Being broke is no cruise. But, as they say, desperation is the mother of invention... even with food. Believe it or not, people have "invented" the worst food combinations in desperate times. Some are so bad that they've locked the memory away in a tiny, black compartment in their brains and vowed never to think of it, let alone eat again.
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However, until they can afford not to, keeping that promise might be a tough one. Still, these are some of the "poverty meals" folks say they would never try again.
1. Boiled Noodles With Salt
Noodles are famous in many regions. They come in different sizes and shapes, but the long, thin strips are the most common.
They are easy to make — just cook them in boiling water and add what you can to make them taste good, and it is ready to be consumed. They may taste pretty good when prepared with the right condiments, vegetables, and proteins.
But without the money to afford the condiments, you're stuck with plain Jane noodles, which don't taste so good. Someone shared that they were so broke they could only afford to eat noodles with salt. "That's it. That was the entire meal," the person said. So I guess torture isn't always brimstone and fire.
2. Boxed Macaroni And Cheese
This means packaged macaroni and cheese, which is nonperishable. Therefore, one can buy it at eat any time as a quick, easy fix.
Eating a particular food too often gets tiring, no matter how good it tastes. This was true for a commenter who said he would never eat box macaroni and cheese again. He said his father bought them in bulk when he found out they sold three for a dollar, and they ate it all the time.
3. Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta
Chef Boyardee is a brand that sells canned pasta products. Most of these products also come in microwaveable cups. Yep, quick meals.
There is an honorable mention of the brand's beef ravioli: "Most notably the beef ravioli, I hate ravioli to this day." Another commented on his shame for eating nine cans of ravioli in one sitting.
4. White Bread Mixed With Stewed Tomatoes
Who doesn't love good, soft, fresh, well-baked bread? But some people have had to mix white bread with stewed tomatoes and heat it in a saucepan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This doesn't sound bad. But do it repeatedly and over and over… and it starts to lose appeal.
5. Ramen Noodles
This is a Japanese type of noodle that is served in broth. There are different varieties of ramen in other regions of Japan. And ramen is one of the top foods people would ditch soon as they make money.
Although some people still think ramen is the best thing next to chicken. One says, "I still love eating it! Although, now that I'm older, I just make it a little fancier! An over-easy egg cooked with salt and pepper, soy sauce, chopped green onions, diced garlic, bok choy, and a drizzle of Sriracha!"
6. White Bread As A Substitute
Back to white bread. But this time, a foodie vows they will never use white bread as hamburger buns, hotdog buns, cheesesteak rolls, or dinner rolls. They would use white bread for its true purpose and eat it as white bread.
7. Powdered Milk
As the name suggests, powdered milk is dried milk. It is evaporated and made dry to have a longer shelf life. So much trauma from this milk. Someone says, "I'll take government peanut butter over powdered milk any day. Watery, acrid nastiness."
8. Carl Buddig Lunch Meat
Carl Buddig is a brand that makes processed meat. Someone who is no longer a fan shares their opinion on it, "That meat was so thin you could literally see right through it… I get a pang of sadness every time I see it knowing it's still out there."
9. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is considered a breakfast cereal. Personally, I think it's great. It has high nutritional value and is great for the heart. But for one foodie, it is a no-no.
She shares an experience from her early 20s: She ate just oatmeal and apples for days. And since then, she hasn't had oatmeal again and may never.
10. Spaghetti
If you're wondering why anyone would hate Spaghetti, one says that his mum would make them in enormous quantities so they would last the entire week. Ugh!
To make matters worse, the day the batch for the week finishes, she would make another batch for the following week. Now, they haven't had Spaghetti in 15 years! I'm sure freedom tastes much better.
What about you? Do you have any poverty meals you would never eat again?
This thread inspired this post.
Nancy
My mom’s Fried Onion Sandwiches on white bread. Onions were lightly caramelized in butter and served as a sandwich on white bread. I loved them.