Words by Katie Bowen
Nearly half of Welsh exercisers are skipping breakfast before working out, but for some, running on empty is not a choice, it is a reality. The figure, revealed in new research from Flora, comes as charities warn that food insecurity continues to affect communities across Wales.
Feeding Britain, which works with communities across the UK to tackle food insecurity, says many people are struggling to afford and access nutritious food consistently.
Anna Lopez from Feeding Britain explains that food insecurity is not just about hunger, but uncertainty. “It’s about the inability to reliably afford healthy, nutritious food, and not always knowing when your next meal is coming,” she says.
She adds that for many, the issue is as much psychological as it is financial, with people worrying about whether they can afford to eat.
Tackling Food Insecurity on the Ground
The charity works with a network of more than 140 partners across the UK, including projects in Aberystwyth and Merthyr Tydfil, to provide affordable, nutritious food within communities.
Initiatives range from food clubs, where people can access groceries at lower prices, to holiday programmes that ensure children receive meals outside of term time.
One of the charity’s key partners is Flora, which has supported initiatives aimed at improving access to affordable, nutritious food. As part of this work, the brand has also brought its Food Tour to Cardiff, offering free samples and simple recipe ideas to encourage better everyday eating habits.
“Flora’s donation has allowed us to provide between 20,000 and 25,000 meals,” Lopez says. “It also means we can offer more places on our holiday programmes for children.”
Support from high-profile figures has also helped raise awareness of the issue. Tilly Ramsay recently took on the London Marathon in support of Feeding Britain, alongside backing from her father, Gordon Ramsay.
Lopez says the support has helped bring wider attention to the charity’s work, encouraging more people to engage with the issue.
Fuel, Fitness and Confusion Around Nutrition
While access to food remains a key issue, experts say understanding how to properly fuel the body is also important.
Sport and exercise specialist Dr. Amos Ogunkoya says many people are navigating conflicting advice when it comes to nutrition.
“For anyone trying to keep fit, there is so much food-related information out there, it is hard to know how to structure your routine. Many people rely on guesswork when it comes to fuelling exercise,” he says.
He highlights three common pitfalls: training under-fuelled, relying on quick sugar fixes, and mistiming nutrition.
“Energy drinks and sugary snacks might give a short-term boost, but they are often followed by a dip in energy,” he adds.
As Wales continues to embrace fitness and wellbeing, the challenge remains ensuring people are not starting on empty. For some, that means improving how they fuel exercise, but for others, it is about having reliable access to food in the first place.
To learn more about the work of Feeding Britain and how to get involved, visit their website here.
