Given the cost of everything, I’ve been prioritizing making sure we clean the pantry out and don’t shop until we absolutely have to. I decided to make some Tuna Mac for lunch and honestly, it was tasty. I jazzed it up a bit more than my mom ever did, but it still gave me fond memories and hit the spot.

My partner was truly horrified. He had the fortune of not growing up with a tight budget, and is unfamiliar with a lot of “poor foods” that I consider delightful childhood staples lol.

In these expensive times, I am grateful that I learned how to be creative and resourceful with food.

What are your poverty/struggle meals you still like or have revived lately?

Edit: before is get more comments I want to clarify that tuna mac is not tuna noodle casserole. They are essentially the same but Tuna Mac is the low budget version. It’s literally tuna mixed into boxed Mac n cheese. There’s no crispy topping, there’s no baking it. It’s a one pot, stovetop meal. I grew up eating both but the stovetop version is the real “I’m making it work” vibe.

Also before anyone assumes the worst of my bf, he did not grow up rich or out of touch. He was middle class, but he’s also not from the Midwest USA so his comfort level with a lot of the Midwest/southern classics is limited. And he just really, really hates canned tuna lol