual costs ranging from just over $13,000 to nearly $19,000 per person in the most expensive states.
  

• High prices arent the only barrier to healthy eating limited access to restaurants and fresh food options can make it harder to maintain a balanced diet, even if youre willing to spend more.
  

• Rising supply-chain and transportation costs are pushing fresh food prices higher, but smart swaps like frozen vegetables, legumes, and store brands can help stretch your grocery budget.
  
  

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Eating healthy sounds simple enough: more fruits and vegetables, fewer processed foods, balanced meals at home, and the occasional nutritious night out. But in reality, where you live can make that goal far more expensive and in some states, it can feel almost out of reach.

A new January 2026 report from BLogic Systems takes a closer look at what it actually costs to maintain a healthy diet across the U.S., factoring in both grocery shopping and dining out.

And its not just about price tags. In places like Alaska, a lack of restaurants that meet basic healthy nutrition standards limits choices just as much as high food costs.

Ultimately, these factors influence where people shop, how often they cook at home, and how frequently they eat out.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with a BLogic Systems expert, who broke down how economic pressure is changing what healthy eating looks like in America today.

Where is healthy eating the most expensive?

To calculate which states are the most expensive for following a healthy diet, experts explored the economic impact of eating out at restaurants and eating at home.

In terms of eating out, the research focused on the price range of restaurants that offer meals meeting predefined nutritional criteria for balanced, minimally processed, and low-added-sugar profiles. Eating at home was calculated by using state-level grocery price data from the USDA and national food expenditure surveys.

Based on that, heres a look at the top 10 states where its most expensive to eat healthy:

• Hawaii
  

  • Annual healthy eating costs per individual: $14.5K
    

  • Estimated annual healthy eating out costs per person: $4.0K
    

  • Total cost to eat healthy: $18.5K
    

• New York
  

  • Annual healthy eating costs per individual: $12.2K
    

  • Estimated annual healthy eating out costs per person: $2.9K
    

  • Total cost to eat healthy: $15.1K
    

• Massachusetts
  

  • Annual healthy eating costs per individual: $11.6K
    

  • Estimated annual healthy eating out costs per person: $3.4K
    

  • Total cost to eat healthy: $15.0K
    

• Alaska
  

  • Annual healthy eating costs per individual: $12.0K
    

  • Estimated annual healthy eating out costs per person: $2.8K
    

  • Total cost to eat healthy: $14.8K
    

• California
  

  • Annual healthy eating costs per individual: $10.7K
    

  • Estimated annual healthy eating out costs per person: $3.1K
    

  • Total cost to eat healthy: $13.8K
    

• Connecticut
  

  • Annual healthy eating costs per individual: $11.0K
    

  • Estimated annual healthy eating out costs per person: $2.6K
    

  • Total cost to eat healthy: $13.6K
    

• Wyoming
  

  • Annual healthy eating costs per individual: $11.2K
    

  • Estimated annual healthy eating out costs per person: $2.1K
    

  • Total cost to eat healthy: $13.3K
    

• Vermont
  

  • Annual healthy eating costs per individual: $10.7K
    

  • Estimated annual healthy eating out costs per person: $2.6K
    

  • Total cost to eat healthy: $13.2K
    

• New Jersey
  

  • Annual healthy eating costs per individual: $10.6K
    

  • Estimated annual healthy eating out costs per person: $2.6K
    

  • Total cost to eat healthy: $13.2K
    

What drives up the cost of healthy food?

According to BLogic Systems, there are a few factors that come into play:

• "Freshness Tax": Unlike shelf-stable ultra-processed foods, fresh produce, lean meats, and dairy require cold-chain logistics (refrigeration) and frequent restocking. This adds a massive overhead that processed foods simply don't have.
  

• Supply Chain Volatility: In 2026, were seeing specific spikes in categories like beef and veal (up over 9%) and fresh vegetables.
  

  • The Global Cold Chain Market is growing at a 13.6% CAGR through 2026. These energy-intensive transport costs are passed directly to the consumer. For Hawaii, where 90% of food is imported, this creates the $14.5K "at-home" cost we see in our data.
    

• The Production Gap: Fixed costs for supplying fresh fruits and vegetables remain about 40% higher than for grains or sugars used in processed snacks. Essentially, it's cheaper to make a calorie-dense cracker than it is to get a fresh bell pepper to a shelf in a high-cost area.
  

