Does money buy happiness? Regardless of income or social status, certain foods are essential survival meals for those living in poverty but have also become a simple pleasure for the rich and wealthy. These 10 meals are simple, inexpensive, and extremely tasty with most of them only requiring two or three ingredients. Which is your favorite?
10. Biscuits and Gravy
A Southern classic, this inexpensive, hearty dish is pure comfort and holds a special place in the hearts of people of all income levels. The meal combines a buttered, flaky biscuit with a rich and creamy savory sausage gravy, providing a hearty meal for just a couple of dollars. A wealthier setting may upgrade the basic ingredients with special butters, herbs, biscuit preparation, or gravy style. However, even with these upgrades, there is no substitute for the original, which was created in the late 1800s in Southern Appalachia.
9. Buttered Noodles and Cheese
Buttered noodles and cheese is one of the easiest meals to make using store-packaged components however when each ingredient is made from scratch, not only is this meal cheap to make, but the flavors and richness of the cheese with the freshness of homemade noodles and homemade butter gives any upscale chef a run for their money. Buttered noodles and cheese are some of the most popular dishes among young children, for good reason.
8. Spam and Eggs
Hormel invented Spam in 1937 and named it after ‘Spiced Ham.’ The product gained popularity during World War II with the military as food, and grease was used to lubricate their weaponry and waterproof their boots. Today, Spam is recognized worldwide and used in many different cultural cuisines. Hawaii has continued to carry the spam torch by incorporating spam and eggs as a traditional breakfast menu item and the spam musubi, invented by a Japanese-American woman living in Hawaii.
7. Sourdough Bread
Sourdough bread dates back thousands of years and is quite simple: water, salt, and flour. The yeast is just fermented flour and water. However, these three ingredients (when done correctly) deliver the most delicious and gut-friendly bread you will ever feast your tastebuds on. A sourdough loaf can be made for under $1 and sold in the grocery store for up to $15-$20!
6. Tamales
Tamales are a traditional Mexican dish that’s known for its rich flavors and satisfying texture. They are comprised of masa (the same corn dough used for tortillas) and filled with meat, beans, or cheese. Tamales are one of the original ‘meal prep’ foods; with one day of preparing, tamales can feed a family inexpensively for an entire week. The love put into these delicious savory foods appeals to all income levels and can be found as an item in virtually every Mexican restaurant.
5. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches are as classic as it gets with American culture. The first Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich recipe came from Boston Cooking School in 1901 by Julia Davis Chandler. Bread, peanut butter, and jelly bring you a sweet and salty treat that provides a quick meal that’s loved by kids and adults. There have been a handful of upgrades to make the experience more comforting, such as adding honey, banana slices, or marshmallow ‘fluff’ to create a “fluff a nutter”. No matter how it’s made, the PB&J remains a beloved comfort food that bridges the gaps in incomes and taste buds.
4. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Very few people will tell you they dislike a grilled cheese sandwich. Made with bread, butter, and cheese, a good grilled cheese has crispy bread on the outside with melted gooey cheese on the inside. This quick, easy, and budget-friendly meal has endless combinations of bread, cheese, or additional add-ons. While the classic version is timeless, an upscale version uses homemade sourdough bread, aged cheese combinations, caramelized onions, or tomato slices. Let’s also not forget dunking half of the sandwich in a hot bowl of tomato soup on a cold winter day.
3. Tuna Salad Sandwiches
A tuna salad sandwich provides a healthy balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates with the three simple ingredients of tuna, mayonnaise, and bread. Even celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey recently made headlines by providing his secret tuna salad recipe, bringing life into this classic lunch sandwich. The tuna sandwich in upscale restaurants may also include fresh herbs, capers, finely diced pickles, and other homemade condiments. Despite the fancier touches, the dish stays true to it’s routes as a healthy, tasty meal.
2. Chili
Chili is a hearty dish that’s perfect for feeding a large crowd. A basic chili consists of beans, tomatoes, spices, and water. Food historians claimed that chili was originated in the 1880s around the Texas-Mexico border and then word spread like wildfire about this savory meal. For families on a budget, chili is often made with canned beans and tomatoes with ground beef. Wealthier restaurants include specialty meats, craft beer in the sauce, onions, peppers, and unique spices, topped with creme fraîche or avocado slices.
1. Instant Ramen Noodles
Taking the top spot has to do with a classic dish loved by just about everyone worldwide. Instant ramen was created in 1958 by Momofuku Ando in Japan, with the first official flavor being chicken ramen. In 1971, he introduced CUPNOODLES, the world’s first ramen in a cup. Instant ramen is one of those meals that lacks nutritional value. Still, the savory perfection of the noodles paired with the instant broth provides people with a satisfying experience on a very low budget. Pro tip: Add butter, and the creaminess will elevate your experience.