Struggle Meals

[JusaikiJusaiki's icon]

I have been on a budget (or "student munch") for a really long time, so I have learned to combine rice and pasta with anything else I could get my hands on to keep myself healthy and fit. It didn't do much for the taste buds, but I'm still here.

i do that but i wanted to think of something new out of the box, but i didnt try something like culiflower rice so i might do that and make my favs rice dishes with it and see how it holds up

Post automatically merged: Jan 5, 2025

Man, forgive me for this cause I know I have old hermit food tastes, but two cans of kipper snacks, some basmati rice and a looot of sweet potatoes and I'm good for the whole day. People look at canned food like sardines and mackerel and turn their nose up at them, but god damn if some King Oscar sardines aren't delicious over some steaming hot rice, sometimes I'll throw in some carrots, brussel sprouts or broccoli on that

nice noted ill try it

Post automatically merged: Jan 5, 2025

lentils

green/brown (has skin) - boil em, less water for porrige, more water for soup, and anything in between, add preffered form of fat and salt for flavour (cheese is easiest, but literally vegetable oil and salt will do) whatever seasonings, can also add rice if want it to be lighter, veggies to make it sweeter, you know the drill, can chuck it in a food pricessor and get a paste to put on bread or what have you

red/yellow (no skin) - can literally make pancakes/flatbread from this stuff, it's mind boggling, 1 cup red lentil, 2 cups water, let it sit for a while to soak, like maybe 4 hours, then food processor it all, get nice batter, literally no other ingredient (what's that? baking powder? throw that crap away!), pour it on a hot pan, spread a bit, wait a minute or two, flip it over, another minute or two, done, you got a lentil flatbread, they are good as is but wrap some grated fried carrot in that and blow your tastebuds off, only downside as usual with these - keeps you busy for a while standing over that pan pouring and flipping em

Actually fire suggestion, just bought a bag 2 weeks ago to experiment with it, the only use of lentils in our culture was a paste like dish called "adas" - عدس, I still like it, but it's not unique, and it was boring even tho it's stuffed with protein out of the freaking wazoo, im a "food is a fuel" kinda guy even the same dish over 3 days is enought to make me go crazy, making other things from it is gonna be fun and enjoyable i can tell

Post automatically merged: Jan 5, 2025

Talking about struggle meals in the 20s? Classic.

My favorite is pretty simple. Some canned fish (like salmon or sardines) in olive oil, with a loaf of bread to pull apart and eat with. Pair it with a coffee and you'll be fine.

honestly i need some fish in my diet so imma try that, but quick question ive always been kinda disgusted by Sardine, never tried it but the smell and how small it is never encouraged me to try it, since its the "cheaper" option after tuna whats a way you reccomedn me to cook it as a sardine virgin to maybe like it more and not taste the fishyness of it ?

Post automatically merged: Jan 5, 2025

My favorite struggle meal are chickpeas, they're like little balls of carbs and concentrated energy. You can mash them and make falafel, and with the right spices you can make some vegan burgers as well, and if I'm feeling especially lazy I can just have them as a sort of salad with a vinaigrette and some chopped onions.

yup i do the salad with chickpeas and tahini sauce i like the blend with the greens with some zest of lime or lemon juice

Post automatically merged: Jan 5, 2025

Quest Pizza
Realgood Chicken Tenders
Nick's Ice Cream

thats a cheat meal my boy haha, noted thats my next friday cheat meal

Post automatically merged: Jan 5, 2025

Here's my advice for cheap, versatile ingredients. For context, I'm from southeastern USA, in a large city, and this is what is available to me:

GRAIN and BEAN
-Dried beans (especially dal & chickpeas. get some masala packets for cheap and there's a lot there. chana masala is my favorite, and pani puri is GOOOOOD, my favorite snack)
-Farina
-Grits (I make mine with butter and goat boullion!)
-Bulgur wheat
-Couscous
-Tortilla

PROTEIN
-Canned fish (I'd say tuna is the most cost-effective. With canned salmon, eggs and bread crumbs, you can make salmon cakes. :-) Like my great-grandma used to make for me. Don't take the bones out!!! They're good! I also like the canned saury from Asian markets)
-Dried soya and the like (veggie protein in various sizes and shapes, highly underrated, makes a great pepper "beef")
-Canned chicken, luncheon loaves (may not be as cost effective as fresh meat, depending on your personal situation and how often you eat meat, if at all)
-Whole chicken. you get meat, soup, skin and fats. It's a good value if whole chickens are cheap around you. Old hens especially.

