Cheap Food

Guide Note

Inexpensive food was mentioned as far back as 1796, in Amelia Simmons' "American Cookery", and is a popular subject in times of economic recession and food shortages. With the proper precautions, cheap food can be prepared at home, or enjoyed while dining out.

Fast Facts

1. Inexpensive diets can be unhealthy
2. Ramen is an internationally recognized cheap food
3. Preparing and freezing bulk meals can be an effective budgeting strategy

Though an inexpensive diet can be financially expedient, it can also be unhealthy. The cheapest foods are starches and fatty proteins, both of which can pose risks of weight gain and diabetes, if not balanced with more nutritive foods.

One of the 20th Century's most celebrated innovations in cheap food was the 1958 invention of pre-cooked ramen noodles. Taiwanese-born Momofuku Ando created the instant noodle to feed a post-war Japan mired in food shortages. Over a half century later, his company, Nissin, still manufactures ramen—which can be made for as little as ten cents per meal.