What's your favorite poverty meal that you still eat regardless of where you are financially?

[Akira-R]

Kraft boxed Mac n Cheese. I will eat that til the day i die.

Sometimes i get fancy and add spicy spam to it.

While i never really was in a position of 'poverty'. When i was living alone for a while, I'd make cheap meals and have the leftovers for a week straight. I didn't spend much on food as my standards were pretty low.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

Thai style egg over rice.

Get a medium pan of oil really hot, scramble two eggs with soy sauce (or fish sauce). Make sure to get the eggs really scrambled. Put the eggs in the hot oil and cook it fast, only flipping once. When done, lay it on top of a plate of rice and put some siracha on top.

That got me through my brokest days in college and I still love to eat it.

Just made this for breakfast (or is it lunch right now? fkn COVID WFH). Still great.

 

[lefty]

I still love turkey necks, and the best part is that the foodie crowd hasn’t discovered them yet, so they’re still dirt cheap. I’m still pissed off at how much oxtail costs these days. Oxtail used to be awesome poverty food.

What a FANTASTIC Thread!!!!

Wannabe-

I feel you 100% on the Oxtails. I don't eat them myself, but I started making them for the Wife and She LOVES it!! I was shocked at the cost/lb!! When I was a kid they were "Poor Peoples Food".

My favorite Poverty Food is Kraft Mac and Cheese. I literally used to eat it EVERYDAY!!!!!

Now I have a box about once every month, or so. It's very comforting.

 

[Eldritch]

Sugar Toast
Corn Fritters
Oatmeal and Toast
.25 Cent bag of Doritos and Nacho Cheese

And last but not least.....TANGWICHES

 

[two wheel tramp]

I have a portfolio account and I enjoy a PB&J every week or so.

A good PB&J is a beautiful thing.

 

[Bay Arean]

Its hilarious that so many are on the macncheez plus wagon.

Mine was bascially using burger, sauteed onions and Italian seasonings with Annie's Mac-n-cheez for my kids. Before Costco and Annies, was Golden Grain box. I grew up anti-Kraft probably because of all those Rice-A-Roni commercials and detesting Miracle Whip.

I never really felt poor growing up but when I compare notes to now, I realize that eating mustard and mayo sandwiches was because my mom didn't have enough money until payday to have lunchmeat or cheez. I actually liked 'em. My elevation into middle class means there is always some kind of coldcut, cheez or even a can of tuna if I want a sammie. I am grateful. Between that and a non-leaking roof, I feel kinda rich.

PS. I had a teacher in HS that grew up in Philly area. She out-poored me on mustard and mayo with just bread and goose grease. Then, when I went to Germany to see my boy, I discovered it's a thing, schmaltz on bread!

 

[Eldritch]

Its hilarious that so many are on the macncheez plus wagon.

Mine was bascially using burger, sauteed onions and Italian seasonings with Annie's Mac-n-cheez for my kids.

I never really felt poor growing up but when I compare notes to now, I realize that eating mustard and mayo sandwiches was because my mom didn't have enough money until payday to have lunchmeat or cheez. I actually liked 'em. My elevation into middle class means there is always some kind of coldcut, cheez or even a can of tuna if I want a sammie. I am grateful.

It is weird to me that you think of, "burger, sauteed onions and Italian seasonings with Annie's Mac-n-cheez," as poverty food.

Aside from all of your actual ingredients, Annie's is like twice what Kraft costs. Nothing about that meal says poverty to me. It is just a meal.

 

[Bay Arean]

It is weird to me that you think of, "burger, sauteed onions and Italian seasonings with Annie's Mac-n-cheez," as poverty food.

Aside from all of your actual ingredients, Annie's is like twice what Kraft costs. Nothing about that meal says poverty to me. It is just a meal.

Well, it's a continuation from the much cheaper Golden Grain version. But sure, we could afford the burger and Costco offering by the time I had my boys but it was pretty cheap considering I got the burger from the slaughter steer from my dad.. i guess its more aesthetically lower class than financially. But thanks for pickin on me and not every other seven people who posted mac-n-cheez combos.

When I see macncheese in a restaurant now, I think it's ridiculous.

