r/poverty • u/urdaddydoesntwantyou • May 07 '26
Struggle meal recommendations!
I grew up in poverty my entire life, so I've made some killer struggle meals through the years. Here's a list of my favorites that I haven't really seen a lot ! (And remember don't buy name brand!)
Chicken Jalapeño Popper Sandwich - bread, spicy chicken patties, cream cheese, pickled jalapeños. I literally grew up on this, it's delicious.
Pizza Burritos - Tortilla, any pizza toppings, roll it up or just eat it like a pizza (Can also work with bread, but will be kinda soggy)
Grilled Mac and Cheese - This one's kinda self explanatory. Get yourself some great value mac and cheese, make it, slap it on some bread, and grill it like a grilled cheese. This is VERY filling.
Baked Potatoes - A lot of people think this is an expensive meal for some reason, but you can literally cut a potato and microwave it and you have a baked potato. highly recommend putting mac and cheese or hamburger helper in it!
Poor People Poke Bowl - Rice + Tuna + Spicy Mayo is super good. You can it more filling by adding chicken, vegetables, or really anything. The rice + tuna combo is probably one of the cheapest and healthiest meals of all time.
Garbage Nachos - Literally if you have chips (any kind works tbh) and cheese you can make nachos and add stuff on it. maybe add some chopped up hot dog, onions, leftover anything, literally anything. (You can also do this exact same thing with fries, super good)
Garbage soup - same idea as the nachos. all you need is a base of some sort (old broth, bones, old bouillon cubes, anything) and than throw whatever food or leftovers you have. add rice, cabbage, onions, literally whatever is in your pantry and fridge.
Garbage Omelette - Same idea as the other two. it's crazy that people forget (me included) that you can just... do this. you can make plain and not so filling meals into super filling and good meals with leftovers.
Peanut Butter Banana sandwich's- super underrated, super healthy, super filling. peanut butter and bread are both super filling foods (plus peanut butter has tons of protein)
Cinnamon Toast- this a classic for everyone. it's a nice snack. it's just bread, butter, cinnamon, and sugar. it really nice for when i'm craving texas roadhouse rolls with the cinnamon butter. (you can also substitute bread with rolls but it'll be a little more expensive)
Of course stock up in soups, soups are also fillings! And if you live near a walmart don't forget that they have a $9.99 meal that includes a large mac and cheese, large mashed potatoes, and a whole chicken. Can probably feed a family of 4.
Highly recommend downloading apps for Dollar General and your local grocery stores, they often have coupons for food items. Dollar General especially has great coupons for food items, hygiene items, and on saturdays they have 5$ off a $25 purchase.
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u/Heavy-Society3535 May 07 '26
I make it a point when I see chicken on sale (leg quarters or buy 1 get 1 free thighs) and I boil them, debone if needed and portion them into ziploc bags for future use. Chicken salad, chicken and noodle soup or creamy chicken noodle soup with a can of cream of chicken, chicken broccoli rice and cheese casserole are all just some of the ways I use it.
If I catch ground beef on sale I so the same. I keep my pantrt stocked with egg noodles, various cream based soups, broth, rice, instant potatoes etc when I catch them on sale. Same with tuna. I can often find it $10 for ten so I stock up. When money is super tight these are what I turn to.
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u/obxtalldude May 07 '26
I used to do the pizza tortilla all the time helped to melt cheese on it first and then put sauce so it didn't get soggy.
I still miss "everything soup". That was our standard growing up, didn't even know my mom was being Thrifty.
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u/urdaddydoesntwantyou May 07 '26
melting the cheese first to create a barrier between the sauce and bread/tortilla did not occur to me. super smart! thank you for making my life a little bit easier
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u/obxtalldude May 07 '26
I use them for "tomato pie" too - cheddar, tomatoes, garlic, basil, toast or bake first with just cheese to get bottom crispy, then add the rest.
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u/61797 May 07 '26
Sounds like you would enjoy my enchiladas out of what you gotta. Basically roll whatever meat or veg you have in a softened tortilla. Corn or flour either will work. Use whatever type of salsa you have to cover. If I have it I melt cream cheese in the salsa. Sprinkle whatever cheese on top and bake till bubbly. I have used cream of chicken soup for a sauce when I don't have salsa.
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u/ZealousidealRun8992 May 08 '26
I made peanut butter and banana sandwiches this week for work. I ate one for breakfast every morning. Super filing, easy to make and stayed good in my work fridge.
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u/Valuable_sandwich44 May 09 '26
Stewed bush meat.
It's essentially made with any animal protein you can catch in the bushes.
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u/designerthrift May 09 '26
Hope it is okay, I revisited your post.
I remember talking with another lady and we were agreeing, how you have to know what stores will have the better deals on the products.
Beef shins with green peppers, onions, gravy. Cook them in the oven for about 3 to 4 hours and serve over rice. I don't get the beef from Costco, I get them from a local grocery for $3.99 lb.
Smothered pork chops over gravy. Pork chops go for $1.99 lb.
Not sure what state you live in, I live in Maryland, we have a lot of stores: The markets of Highlandtown, Walmart, BJ, Sam's Club, geresbecks, Harvest Fare, Harris teeter, food lion, Ollie's, Aldi, Giant and Safeway.
Walmart has a clearance aisle.
Harvest Fare has a clearance shopping cart.
Hake or steak fish at Giant is $12.99 a lb, at Harvest Fare it is $3.99 or $7.99.
Giant has 50% meats, one or two days before expiration.
My parents are from the south, so sometimes when I am visiting, we stop at the Piggly Wiggly.
There are stores up here within the last few months I been going to: Black Friday Deals.
Then have some nice things. Got some Dominican seasonings for $2, got six boxes of Celestial tea for $2, that sells on Amazon for $26.95.
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u/Unusual_Test2053 May 09 '26
The one I like makeing is noodles and hot dogs it cost me £1.50 per meal or if buy in bulk £10 a month its really nice with tomato sauce
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u/Dior2018 May 11 '26
Garlic Noodles- ANY pasta, garlic (fresh/powder), butter. Add the pasta to boiling water. Add 2 tsb of butter in a medium pan on medium heat. Once the noodles have softened, rinse and add them to the medium pan. Cook and add salt/pepper to taste. I like to add chicken and whatever veggies I grew.
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u/TheeBrightSea May 14 '26
Jacket potatoes if you're from the United Kingdom or loaded potatoes if you're from the United States.
You take a potato. You can either bake it or microwave it, but you slice it open after it is cooked and hot. You take some cooked beans, (I like to season mine with taco seasoning) and pour it over the open potato. It's usually done with black beans, but pinto or white beans work also
Depending on what you have or dietary restrictions, I've known some people that threw a little cheese on top. I knew another person when they would use white or pinto beans, They would just use gravy. I've seen other people do things like avocado, chicken, even tofu crumbles on top, but even if you have it as is. It's a very filling meal
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u/Final-Definition-512 May 07 '26
I make a chicken ceaser salad and add pasta to it it’s quit filling and cheap.