VEG and TUBERS
-Canned chopped/crushed tomatoes
-Frozen spinach and/or kale (add to everything, soups and all)
-The humble potato
-If you have access to them, Korean sweet potatoes are very sweet and delicious like a custard cake, just roast and eat. Wrap in foil and save in fridge for an anytime nutritious snack.
-Butternut squash/pumpkin/acorn squash etc. Roasted.....delicious. Also very easy to make healthy, filling, decadent soups with. Roasted onion, carrot, celery, squash, then herbs and seasonings and water or stock, blended....perfect soup.
-I think fresh green beans are worth getting vs canned. They are still usually pretty cheap, and cooked fast at a high high heat in a wok chars them a bit, cooks them, but keeps them firm and crisp. Turn heat down, add a bit of butter and oyster sauce, careful not to burn. It's one of my favorite veg dishes--and if you're on a budget, I'd say it's pretty rich and decadent for the cost.

SEASONINGS
-Dried herbs (thyme, sage, methi)
-Dried minced onion and garlic powder
-Bouillon (I'll often use flavored bouillion instead of salt in various things)
-Garlic/ginger paste
-Soy sauce
-Fish sauce (Three Crabs brand, my preference [even over the $$$ fish sauces])
-Oyster sauce (the one with the lady in the boat. It's a bit more expensive than the regular Panda brand one, but it's better and you'll have the bottle for a long time)
-And for your consideration, dried mushrooms (are a bit expensive, but are usually bought in larger bags and store for a long time sealed in the freezer)

Especially if you're eating on a budget, I suggest psyllium husk (Metamucil) supplement daily. Proper fiber intake is important for digestion, mood, and overall health. Many people, at least in the US, don't get enough fiber. It can make a huge difference for your well-being.

If anyone wants advice for cheap recipes, please reach out. This is a bit of a specialty of mine. I also learned a lot from my dear husband--wanted to give him some credit here.

With love,
Deebo :-)

thx deebo i really appreciate it noted everything and imma try it

Post automatically merged: Jan 5, 2025

You guys need to get some soup in you! A basic broth with carrots, celery, and onion, a bit of rice or pasta, and any protein you like (+ salt and pepper) can easily last a very, very long time. And it’s healthy, too!

If you’re currently facing food insecurity, I’m so sorry and hope things get better for you soon. ?

im sick and the moment and just made some diffrent soups, bone broth and mushroom reamy ones ! nothing get me thro the called like good soup

 

[loopy]

How does that…feel? No solid food for years?

I feel the exact same, maybe slightly better.

 

[JusaikiJusaiki's icon]

Try meal replacement shakes like Soylent, Huel, Jake and Plennyshake.
You can live off of just 200 euro a month by only eating Plennyshakes. I've been doing so for the past 2-3 years

i had a huge problem with Huel like 5 years ago their was bad actually hospitalized me for a bit i suffered some of the worst digestive problem consuming it, i hear its better now but my truama wont let me use it again lol

 

[Yousef Yousef]

i had a huge problem with Huel like 5 years ago their was bad actually hospitalized me for a bit i suffered some of the worst digestive problem consuming it, i hear its better now but my truama wont let me use it again lol

Shit sorry to hear that

 

[Deleted member 13897]

i had a huge problem with Huel like 5 years ago their was bad actually hospitalized me for a bit i suffered some of the worst digestive problem consuming it, i hear its better now but my truama wont let me use it again lol

Ah man, I’m glad you got through that, sounds scary.

 

[fake-chan]

I can't remember the last time I ate anything healthy.

 

[ZEGA ZONIC]

I did make air fried liver mush last week.
It was so good.

 

[Yousef Yousef]

I did make air fried liver mush last week.
It was so good.

