Anna Taylor, the executive director of the Food Foundation, said parents were being “set up to fail”.
“Trying to feed children well, particularly on low incomes, is like a high-wire act.”
The Food Foundation is calling on the government to incentivise businesses to make healthy food more affordable.
“This is a moment in time, the government could really learn from the mistakes of the past and create incentives to produce nutritious food at affordable prices,” Ms Taylor told the .
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said the report highlighted issues that would be addressed in the government’s proposed National Food Strategy.
“We cannot do this alone, which is why we are working with those across the food sector, utilising their expertise, to transform the industry for good,” he said.