For years it has been assumed that richer households consume more nourishing food than those from poorer backgrounds.
But a recent survey has shown that those living in low earning housholds do not have a poorer diet than those more well off.
The survey conducted by the Food Standards Agency found that poor eating choices were more widespread than first thought affecting many wealthy families.
Over a 15 month period 3,728 adults and children took part in the study, the Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey.
The volunteers filled out food diaries for four totally randon 24 hour periods as well as having their physical measurements taken and giving blood samples.
Rosemary Hignett, head of nutrition at the FSA said: "The encouraging news from this research is that the gap between the diets of people on low incomes and those of the rest of the population is not as big as some feared.
"It is also positive that most people in this group say they feel confident about their cooking skills, have reasonable kitchen facilities and access to large supermarkets.
"However, the bad news is that this group - like the general population - are not eating as healthily as they could be."
Across the board people are not eating enough fruit and vegetables and oily fish but eating too much sugar and saturated fat.
Poorer families were eating slightly more sugar and less fruit and vegetables.