It's cheap, but is it any good for you?
Experts remind us to maintain a healthy diet during the cost of living crisis
Is cheap food nutritious? Expert warns of the importance of getting a balanced diet on a budget
As food prices continue to rise, supermarkets are offering cheap (or even free) meals for children to help out parents.
Many families who are struggling have been using these schemes to cut back on costs, as well as receiving emergency food parcels from volunteer-run food banks.
But Dr Kirstie `Lawton, an AfN and BANT registered nutritionist based in Oakham, said cheaper food items aren’t always as healthy.
“While it’s important that children are eating, it’s really about what they’re eating - making sure they’re getting an energy-dense diet and a nutrient-packed diet.
“What we would really want to see is more whole-food options or just healthier options going out in food banks.
“We’re doing a disservice to children and parents in the UK. If you are a parent and you have a hungry child and you have a pound, are you going to buy a Greggs’ steak bake or an apple?”
Dr Lawton, who has worked as a nutritionist for over 20 years and now works at You Nutrition, said it is possible to eat a balanced diet on a low budget.
“It comes down to understanding. A tin of sardines is next-to-nothing in the supermarket. Tinned wild salmon is the best version you can get for the nutrients.
“Beans and pulses are a very cheap food, a very versatile food.
“You can look for the wonky veg that they tend to sell at a much lower cost.”