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Most of us still eat food combinations that we used to love as kids, yet other people might find it weird. It reminds us of our childhood, the feeling when you just put together random ingredients that you find in the kitchen and you are good to go! Also, probably most of these combinations could be called “poor people food” - canned beans, sandwiches, ramen noodles or hot dogs - they may not win any culinary awards, but they hold a special place in our hearts. No matter how rich we become or if we start eating fancy food every day, once in a while, every one of us wants to come back and taste the food that we grew up with.

Someone asked people to share the "poor people food" they will always eat, regardless of how much money they start making, in this online thread. People listed so many different cheap foods, and here are 38 of the most popular ones, so you can check them out and vote for your favorites!

More info: Reddit

#1

Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Potato, i love potatoes because they are so versatile

Gofuyourselff , csouza_79 Report

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    #3

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Toast with just butter lol and please dont hate it if youve never tried it, its really good!

    Kris_Daley , Karen Booth Report

    To gain some insight on this topic, we reached out to Rachael Hartley, who is a certified intuitive eating counselor and the author of Gentle Nutrition.

    She started off by listing a few popular low-cost items that are popular among high-class people: “Some favorite cheap foods include instant ramen noodles, Cheetos, Little Debbie or Hostess cakes, boxed mac and cheese, and fast food.”

    #4

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Grilled cheese sandwiches. It must be made with the cheap grocery store white bread and American cheese. I've had many "fancy" grilled cheeses in my life with artisan breads and exotic sounding cheeses... but none have ever hit quite the same.

    Anand999 , Robert Valdemar Report

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    Nikki Sevven
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I grew up with both basic and fancy grilled cheese sandwiches, so both hit the same nostalgia note for me. And now I want one: sharp Cheddar and slices of fresh Granny Smith apple on sourdough.

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    #5

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Buttered noodles

    NoTripOfALifetime , T.Tseng Report

    #6

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Rice and beans. So many ways to make it, delicious and nutritious

    Wishing4Signal , Arnold Gatilao Report

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    Lauren Lewis
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We make rice bowls at least once a week. Usually rice, beans, chicken, cheese. The kids love it.

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    Additionally, Hartley provided her thoughts on what might be the key to the deliciousness and satisfaction of such basic and inexpensive food. “Part of the satisfaction behind "poor people food" can be the nostalgia,” she started. “Many of these foods are things we grew up eating and may have an emotional connection to. Also, these foods can just be objectively tasty and satisfying!”

    #8

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Ramen

    Magnficent_Phone , nakashi Report

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    Chexmy Licks
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    im not a fan of ramen as a japanese person but ill eat at least 1-3 times every 1-2 years

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    #9

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Lentils. I swear they will save humanity and the planet. The perfect protein.

    bruh_wut69 , Adam Report

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    “How we view food in terms of quality and nutrition is heavily wrapped up in class assessments. "Foodie" culture often looks down upon "poor people foods" as being lower quality, or compares them to a more expensive version of the same food,” Rachel emphasized. “For example, if you were to put a bowl of Velveeta mac and cheese up against a restaurant's version, made with 3 different cheeses and a crispy panko topping, sure, I think most (but not all!) people would pick the fancy mac and cheese. But that doesn't mean the boxed mac and cheese isn't also delicious, not to mention much more accessible!”

    #10

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver I absolutely love canned tuna. I eat it right out of the can. I find it so delicious and flavorful. I have plenty of disposable income and could probably buy actual bluefin tuna filets but I just love canned tuna. I'll eat it even if i was a millionaire.

    ZombieTheRogue , Tim Evanson Report

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    Craftsman 64
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No matter how rich I may get, I will never stop eating tuna sandwiches. No matter how poor I may get, I will never eat tuna casserole.

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    #11

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Pasta with tomato sauce and cheese on top. So good! My grandma used to do it for me all the time when she was babysitting, makes me nostalgic.

    PrincessNugget22 Report

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    Summer Woodsong
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had to give up cheese, but noodles with roasted tomatoes and nutritional yeast still are incredibly yummy!!

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    Now, good news to such food lovers: “Because our conception of health and wellness is heavily wrapped up in status and class, cheap foods are often viewed as less healthy, when in reality they are almost always chemically and nutritionally the same or similar to their more expensive counterparts.

    #12

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver My mom used to make "shmasta noodles" for us a lot growing up, it's basically just fried rice with bacon or sausage in it. We also had to eat a lot of ramen so she'd mix it up by frying it, putting a hard boiled egg on top and calling it a bird nest

    MotherOfBorzoi , T.Tseng Report

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    Kylie
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Rica a roni with sliced sausage in a skillet, when almost done make a few holes and crack eggs into the holes and serve when the egg is cooked. Filling and yummy.

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    Moreover, she provided a few examples: “Fruit juice from a carton and expensive cold-pressed juice are both just pressed fruit and fancy kettle chips and Lay's potato chips are both fried potatoes. Even when there is a nutrition difference, it doesn't justify categorizing one food as "good" and another as "bad.”

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    #14

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Perogies. Easy to make, cheap and easy to freeze . Different ways to make them

    Swimming_Stop5723 , noricum Report

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    Craftsman 64
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Grow up with a Polish Grandmother and you'll get to the point where you never want to see a pierogi again. My cousin has her own business making them using our grandmother's recipe and I recently made her 2 new stolnicas (Polish dough boards) so she could retire Bacia's board which is probably pushing 90. I told her she needed to put Elk Pierogies on the menu...instead I got 10lbs of potato and 5 lbs potato and cheese.

