Some meals make you wish no one was watching. It’s not necessarily that they’re gross or unsafe, just that they’re rather exposing. A few readers told us about the budget meals they relied on that shamed them. Here are ten of them. Which of these meals do you think shouldn’t be embarrassing?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Peanut butter and jelly
It’s white bread straight from the bag with peanut butter that’s too close to the bottom of the jar. This kind of budget meal involves jelly that spreads thin. That’s usually because the knife wasn’t wiped between dips. People who feel shamed by this meal will eat it in the car, with the sandwich leaning against the steering wheel. They don’t want anyone to see.
Dollar-slice pizza
Somewhere near a subway stop, you’ll see a thin triangle of cheese pizza that’s slapped onto a flimsy plate. The grease is already pooling before you take the first bite. It’s the kind of pizza with crust that folds under its own weight. Anyone eating this is trying not to drop a piece onto the sidewalk.
Gas station microwave burrito
Gas station burritos come from the freezer case. When you hold them, the plastic’s still cold on your hands, and then you have to punch the cooking time into a microwave. The burrito comes out half-steaming & half-too-hot-to-touch. There are also a couple of packets of hot sauce to add. And they’re always ripped open with teeth.
Chicken noodle soup with crackers
Canned soup is the definition of low-commitment eating because it’s cheap & easy to stash. You also don’t need to chop anything. Instead, you simply pop & pour, then heat & drop in a few crackers. It’s office-friendly because you can keep a can in your drawer for weeks. Yet it also tells everyone that you didn’t have time to make anything. Yikes.
Boxed macaroni and cheese
Powdered cheese & dried pasta is one of the cheapest hot meals you can make. A box is a couple bucks, or less on sale, and it feeds one or two. It only needs a few ingredients. Just water, milk & butter, although plenty of people skip the milk to save a trip to the store. No plating means even fewer dishes to wash.
Warehouse food court hot dog and soda
It’s not a mystery why the hot dog & soda combo is on the list. The Costco version is famously one of the lowest-priced meals you can buy ready to eat. And why not? It’s a hot dog the size of your forearm plus an unlimited soda refill for under two bucks. That’s hard to match anywhere else. Especially if you’re already there shopping.
Cereal with water
When you have cereal but no milk, you improvise. Cereal itself is already a budget fallback because it’s nonperishable & often on sale. Swapping water for milk makes it a true last-resort dinner. It’s the kind you eat when payday’s still a couple of days away, or you just don’t want to spend. What’s wrong with being cheap?
Frozen Salisbury steak TV dinner
Frozen Salisbury steak dinners are built for budgets. After all, they’re pre-portioned & mass-produced. You can get meat, potatoes, & a vegetable for around a dollar. And it’s all in one plastic tray. Of course, these meals aren’t winning awards for freshness, but they don’t require any extra ingredients. They also cook in under six minutes. Pure bliss.
Tuna salad on saltines
Canned tuna is great for people who want protein on a budget. Why? Because it’s shelf-stable & cheap, not to mention, ready in minutes. A little mayo stretches it further. Saltines are one of the lowest-cost carbs around. Putting a squeeze of lemon might feel fancy, but it’s usually from that same bottle that’s been in the fridge door for months.
Instant ramen
There’s the foam cup & the flavor packet. There’s also a kettle that still smells faintly of coffee. You have to pour the water to the line before folding the lid over to enjoy instant ramen. Don’t forget about the plastic fork. Some of the cheapest kinds have broth that stains the cup ring a deeper shade of orange every minute.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
