Let's analyze the cost differences between the current lunch and the healthier lunch item by item.
1. Main Course:
- Current Lunch: \[tex]$1.15
- Healthier Lunch: \$[/tex]1.85
- Difference: \[tex]$1.85 - \$[/tex]1.15 = \[tex]$0.70
2. Side Dish:
- Current Lunch: \$[/tex]0.30
- Healthier Lunch: \[tex]$0.90
- Difference: \$[/tex]0.90 - \[tex]$0.30 = \$[/tex]0.60
3. Dessert:
- Current Lunch: \[tex]$0.30
- Healthier Lunch: \$[/tex]0.10
- Difference: \[tex]$0.10 - \$[/tex]0.30 = -\[tex]$0.20
4. Beverage:
- Current Lunch: \$[/tex]0.30
- Healthier Lunch: \[tex]$0.05
- Difference: \$[/tex]0.05 - \[tex]$0.30 = -\$[/tex]0.25
Total Difference:
Summing up all the differences:
- [tex]\(0.70 (main \, course) + 0.60 (side \, dish) - 0.20 (dessert) - 0.25 (beverage) = 0.85\)[/tex]
The total cost difference between the healthier lunch and the current lunch is \$0.85, making the healthier lunch more expensive by this amount.
Explanation Analysis:
- The healthier lunch does not cost more to reduce childhood obesity directly, but the measures taken to offer healthier options could indirectly contribute towards this goal.
- The beverage cost in the healthier lunch actually went down, so this is not the reason for the increased cost.
- The dessert cost also decreased in the healthier lunch, ruling out the explanation that it costs more because its dessert is more expensive.
Given the detailed look at the costs, the most likely explanation for the increased cost of the healthier lunch is:
The healthier lunch is more expensive because it uses better-quality ingredients. This statement aligns with the analysis showing an overall increase in the cost primarily due to the rise in the cost of the main course and the side dish, suggesting a quality improvement in these components.
Correct answer: The healthier lunch is more expensive because it uses better-quality ingredients.
