Diet costs were calculated as per the methods of the Healthy Diets ASAP protocol [17 (link)], where the collected food and drink prices were applied to the 75 representative food and drinks. The mean and standard error of intake for household members in SEGs were calculated using survey weights with the Stata statistical program [26 ]. The mean and standard error of intakes for a household in an SEG was calculated assuming the independence of intakes of household members. Fixed-effects meta-regression models were used to perform a test for the linear trend of intakes across SEGs. p-values ≤ 0.05 were considered significant.
The cost of the recommended diet was calculated using the recommended diet pricing tool of the Healthy Diets ASAP protocol [17 (link)]. As healthy, equitable, and more sustainable dietary recommendations are generally similar for all Australians, the recommended diet cost was the same for each SEG.
The affordability of both habitual and recommended diets was calculated for each SEG using the calculated quintile income ranges. Diet costs were deemed unaffordable if they were 30% or more of the household disposable income [17 (link)]. If 25–29%, the household was considered to be in food stress [27 (link)].
The cost of the recommended diet was calculated using the recommended diet pricing tool of the Healthy Diets ASAP protocol [17 (link)]. As healthy, equitable, and more sustainable dietary recommendations are generally similar for all Australians, the recommended diet cost was the same for each SEG.
The affordability of both habitual and recommended diets was calculated for each SEG using the calculated quintile income ranges. Diet costs were deemed unaffordable if they were 30% or more of the household disposable income [17 (link)]. If 25–29%, the household was considered to be in food stress [27 (link)].
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