Three in 10 adults are currently struggling to feed their household due to financial difficulties.
A study of 2,000 adults found 29 per cent admit they find it difficult to ensure there is always enough food on the table.
With a quarter (26 per cent) claiming they have never asked for help.
As a result, 59 per cent have cut back on electric and gas while 54 per cent have had to borrow money from friends and family.
And one in 10 have used a foodbank to help them get by.
The research was commissioned by Kellogg’s, which is offering schools across the UK grants of £1,000 to invest in any aspect of their breakfast clubs - including equipment, food, and learning materials.
This comes as 18 per cent of parents who participated in the poll admit their children don’t always have breakfast.
While a separate study of 745 teachers - also by the cereal maker - found 29 per cent bring food into class each day - just in case they notice a pupil hasn’t eaten.
Heather Murphy, Kellogg’s breakfast club manager, said: “As we enter the colder months, sadly many parents will be worrying about their heating and food bills.
“That’s why breakfast clubs are so important - they’re by no means the solution to financial struggles but they can at least alleviate them to a small extent.”
The study also found 70 per cent of those who’ve struggled to keep their household fed have yet to rely on the help of others or utilise any schemes like breakfast clubs.
Of those who have sent their children to breakfast clubs, 14 per cent do so every school day, 32 per cent three to four days a week, and 36 per cent one to two times.
With 55 per cent revealing their littles ones are attending them more often now than they were 12 months ago.
For 17 per cent, the reason they rely on such initiatives is stretched family budgets.
Demanding lifestyles are also factors - specifically not having enough time in the morning (16 per cent) and needing to get to work early (51 per cent).
And another 17 per cent of parents believe the food served at breakfast clubs is ‘better’ than the food they’re able to provide themselves.
Further underlining the importance of these schemes, 68 per cent said their breakfast club closing would result in them having to work less or stop altogether.
Heather Murphy added: “We are proud to have supported thousands of breakfast clubs up and down the country for 25 years.
“They contribute vastly to improving children’s school attendance and attainment, as well as alleviating hunger in some cases.
“It’s not just the children that benefit – it’s a lifeline for parents too.”
