Suppose Cole decides to eat the cupcakes. Which result would be a cost?

 - Cole will give up the chance to eat the crackers. The crackers would have been healthier than the cupcakes.
 - Cole will get to eat the cupcakes. Cole thinks cupcakes will taste better than crackers would have.
This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Cole wants or needs:
Cole will give up the chance to eat the crackers. The crackers would have been healthier than the cupcakes.