 

[Eldritch]

Well, it's a continuation from the much cheaper Golden Grain version. But sure, we could afford the burger and Costco offering by the time I had my boys. i guess its more aesthetically lower class than financially.

Exactly. Annie's is rich people Mac. Obviously, dehydrated food in a box is always a little trailer, but that ain't broke ass food.

 

[Blankpage]

I’ve never mixed peanut butter and jam but I do like kraft m&c ever once in a while. Years ago I discovered a knockoff that was better but can’t recall the brand or name.

 

[bojangle]

Chunky peanut butter right out of the jar.

My office staple.. grab a spoon and smoosh into mouth.

Yes! I've often staved off hunger with a spoon of peanut butter. Chunky is better. Skippy Natural Chunky is my go to.

 

[Bay Arean]

Exactly. Annie's is rich people Mac. Obviously, dehydrated food in a box is always a little trailer, but that ain't broke ass food.

No, like I said I am grateful now.

We had a guy at my job that use to eat a can of rock-bottom canned sardines in the lunchroom. Nothin else. Just the fish. The Karens complained so he doesn't get to now. As a part-timer, I know it's all he can afford.

 

[Bay Arean]

Yes! I've often staved off hunger with a spoon of peanut butter. Chunky is better. Skippy Natural Chunky is my go to.

Oh man, that's rich people food. Brand name and "natural." Sorry, had to share the pain.

 

[Eldritch]

No, like I said I am grateful now.

We had a guy at my job that use to eat a can of rock-bottom canned sardines in the lunchroom. Nothin else. Just the fish. The Karens complained so he doesn't get to now. As a part-timer, I know it's all he can afford.

That is a shame, but there is poverty food that is less stank.

Was he a pirate from Madagascar?

Oh man, that's rich people food. Brand name and "natural." Sorry, had to share the pain.

YES. The PB on the can with the plain white label.

 

[Bay Arean]

YES. The PB on the can with the plain white label.

Generic labels like that are just inadvertently hilarious. Because we ain't the Soviet Union.

 

[Mike95060]

Trader Joe's Crunchy peanut butter is $1.99/jar and is my FAVORITE PB.

 

[Bay Arean]

Trader Joe's Crunchy peanut butter is $1.99/jar and is my FAVORITE PB.

Since MS. BA retired and now does all the food shopping, I lost "control" of price choices. The retail price of rich people pb not on sale is like more than $4 a jar. It's amazing. Mayo too. Who knew it would ever get so frickin' high?

I actually deigned to go into a Target with food section to get a better price on rich people PB when I was doin the shopping. I HATE fuckin Target. And places like GrossOut don't have the rich people brands, I think.

 

[WoodsChick]

Oh man, that's rich people food. Brand name and "natural." Sorry, had to share the pain.

Nicely done.


We used to eat mayonnaise and pickle sandwiches and grilled peanut butter sandwiches if we had bread. If not we'd do the peanut butter on the spoon thing. For dinner we ate a lot of tuna casserole as tuna was really cheap back then. Not so much now. We just used tuna, cream of mushroom soup, water and noodles. I still love tuna casserole, but now I can afford the celery, onion, fresh peas, milk and sour cream, and I buy those big bags of French fried onions at Costco for the top. Super comfort food!

 

[Blankpage]

I gave up on peanut butter. Got annoying having to mix the separated oil on the top. Although leaving it sit upside down for a few days helps.

 

[Bay Arean]

Nicely done.


We used to eat mayonnaise and pickle sandwiches and grilled peanut butter sandwiches if we had bread. If not we'd do the peanut butter on the spoon thing. For dinner we ate a lot of tuna casserole as tuna was really cheap back then. Not so much now. We just used tuna, cream of mushroom soup, water and noodles. I still love tuna casserole, but now I can afford the celery, onion, fresh peas, milk and sour cream, and I buy those big bags of French fried onions at Costco for the top. Super comfort food!

It's really true that certain items have gotten way more expensive (like I said above, both PB and Mayo were once cheaper). I could swear that breakfast cereal was once cheap but maybe I'm wrong. It's the most marked-up thing you can buy now. Good thing I don't eat cereal at all for b-fast, having learned of what a scam it ever was.