Cost of Children's Healthy vs Unhealthy Snacks Does Not Differ at Convenience Stores

Abstract

Objective This study compared the prices of unhealthy (chips) and healthy (ready-to-eat fruit) snacks that students are likely to purchase from corner stores. Methods Snacks were purchased from 325 New Jersey corner stores; chip prices were compared to fruit prices overall and by store sales volume and block group characteristics. Results Prices did not differ significantly between chips and fruit in the overall sample in which both items were available (n=104) (chips: $0.46±$0.15; fruit: $0.49±$0.19; p=0.48), or by store or block group characteristics. Neither mean fruit prices nor mean chip prices differed by store sales volume or by neighborhood characteristics. Conclusions and Implications Promoting ready-to-eat fruits in corner stores to children as a price-neutral alternative to calorically dense snacks can be a viable strategy to improve the nutritional quality of snacks commonly purchased at corner stores.

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