A healthy dietary pattern depends on a well-functioning food system, comprising the food supply chain, food environment, consumer behavior, and external drivers. These interconnected components influence dietary choices and health outcomes. Economic conditions—both macro and micro—play a critical role in shaping food availability, affordability, and consumption.

This descriptive study examines the caloric price of various food items across countries with different income levels and evaluates the distribution of healthy diets based on national income classifications. Findings show that dark leafy greens have high caloric prices in all countries, regardless of income level, limiting their accessibility. Processed red meat is also consistently expensive. Globally, about 32% of the population cannot afford a healthy diet. This rate reaches 72.1% (896 million people) in Sub-Saharan Africa, while only 4.3% (16.7 million people) in North America face this issue. Asia has the largest number of people lacking access to healthy nutrition—over one billion. In Iran, as of 2024, 15.8% of the population was unable to afford a healthy diet, with food accounting for 28% of household expenditures and per capita food spending at $449.

To promote equitable nutrition, access to healthy food must be improved. At the macro level, agricultural, trade, and market policies should be reformed to increase supply and reduce prices. At the household level, targeted subsidies, nutrition education, and promotion of home-cooked meals are essential to improve access and dietary behavior.