Parents are anticipating a significant increase in expenses over the summer holidays, with new research suggesting that feeding children during the six-week break could cost over £2,500 extra. The average weekly grocery bill, typically around £171 during term time, is projected to rise to £376 per week as children consume more snacks and meals at home.
This surge in spending is attributed to children's increased frequency of eating, with a study of 2,000 parents revealing that youngsters open the refrigerator an average of nine times daily during holidays. The research, commissioned by snack brand Once Upon a Farm, found that many parents believe their children already eat more than they do, and the constant requests for food add to the pressure.
The rapid consumption of snacks means that items such as multipacks of crisps can last only 16 hours, while sweets and boxes of brownies are consumed within half a day or 15 hours, respectively. Even mini cheeses and packs of ham reportedly disappear within a day.
Beyond the sheer volume of food consumed, parents also express concerns about the nutritional quality of children's diets during the holidays. More than a third of parents report being asked for food approximately eight times a day, and over two-thirds worry about their children's eating habits. Fifteen percent of parents find it challenging to encourage healthy eating, with some noting that their children refuse to eat vegetables. The traditional family meal routine is also reported to break down for more than a quarter of families, leading to skipped dinners and reduced home cooking.
Nutritionist Sophie Trotman, who assisted with the study, noted that children are naturally more active and social during the summer, leading to increased food consideration. She highlighted that while convenient options are abundant, they are not always the freshest or highest quality. Trotman also mentioned a growing parental awareness of ultra-processed foods and a desire for more balanced and trustworthy options, especially during busy summer periods.
A spokesperson for Once Upon a Farm acknowledged parental concerns about junk food consumption but emphasized that healthy snacks can still be appealing. The company suggests that by offering options parents feel good about, snack times can be more beneficial for families.