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While one school of thought holds that the government should take responsibility for subsidising fruits and vegetables, making these kinds of healthy food more affordable, others argue that unhealthy food should be taxed. In my opinion, I believe that a collaborative approach, where the government provides healthy food and taxes unhealthy ones, is the most effective strategy.

On the one hand, subsidising fruits and vegetables can offer many beneficial advantages. This is based on the fact that expensive prices of healthy food are usually the biggest barrier for citizens, leading them to not buy fresh vegetables. Instead, they usually consume fast food because of the convenience and cheaper prices. If the government subsidises, people will automatically change their eating habits by consuming healthier food. For example, the policymakers can provide discounts for all agricultural products at all supermarkets and markets, so many families can afford to buy fresh food and cook them. As a result, people’s well-being can be improved, the percentage of obesity can be reduced and the healthcare system can be put under less pressure in the long run.

On the other hand, levying strict taxes on unhealthy food such as fast food or sweet cake can have some positive effects. Taxes can act as a financial deterrent for consumers because they can discourage people from purchasing unhealthy food. More specifically, the government can force food manufactures to reformulate their products such as reducing the amount of sugar or they will be imposed a heavier tax. For instance, the authorities can levy tax on milk tea, leading to teenagers, who are addicted to milk tea, fast food despite the lack of financial independence, being curb the demand for these kinds of food. Therefore, this method can alter consumer’s behaviour, generate significant tax revenue and reinvest into public healthcare campaigns.

In conclusion, in my opinion, the most effective way to encourage people to consume more healthy fruits and vegetables is combining these methods. More specifically, the government should spend the tax revenue to subsidise fresh food. This can create a self-sufficient economic cycle that does not result in a state budget deficit.