A YouGov survey commissioned by the British Nutrition Foundation has revealed that the cost of living crisis is impacting nutrient intake as consumers adapt their shopping and eating habits to navigate rising grocery prices.
The online survey sampled 2004 UK adults between 18-19 May 2023 and showed that 32% of Brits are concerned they are not consuming enough nutrients due to squeezed household budgets.
The figures revealed that 68% of people have changed their weekly shopping patterns due to rising living costs, while 26% expressed concerns over ‘being able to afford enough fruit and vegetables to ensure their family eats well’ – 17% have reduced the amount of fresh produce they buy, 22% have cut back on fresh fish and 13% are scaling back their dairy consumption.
The survey was commissioned by the British Nutrition Foundation to support its Healthy Eating Week initiative – an annual event running between 12-16 June which provides ‘free evidence-led, age-appropriate resources to support healthy eating for every budget’.
The theme for Healthy Eating Week 2023 is ‘For Everyone’ due to the Foundation’s belief that ‘everyone should have access to the knowledge and resources that support a healthy, balanced diet’.
We believe everyone should have access to information … about eating healthily
As part of the event the Foundation is offering ‘easy-to-implement’ tips which can nudge consumers towards a healthy and sustainable diet. The resources are designed to be used in schools and workplaces and are based on five core elements: focus on fibre; get at least ‘five a day’; vary your protein; stay hydrated; and reduce food waste.
Inspiration sheets featuring practical ideas and easy recipes are among the resources, along with webinars, information posters and suggested activities for schoolchildren.
Elaine Hindal, chief executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, comments: “Having a healthy diet is essential for wellbeing and plays a key role in children’s growth and development. We believe everyone should have access to information that can help them make informed decisions about eating healthily. With our free resources, we are sharing tips and ideas that can be easily implemented – even with busy lives and in the context of cost of living pressures. The ideas are simple and easy but using them consistently can make a big difference in our diets and lifestyle.”
