A growing number of children in single-parent households are eating two meals or fewer a day during school holidays, as rising food and utility prices place additional pressure on families already struggling to make ends meet, according to a survey by Tokyo-based nonprofit Good Neighbors Japan.

The group surveyed 2,105 parents and guardians in early June, all of whom use its food bank program “Good Gohan,” which distributes free groceries to low-income single-parent households. Around 96.1% of respondents were women, and 53.5% were in their 40s. Many families said the absence of school-provided lunches during long breaks leaves them unable to cover rising food costs.

For 61.3% of respondents, household finances become “much harder” during school holidays, while 36.4% reported that things become “somewhat harder.” The most common coping mechanism at 62.9% was for parents to reduce their own food intake, with some noting that even their children had started holding back.

“I make meals only for the kids and live off their leftovers,” one parent wrote. “My oldest son is in middle school and I feel awful that he tries not to eat too much.”

Another wrote, “Last winter break, I barely ate and collapsed from stomach pain. Now I try to at least eat once a day.”

The survey also showed that the number of respondents saying that their children eat two meals or fewer a day during holidays was about 2.5 times higher than during the school term, at 32.2%. Ninety percent of respondents said it had become more difficult to prepare adequate meals compared with before recent inflation.

The sharp rise in the price of rice was frequently cited as a major concern. “Food prices are too high, at a time when they need nutrients most,” one parent wrote. “I can’t take time off to line up for discounted rice, and I’m afraid summer vegetable prices will soar too.”

Good Neighbors Japan said many households face overlapping challenges of low income, unstable employment and limited time — with roughly half of survey respondents working nonregular jobs and earning less than ¥2 million ($13,400) annually.

“This issue puts both children’s growth and parent’s health at risk,” the group said in a statement.

In response, the organization plans to expand food distribution during the upcoming summer break.