Struggling to shop healthy? You’re not alone.

By Ian Burke Perez

Many Long Islanders have been consistently shut out from organic food locations such as Whole Foods due to high prices.

Because many residents with dietary restrictions are also not in a financial position to shop at these places frequently, many are starting to fear that Long Island’s community health is suffering.

Casey Cormier, a former Whole Foods employee of Hempstead, said many shoppers are dissuaded from buying different items based on price.

“Oftentimes I’d see people putting healthy things in their carriages, then looking so defeated when they realized how expensive those things were,” said Cormier.

She said in order to shop at organic-food centered locations like Whole Foods, people need to have a disposable income, making those kinds of places unwelcoming for lower-income families.

Trader Joe’s in Garden City, just a quarter mile from Whole Foods, presents a significant contrast due to the difference in price. According to Wedbush Securities analysts, Whole Foods is about 19% more expensive than stores like Trader Joe’s.

Wedbush’s group of analysts also concluded that a typical shopping trip of $245 at Wegmans supermarket turns into $300 when the same items are translated to Whole Foods prices. Many Long Island- ers with dietary restrictions and allergies who would otherwise benefit from Whole Foods’ expansive selection of unprocessed foods struggle to find the foods they need as a result.

Shoppers like Kathleen Demino, of Seaford, say shopping at places like Whole Foods seems ideal, but not always practical. “I steer clear of stores like Whole Foods because I want the most bang for my buck,” said Demino. “I try to eat as healthy as possible, but cost is always a factor.”

Demino referred to the deterioration of the community health due to this issue, as many shoppers forgo the healthiest options in exchange for the flexibility to buy more cheaper items.

“Certainly people not having access to healthier foods probably has an effect on the obesity rate,” said Demino. “People choosing unhealthier options because of their finances can definitely drag down their physical health.”

Shopper Kevin Dolan, of Uniondale, also avoids Whole Foods, largely due to the high prices. According to a study done by FinanceBuzz, 65% of Americans say the cost of healthy foods has frequently deterred them from shopping healthier.

“When people in a community can’t buy healthy foods, the people’s health definitely deteriorates,” Dolan said. “The prices getting a little better would definitely be stimulating to the community health.”

We reached out to Whole Foods for a comment but did not hear back.