The nation’s eating habits are changing as the price of everyday items continue to soar, with the cost of a typical kid’s packed lunch rising by as much as 70% and families eating less oven-cooked meals to save on energy.
According to research by Starling Bank, the price of cheese has more than doubled since 2021 and is now £1.25 more expensive.
Other items such as bread, crisps, yoghurt and apples have also seen significant price hikes, with all having passed the £1 mark within the last year.
Of the items surveyed, tomatoes saw the most substantial price increase at 146% more expensive than in 2021 and for an entire packed lunch which cost £6.99 last year, the same items now total to £11.87.
As parents look for cheaper alternatives with 20% looking for money off or yellow ‘reduced’ stickers on food when shopping, according to BBC Good Food’s annual survey, many UK households have also changed how they eat to offset inflationary pressures.
With many Brits already struggling to pay their energy bills, the study found that a fifth no longer switch on their oven and the microwave has become increasingly popular with 21% of participants.
As such, a quarter of cooks have said they are less likely to prepare a Sunday roast, while takeaways are also on the decline, with 34% less likely to buy one in a bid to save money.
Homemade sweet treats are also on the decline with 20% of the 2,005 adults and 1,007 children surveyed saying they no longer bake as many cakes or biscuits.
“These findings reveal the extent to which rising food prices and energy costs have impacted on the way the nation eats in a relatively short space of time,” BBC Good Food editor-in-chief, Christine Hayes said.
“Traditional cooking methods, the oven and the hob, are being switched off in favour of appliances that use less energy, and shopping baskets and mealtimes at home are looking very different.”