Making the most of your money

If you find yourself in one of the most expensive states to eat healthy, there are some ways to stretch your budget. BLogic Systems offered some advice for consumers:

• Frozen vegetables are nutritionally equivalent to fresh, but significantly cheaper and won't rot in your crisper drawer.
  

• Legumes, brown rice, and oats are the "inflation-proof" options.
  

  • For example, dried lentils provide roughly 20g of protein per $0.25 serving, meanwhile lean beef in New York currently averages $1.15 for the same protein content.
    

• The 50% Rule: Aim for half the plate to be vegetables (even canned ones with no added salt) and 25% to be an affordable protein like eggs or beans.
  

• In 2026, the quality gap between name-brand "health" foods and generic store brands is virtually nonexistent. Whenever you can, choose the store-brand.
  

His four-part plan should have loyal (and disgruntled) shoppers optimistic

February 5, 2026

• 
  New Target CEO Michael Fiddelke is doubling down on trendy, affordable products and stronger private labels to compete on value without losing Targets signature look.
  
• 
  Expect cleaner aisles, fewer out-of-stocks, faster Drive Up, and more open checkout lanes at busy times.
  
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  Smarter inventory systems and more investment in workers aim to reduce order issues and make in-store help easier to find.
  

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Target just handed the top job to longtime exec Michael Fiddelke, and his first message was clear. The retailer has real work to do to rebuild trust after a rocky year of boycotts, policy backlash, and sluggish sales.

Fiddelke officially took over Feb. 1 from Brian Cornell, who moves into an executive chair role. Now the focus is a four-part turnaround plan aimed at getting shoppers excited about Target again.

1. Expect better deals + stylishdesign

Fiddelke says Target will double down on what originally made it stand out, which is stylish products at affordable prices.

What that means for you:

• More emphasis on trendy but budget-friendly home, apparel, and seasonal lines.
• Possible refresh of private-label brands (where Target makes higher profit margins).
• Look for a push to compete with Walmart on value without looking cheap.

If Target can do this right, expect to see more Pinterest board-ready displays that made Tar-zhay famous in the first place.

Couple this with more competitive prices, especially in home dcor and clothing, and Target will be definitely be heading in the right direction.

2. Stores are about to get more attention

Target admits that their in-store experience hasnt felt as good or inspiring as it used to. Thats now become a priority of the new CEO.

The changes we should see:

• Cleaner, less cluttered aisles
• Better in-stock rates (fewer empty shelves)
• Faster Drive Up and order pickup
• More staffed checkout lanes at peak times

Translation: Expect less friction and fewer in-store annoyances like out-of-stocks and messy shelves. This could be a nice change if youve felt like Target runs have gotten more stressful lately.

3. More tech is coming (for better or worse)

This doesnt mean theyll be selling more TVs and laptops, but rather introducing more technologybehind the scenesto make shopping frictionless.

What that could mean:

• Smarter inventory systems, so items actually show as available when they are (and vice versa).
• Faster fulfillment for in-store and curbside pickup, along with quicker online delivery.
• More app-based personalization and offers.

The biggest upside for shoppers would be fewer canceled orders and a faster customer service response.

The downside is potentially more data tracking tied to your shopping behavior via the Target app.

4. Investment in workers and communities

Fiddelke has a long history in operations and human resources at Target and has supported higher pay and benefits in the past.

This part of the plan could include:

• Continued wage and training investments
• More focus on local community engagement
• Efforts to stabilize staffing issues in stores

For shoppers, that should translate to friendlier employees who are less overwhelmed.

It will be interesting to see if the new CEO keeps their unofficial 10-4 policy, which trained employees to smile or wave within 10 feet of a customer, and ask if they need help within fourfeet.

Why this reset is happening now

Target has been dealing with falling sales and brand backlash since early 2025, including controversy over social policies and store-level incidents involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

On top of that, shoppers have complained about high prices, lack of inventory, and overall store conditions.

Retail analysts say Targets brand is still strong, especially if the company fixes the basics like value, reliability, and a welcoming in-store feel.

In many ways, 2026 is shaping up to be a make-or-break year for Targets reputation, and your shopping experience will be the real test.