What are your go to poverty meals?

[Uncounted1846]

I recently ran out of unemployment benefits so I'm in extreme penny pinching mode. What are some of your fav cheap meals to make at home?

I've always got eggs and oatmeal on hand as a last minute meal in a pinch. but I'm bored with them.

 

[yotaka]

I know it's cliche poor-people food, but beans (and peas, lentils, chickpeas, etc.) have a great nutrition-to-cost ratio

 

[i_am_done]

In college I made a lot of lentil stew, black bean sweet potato chili, and simple curries with curry powder and coconut milk

 

[K14~♡]

Unhealthy but other than eggs, I'll just settle for instant noodles and bread ToT

 

[Pluto]

 

[PainThreshold]

I don't understand canned food being poverty food, aren't instant noodles cheaper than those? From where i live atleast.

 

[Forveleth]

PB&J. I buy the massive jars of peanut butter that last me forever and the cheap jelly.

 

[_Gollum_]

I'm surprised you mentioned eggs, they're quite expensive where I live! I usually buy tofu for protein.

Roasted or mashed potatoes is another good one, where I live I can get a bag of 10lbs/4.5kg for $1.99.

There are a lot of suggestions on r/EatCheapAndHealthy btw

I know it's cliche poor-people food, but beans (and peas, lentils, chickpeas, etc.) have a great nutrition-to-cost ratio

Pearled barley is also slept on!

 

[ElTopo]

Legumes and rice are incredibly cheap and healthy too!
can also pair with bread and oil instead of rice.
Peas with tuna and pasta (I guess pasta isn't that cheap in other countries but still!)

Eggs with a cheap cheese (you just need a little to make it tastier), it's kinda fat leaning but it's good for energy, can pair with any vegetables too, onions, carrots etc...

 

[ikiruNObungaku]

I recently ran out of unemployment benefits so I'm in extreme penny pinching mode. What are some of your fav cheap meals to make at home?

I've always got eggs and oatmeal on hand as a last minute meal in a pinch. but I'm bored with them.

Chazuke is very good and cheap. Also poached egg over rice and bacon. Recently I learned how to make a very cheap but amazing chicken salad recipe, and its very easy to make a bunch of it to last a long time.

If I'm too lazy to cook, I eat plain bread straight from the bag. If there is no food, eat chia seeds because they expand in the stomach and make you feel full when you aren't.

 

[CatLvr]

Ramen and a soft boiled egg. Oatmeal was also a staple. My kid swears if he EVER seen a bean of any kind, or cornbread, ever again it will be too soon so I guess we ate that a lot more than I realized. Lol But to be fair, I always had fresh tomatoes, green onions and jalapeno peppers outta of the little garden I had out on the balcony of our apartment to toss in them.

 

[GIGN.Officiel]

I recently ran out of unemployment benefits so I'm in extreme penny pinching mode. What are some of your fav cheap meals to make at home?

I've always got eggs and oatmeal on hand as a last minute meal in a pinch. but I'm bored with them.

Pasta with butter and a light hot sauce. Also cornmeal is really good for breakfast if you're sick of oatmeal, just throw some butter or sugar on that bad boy.

 

[narval]

This is sad... But where i live, the cheapest beer is cheaper than coca cola/pepsi... And cheaper than some water bottles. 2 or 3 beers (good ammount of calories) + bread + cheap ham (or whathever) I find and I can have lunch with less than 3€ and having some bread leftover.

Not healthy but saves the day.

 

[FadingSnowFake]

Peanuts have been a lifer to me. Cheap and filling. Also mung been porridge can work well for cooking, add a bit of coconut palm sugar for a slightly sweet and yummy taste if available.

 

[Uncounted1846]

I'm surprised you mentioned eggs, they're quite expensive where I live! I usually buy tofu for protein.

Roasted or mashed potatoes is another good one, where I live I can get a bag of 10lbs/4.5kg for $1.99.

There are a lot of suggestions on r/EatCheapAndHealthy btw


Pearled barley is also slept on!

I paid $1.66 for a dozen eggs earlier this week.

 

[coffeeandcats]

my favorite shelf stable no prep struggle meal is tuna salad packets on crackers

 

[insectontrial]

I am at university and have upper-middle class parents who refuse to help me out financially but I receive disability benefits, which are barely enough to get me by.

My go-to meals are

Pasta with baked beans
Cheap ramen with baked beans
Rice pudding and jelly (jello for those of you across the pond)
Canned ravioli

Bon appétit !

 

[ladidabi]

If you can manage to get your hands on certain seasonings, you can make "poverty meals" into something a lil fancy and powerful in flavour. Seasonings can be quite cheap if you look around, also lasts long. Stuff like paprika, cumin, garlic powder, tumeric, chilli flakes. Mentioned in the thread, but I also recommend buying dry, like beans, lentils, pasta etc. instead of canned. You get more for the money. Food on a budget doesn't have to be boring! Also, canned tomato! Certain dishes require some water too, so after you pour the tomato into the pot, fill the empty can with needed water and add to the pot. Not even the lil leftovers of tomato juice in the can will be wasted.

For dry beans and chickpeas, I recommend soaking in water for a few hours or overnight in the fridge.

- "Turkish" Pasta, but replace the meat with red lentils.
- Tomato and egg stir fry, can be paired with rice or eaten as is
- Blended mixed veggie soup. If you have milk or cream you can add a splash after blending and turning the stove off or low heat. Using frozen veggies.
- Toasted chickpeas as a snack or with pasta/salads. Dry them super well before toasting to get them crispy
- Chickpea tacos. Season and mash in a pan.
- When I had fruit or berries that has been laying around for a bit long or bought on discount, I make compote and add that to toasted bread.
- Roasted and blended carrot soup. If you have some ginger it makes a huge upgrade.
- Shakshuka since you already have egg in stock
- Loubia / Bean stew

When I got super lazy I get canned kimchi, pair with rice and boiled or fried egg.

Utilize your freezer. Buy frozen vegetables and fruit. Sometimes if you can find a sale on meat/fish/bread or if it is near its BBD, you can buy and and freeze it to preserve it. Discounted veggies can also be cut into chuncks and frozen for later. Avoid freezing non-cooked veggies that have high moisture content. They become weird in texture.

Baking can sometimes be cheaper than buying bread. Just basic loafs or flatbreads can go a long way.

 

[Liwujin]

Rice pudding is surprisingly cheap and delicious; tuna with rice is great as well. Personally, I like adding a bit of vinegar to tuna for a little tang, I have been told that's weird but in my country it is usual to add lemon or lime to tuna rather than vinegar.