What Is A Poor Man's Meal And How Did It Get Its Unpleasant Name?

History

Traditions

What Is A Poor Man's Meal And How Did It Get Its Unpleasant Name? By Paige Hughes Oct. 18, 2025 9:00 pm EST

Just because it's a poor man's meal doesn't mean it tastes poor. The title "poor man's meal" represents a collection of meals that are uniquely cost effective — essentially, old-school dishes that might seem unusual . The name derives from the Great Depression when a majority of people struggled financially, striving to make ends meet and feed their families with any foods they could come up with. Resourceful in nature, a poor man's meal consisted of the cheapest ingredients households could find like beans, cabbage, and rice. A typical poor man's meal included potatoes, onions, and an inexpensive meat. Many households chose hot dogs for their poor