Parents buying unhealthy food because they cannot afford healthy meals, survey finds

Almost a third (31%) of parents surveyed in Scotland have revealed that they have bought unhealthy food for their children at least once a fortnight because they cannot afford healthy meals.

Research from pollsters YouGov, commissioned by Barnardo’s Scotland, reveals that 31% of parents of children aged 18 or under are having to make such purchases to feed their families every fortnight, while over a quarter of those polled (26%) say they have had to do so at least once a week in the past 12 months.

The poll also highlighted the fact that 68% of parents who had to buy unhealthy food options in the past 12 months because they couldn’t afford healthy meals are worried about what they feed their children. More than one in five (21%) of parents surveyed said their child’s diet had gotten worse because of the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Martin Crewe, director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “We know that parents are making big sacrifices so their children have the best food they can afford. However, they are coming up against high food costs and find nutritious food unaffordable. Families in poverty find it harder to buy, cook and eat good food, which can have a major impact on children’s health.”

In Falkirk, Barnardo’s Scotland runs the Equally Safe Service, a feature of which is a participation group called ‘Women Unite’ which meets once a month as well as taking part in additional activities within the local area.

More often than not, conversation in the participation group turns to the issue of the cost-of-living crisis.

One mum said: “Most of our money is spent on food, and there is no money left over for other essentials.”

The group all agreed that they would like to buy better-quality foodstuffs such as fresh meat and other fresh produce, and even though they are aware of the low nutritional value, all spoke of buying “low-quality meat, ready meals, freezer food and supermarket own brands” due to financial pressures.

Several of the mums admitted to skipping meals so that their children could be fed, but they said that a lack of food left them feeling “drained, tired and frustrated”. One mum said: “The cost of living situation is shocking, and it’s forcing low-income families into making poor choices.”

The YouGov polling features in a new Barnardo’s report – Nourishing the Future – which highlights growing evidence that far too many children and young people are missing out on nutritious food with a major impact on their health.

Recommendations from the report to the governments in each UK nation include measures to increase the value of healthy shopping vouchers given to families with young children living on the lowest budgets, making school lunches free for all primary school children, with an immediate extension to all families receiving Universal Credit, strengthening the rules on the quality of meals that schools can provide and using the proceeds of any future taxes on sugar or salt to reduce food insecurity.

Martin Crewe added: “Barnardo’s would like to see access to school meals be further expanded as soon as possible to all P6s and P7s – children can’t learn on an empty stomach, and we know that poverty can be a huge barrier to accessing education.

“The Scottish Government should also ensure that the Good Food Nation Plan fully addresses child health inequalities as part of its approach to child food poverty. It should proactively consult children, young people and families to make sure that their views and experiences are represented in the Plan.

“Analysis by experts has shown that we must move further and faster if we are to meet the child poverty targets. That’s why we’ve consistently asked the Scottish Government to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £30 per week on a route to £40.”

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Both Brexit and the UK cost of living crisis have had an impact on food insecurity. That is why we have prioritised tackling child poverty as part of the 2025-26 Scottish Budget and are taking direct action through social security including the Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Foods Grant.

“Free school meals are a crucial element of our ambition to eradicate child poverty, and the provision is currently available to over 273,000 pupils across Scotland, saving families who take up the offer around £400 per child per year. We will continue to work with COSLA and local authorities on the latest phases of the free school meals programme to all pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment in Primaries 6 to 7 and S1-S3 in eight local authority areas.”