PARENTS in Scotland have resorted to buying their children unhealthy food due to the affordability of nutritious meals, according to research from a children’s charity.
Research from YouGov, which was commissioned by Barnardo’s Scotland, reveals that 31% of parents have had to resort to buying unhealthy food for their offspring at least once a fortnight in the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, the study also revealed that over a quarter of those polled (26%) say they have had to purchase unhealthy food once a week in the past year due the price of nutritious foods.
The charity’s poll goes on to show that 68% of parents who had to buy unhealthy food options in the past 12 months are concerned about what they feed their children.
More than one in five of parents surveyed in the research claim their child’s diet had gotten worse because of the ongoing cost-of living-crisis.
Martin Crewe, the 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.”
These findings come amid the SNP laying out new regulations for the Scottish Parliament for pupils in Primaries 6 and 7 and S1-S3 to receive free school meals if they are a recipient of the Scottish Child Payment.
The move is a bid to speed-up access to free school meals, should the motion pass in April.
Crewe used the Barnado’s findings to call for a speed up to the free school meals process: “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.”
Barnardo’s is a children’s charity which provides support to 373,200 kids, young people, parents and carers across the UK. The non-profit has over 150 services in Scotland.
