Enhancing the Estimation of Cost And Affordability of The Recommended Diet: A Malaysian Case Study Using S-Mhei and Monte Carlo Simulation

Food insecurity continues to be a pressing issue around the world, with serious effects on people’s health, livelihoods, and overall well-being. In Malaysia, many households still face challenges in accessing a healthy and affordable diet. This study addresses this concern by introducing a more practical way to assess diet quality and estimate the cost of eating well, using two key tools: the Standardized Malaysian Healthy Eating Index (S MHEI) and Monte Carlo simulation. The research begins with a review of Malaysia’s dietary guidelines and nutrition standards. Based on this, the S-MHEI is developed using the least restrictive method, incorporating an energy density approach to enhance its flexibility and applicability. The index is then tested on both healthy and unhealthy menus to ensure it reliably reflects how closely Malaysian diets adhere to healthy eating recommendations. To estimate how much it costs to eat healthily in Malaysia, prices of 138 essential food items were collected from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs. Monte Carlo simulation was then used to generate 10,000 different food combinations that achieve a perfect diet quality score according to the S-MHEI. This method makes it possible to estimate the Cost of Recommended Diet (CoRD) in a way that reflects real-life food choices and price variations. The findings show that while the S-MHEI can clearly tell the difference between good and poor diets, the cost of following a recommended diet is still a concern for many Malaysians especially those living on minimum wage. These households can only afford the cheapest version of a healthy diet, with very little room for variety. Meanwhile, households with slightly higher incomes within the B40 group have more flexibility and better chances of meeting their nutritional needs. By combining the SMHEI and Monte Carlo simulation, this study offers a more realistic and adaptable way to measure diet quality and affordability. It provides valuable insights for policymakers, nutritionists, and researchers seeking to improve food security and support healthier eating habits in Malaysia.