Although it has been widely thought that healthy foods are more expensive than less healthy options, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently published a study that contests this long-held belief. By setting different standards of comparison, USDA said healthier options, including dairy foods, appear to be more affordable than less nutritious choices, such as soft drinks. The report, "Are Healthy Foods Really More Expensive? It Depends on How You Measure the Price," was released earlier this month. It compares the cost of foods per average portion and per 100 grams of edible food or beverage and per prepared amount, in addition to the traditional comparison of cost of foods per calorie. When compared on a “per calorie” basis, fruits and vegetables are relatively expensive compared to other energy-dense products. However, when compared on the edible basis or on average portion consumed, the healthier products, including dairy, are cheaper options. While USDA categorized many dairy products as healthier choices, some products, including ice cream and full-fat cheeses, fell in the category of less healthy foods. USDA referred to these products in the study as “moderation foods.” When lower-fat dairy products are analyzed for relative expense, they fall in the middle range of cost per calorie, but they are relatively inexpensive when considered on an edible-amount or average-portion basis. Since one portion of dairy provides a number of important nutrients for a relatively low cost, dairy products are a nutritional best buy. This is especially important for federal nutrition products, such as school meals, and for consumers who are looking to provide a healthy diet for their families while staying on a budget. Do you pair messages about the nutritional benefits of dairy and the dollar value provided by dairy products?