This article presents research findings that support adding ‘affordable healthy diet’ as an indicator in the ‘Long and healthy life’ dimension of the Human Development Index (HDI). The article also aims to link the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture) with the HDI, by showing the importance of food and nutrition security in human development. A quantitative analysis is used, including econometric and statistical methods, to establish the relationship and the statistical significance of affordable healthy diet in the HDI. The study aims to be the first to integrate food and nutrition security in the assessment of human development, using testable and established statistical methods to improve governance, regulation, social protection and formalisation of the informal sector.