Millions of empty nesters have unhealthier diet than ever before - because their children have left home

After years of eating a healthy, balanced diet to cater for their children, home-alone parents are now instead turning to ready meals and snacks to get them through the day.

More than half (six in 10) admit to skipping breakfast at least once a week while almost eight in 10 have a day a week where they don’t eat lunch.

Sixty-two per cent of those polled by Seven Seas also admitted regularly ditching a full meal in favour of a piece of toast, packet of crisps or even just a cup of tea or coffee.

And almost one in 10 never sit down to a home-cooked meal, with one in twenty only making an effort to cook something when they have visitors.