More than a quarter of consumers are eating less healthily due to the cost-of-living crisis, including turning increasingly to ready meals and processed foods, a study suggests.
More than two-thirds of people (69 per cent) consider themselves to be healthy eaters but 28 per cent say they are eating less nutritious food because it is too expensive, with 19 per cent reporting that they are eating more ready meals and processed food because they are cheaper, according to the BBC Good Food Nation survey.
The poll found 17 per cent are cooking less from scratch and 16 per cent are cutting back on organic food and ingredients because of the cost.
Some 12 per cent say they are eating less protein because of the cost.
Some 28 per cent have changed their supermarket due to cost-of-living considerations.
Overall, 61 per cent say the cost of living has impacted their healthy eating habits in some way, including being more conscious of eating healthily because they cannot afford to get sick (18 per cent) and eating less healthily due to stress (15 per cent).
Christine Hayes, editor in chief of BBC Good Food, said: “The BBC Good Food Nation survey shows we consider ourselves a nation of healthy eaters and we care about what we eat.
“However, rising costs have impacted choices and compromises have had to be made with people buying more processed food and ready meals, and swapping supermarkets to save money.”
More than a third of consumers (36 per cent) said they are producing fewer leftovers now, with their reasons being to save money (59 per cent); because they are meal planning more carefully (44 per cent); and 34 per cent saying they want to reduce waste to help the planet.
The four most common foods people throw away are salad leaves (31 per cent), bread (29 per cent), fruit (24 per cent) and vegetables (23 per cent).
Censuswide surveyed 2,013 UK consumers between August 10-14.