That sounds great

 

[tropicalavera]

plain white rice and beansprouts, baybeee!!!

You guys need to get some soup in you! A basic broth with carrots, celery, and onion, a bit of rice or pasta, and any protein you like (+ salt and pepper) can easily last a very, very long time. And it’s healthy, too!

If you’re currently facing food insecurity, I’m so sorry and hope things get better for you soon. ?

And of course SOUP! At the start of each month I usually make a few big batches of soup and then just decant it into containers and freeze it. Even when times are hard, it's a comfort knowing that you've got a freezer full of tasty soup that's ready to eat in less than 15 minutes. And you can bulk it up! Make some dumplings; throw in some barley; chuck in yesterday's leftovers!

 

[Ian Naxieas]

When I was growing up, there were many times when struggle meals were the flavor of the day! Pasta is, indeed, a really good base. Cheap spaghetti in our case. Cook it up, throw it in a frying pan with some margarine, add some salt, pepper and garlic powder if available and fry the noodles until crispy. Finish with some of that dust like parmesan if available! If you're feeling really fancy, spread some margarine on some slices of bread, sprinkle some garlic powder and bake until crispy. Butter/margarine and noodles are an odd comfort food for me because of that. x) It's really versatile too! You can throw pretty much anything in it.

Same with rice. Cooked rice with butter/margarine in it is another odd comfort food that's very customizable. I don't think it's that cheap anymore, but I know Spam was in rotation a lot, often in one of the two above dishes. Fried egg sandwiches too. Grilled cheese sandwiches may be a little too fancy to be considered a struggle meal, but all the ingredients are cheap. The cheapest, shittiest sliced American cheese is ideal for a grilled cheese. It's only use as far as I'm concerned. x)

 

[stealthRUSH stealthRUSH]

 

[Ian Naxieas]

Hmm, that's almost like a Deviled Egg sandwich. Looks tantalizing.

 

[Nidoking's icon Nidoking Nidoking]

I have a long history of things sort of like this, but mine were always a lot lazier... like microwaving those small, thin pizzas that don't have microwave instructions. Or just... cooking pasta in the microwave and throwing cheese on it.

 

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

Adding beans and rice made a lot of meals more filling and nutritious when money was tight.

 

[Retro Doomer]

So what is your Favorite Trouble Food/Poor Man's Food you know when Times are hard and your money low so something for a low budget that you enjoy.
I for Example learned to Toast Sandwich and Cut Tomatoes for it and it tastes good enough.
So what would you recommend us with the raising prices and inflation to eat that is quite cheap and affordable and tasty ?
Also a Interesting Video:

 

[bjork]

I'm good with just a tortilla and a slice of cheese heated up, maybe some butter on it.
PB + J is always a go-to as well.

 

[Pinballbuzzbro]

gas station pizza

 

[Deleted member 560402]

homemade tortillas

 

[Kamako]

Cheapest brand rice, pasta, bread and chicken. Tins of tuna if you're feeling flush lol

 

[GardeniaSky's icon GardeniaSky GardeniaSky]

I like doing pasta or mac and cheese with garlic powder, black pepper, and fake bacon bits, maybe some shaker cheese too.

 

[Grumpy_Old_Man]

Dry pasta, rice, using the leftovers to make different types of tortilla, quiches or Pascualinas like pasta, potatoes and cheese, used tea leaves or coffee for flavoring, etc.

 

[Cardboardtubeknight Cardboardtubeknight]

Beef pasta hamburger helper with bread and butter

Been doing it like that forever

 

[Retro Doomer]

For me but mostly because of my Stomach
Knäckenbrot (either pure or with Putenbrust or Tomatoes on it)
Sandwich also with Tomatoes
And Cheap Lasagne back in the day Oven Pizza when my oven was still working.

 

[TacoMeister]

Mac and cheese or pigs in a blanket.

 

[Sunnyside]

I'm an "eat for energy" kind of person. I buy uncooked rice and dry beans then prepare them with whatever spice I feel like adding. Pair that with whatever raw vegetables I have at the moment. Budget-friendly and healthier than relying on tv dinners. I've been eating like this for years regardless of financial situation.