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    #15

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Fried cabbage, potatoes, and kielbasa

    qazzer53 , pelican Report

    #17

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Jiffy corn bread

    hooptyboots18 , Joy Report

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    Kylie
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Creamed sweetcorn from a can on toast with a fried egg on top.

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    #18

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Bologna on white bread with mustard and mayo.

    leatherrecliner , The Marmot Report

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    #19

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Sloppy joes!!!

    thiccdiamonds , Steven Miller Report

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    ShaZam Beaubien
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Only if you sign the song ...sloppy joe slop, sloppy joe sloppy joe slop, sloppy joe uh-hu sloppy joe slop, sloppy joe uu-dah sloppy joe slop, *pphhbbb* joe

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    #20

    Brown gravy over white bread. There was a point in my childhood when that was dinner. I remember my mom crying while I ate, but it was delicious! I still keep instant gravy in the house for the occasional comfort food feast.

    Economy-Biscotti8557 Report

    #21

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Spam n eggs

    treeheemelee , Larry & Teddy Page Report

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    SushiPusha
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm from Hawaii so...Where's the rice? And you gotta try a Spam musubi. Basically Asian-Hawaiian sandwich

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    #22

    Porkchops with rice smothered in cream of mushroom soup 🤤

    gnu_vonni Report

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    Brenda Greene
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    add some celery, onion and canned milk and slow cook in until the rice is done, my family loves this

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    #23

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver PB & J...Ramen...Kraft Mac & Cheese...Hot Dogs

    cornflake2448 , Matias Garabedian Report

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    Laura Lett
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's peanut butter and jelly,or jam or , preserves.,or marmalade.

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    #24

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Tuna fish casserole.

    Street_Piece8194 , Benny Mazur Report

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    Jennifer_Crowley_Luci
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    LOL, adding the conversation hearts right next to it just makes it seem ever so much worse! :D

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    #25

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver butter on a flour tortilla warmed up, my brother put me on it

    katcomesback , 305 Seahill Report

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    DennyS (denzoren)
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We do dahlpuri (so it's like a thick tortilla but with a lentil filling between the layers), heated until it's a little crisp...best thing ever to eat on it's own.

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    #26

    With zero shame: Spaghettios

    Pratius Report

    #27

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Hamburger Helper

    ohyoushiksagoddess , david__jones Report

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    Christopher Denney
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yikes, I am old, used to be 3 for a dollar. I had a box the other week, and it was way less yummy than I remembered.

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    #28

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Totino’s pizzas.

    lydz31 , Mike Mozart Report

    #29

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Sugar cereal in a bag! I’m so weak to those giant bags of deliciousness. No fruity pebbles or Froot Loops for me! Gimme Dino-Bites with Marshmallows and Tootie Frooties in insane quantities.

    pixieflip , phrawr Report

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    Ridiant
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I find it quite funny that the image is of Cheerios, a notoriously bland type of breakfast cereal. Although, I'm guilty of eating dry vanilla Cheerios for the sugar-glaze-thing they sweeten them with - I don't think that's quite the scale of sweetness OP was thinking of, though...

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    #30

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Hot dogs and baked beans. Dump can of beans in the pot and add hot dogs. Place over heat source until hot. You can make regular hotdogs if you have bread and eat the beans as a side or directly on top of the hotdogs. If you have no bread, eat as is. Delicious, cheap, and easy. It's one of my favorite meals growing up, and I still make it when I don't want to think too hard or spend much money but want a nice hot dinner that's comforting.

    Free-Government5162 , jeffreyw Report

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    #31

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Macaroni and cheese

    Koolaid

    Tuna casserole

    Canned ravioli

    Ramen

    Totino’s pizzas

    masterwad , Ted & Dani Percival Report

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    ShaZam Beaubien
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love Kool-Aid. It's full of flavor, cheap, sugar-free, and an easy way to drink water.

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    #32

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Saltines with butter

    mAliceinTendieland , Jeorge Jordan Report

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    Kylie
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is NOT butter, it's sweetened condensed milk and Sooooooooooooooo good.

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    #33

    White rice with soy sauce and microwaved chips and cheese

    Weary-Inspector-6971 Report

    #34

    Tinned sardines on crackers.

    W-S_Wannabe Report

    #35

    Chicken and broccoli casserole made with Velveeta (no real cheese allowed!) and cream of mushroom soup. My favorite.

    foul_dwimmerlaik Report

    #36

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Waffle House.

    cametobemean , Pom' Report

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    ShaZam Beaubien
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Scattered, smothered, covered, chucked, diced, peppered, capped, topped, and country.

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    #37

    Person Asks "What Is Some ‘Poor People's Food’ That You Will Eat No Matter How Wealthy You Get?", And 30 Folks Deliver Instant mashed potatoes, ground beef, & McCormick's brown gravy.

    diesels_only , Andrew Filer Report

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    JM
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Instant mashed potatoes are still around $1 and you only need to add hot water. GOLD!

    #38

    “Velveeta” and pasta and grilled cheese.

    Spazztastic85 Report

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    Tee Rat
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Our govt. would be out of debt if they put the old commodities cheese on the market. Actually, no they wouldn't there's always somewhere else they would spend it..

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