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New Year, New You! But not for millions of working families

January 2026

Christmas is often a time for overindulgence. So, for many the New Year is all about the new you, and January is the month to make healthier choices and try to eat better. But many working parents say providing a healthy diet for themselves and their children is too expensive.

In a survey by The Felix Project of 4,000 working families across the UK, two-thirds (66%) say providing healthy balanced meals and snacks is more expensive than providing convenience foods such as ready-made meals, ultra-processed foods like chicken nuggets and chips, and premade sauces or takeaways. This is around 4.9M working parents, with 27%, or around 2M, saying it’s a lot more expensive. 

The survey also revealed that over half (52%) are worried the food they can afford to buy is not very healthy. This goes up to 58% for those on incomes between £25,001-£35K. For those between £15,001-£25K it rises to 64%.

The Felix Project is one of the UK’s largest food redistribution charities; it recently merged with FareShare and now works across the UK, rescuing food that would otherwise have gone to waste and getting it to organisations that are helping to feed people who are going hungry.

In 2025, fresh fruit and vegetables accounted for nearly half of the food distributed in London—a move that has been well-received by the families served. One of those organisations is Rotherhithe Community Kitchen. Each week they receive an average of 690kg of food from The Felix Project Deptford depot. They also get extra food during the holidays, including this Christmas. The food helps them feed around 500 people. Vimal Pandya is the founder and says: “The people who come through our doors are wonderfully diverse, some are in work, some are pensioners, some receive benefits, all united by a desire to eat well and feel supported within their community. People often tell me how much they value access to fresh, healthy food. Having fruit and vegetables available locally makes a real difference to daily life, confidence and wellbeing. It encourages home cooking, shared meals and healthier routines for families of all ages. Through our partnership with The Felix Project, families are able to take home good-quality produce and create balanced meals without additional financial pressure. I see the impact every week, parents enjoying cooking again, children exploring new foods, and people feeling stronger, more positive and hopeful.”

Maria is one of RCK’s food beneficiaries; she adds, “I work part-time and have four children, and even though I’m working, it is still very hard to afford healthy food. Fresh fruit and vegetables are so expensive now, and many weeks I have to choose between bills and proper meals. Rotherhithe Community Kitchen has been a lifeline for my family. Because of their support, my children can eat fresh, healthy food and keep good eating habits. It gives me peace of mind knowing they are nourished, and it makes me feel supported, not judged.”

One of the charity's supporters is chef Melissa Hemsley, who is an advocate for trying to eat as much natural food as possible, she said: “I can understand why so many people are worried and think buying healthy food is more expensive.  Sadly, processed and premade foods are quick and convenient, and when so many people are not only struggling financially but are also time poor, it is much easier to buy these types of food. But I believe cooking does not have to be complicated or expensive, and even adding one extra vegetable to a dish can add much-needed nutrients. I am delighted The Felix Project gives out so much fresh and healthy food and would encourage people to use it as much as they can.”