A person still has to eat, even if they’re down to their last paycheck. And while food in this case becomes any morsel that fills and sustains survival for the least amount of money possible, some of these broke meals have etched a special place in their eaters’ hearts, even under better circumstances.
On Reddit, Filipinos chimed in on their favorite “poverty meals” that got them through hard times. User u/ChiMingTsoii asked, “What’s your favorite ‘poverty’ meal that you still eat regardless of where you are financially?”
“For me, I still eat rice with soy sauce and oil. I still crave that taste,” the OP added, launching a wave of nostalgia among commenters.
Siomai with rice emerged as one of the thread’s most popular answers, with the dumplings serving as rice toppings, and drizzled in a mixture of soy sauce, calamansi, and even chili garlic. “Expensive siomai is good. But cheap siomai with chili and rice is great,” u/herotz33 chimed in.
“I used to spend PHP10 (US$0.18) on four pieces of siomai, PHP8 (US$0.15) on rice, and PHP2 (US$0.03) for a cigarette stick. As a broke college student, this was my poverty food,” u/Acceptable_Key_8717 shared.
“It’s very common for those on a tight budget to overcompensate with soy sauce and calamansi, and chili garlic, especially if there’s extra rice,” u/SpeckOfDust_13 added.
Users also craved plates of pancit canton (typically the brand Lucky Me) with egg or even a side of bread as a cheap and tasty way to fill up.
“Pancit canton chilimansi supremacy,” a few users said — referring to Lucky Me’s chili and calamansi variant, adding that it was best paired with a soft-boiled egg and a bun of monay or pandesal.
Meanwhile, others answered lugaw or plain rice porridge that can be made with glutinous rice, water, and salt. Some shared that they would hunt for stalls at night that served unlimited lugaw refills, such as the one beside the Polytechnic University of the Philippines campus.
“Lugaw with egg. Add lots of black pepper and chili oil. I’m solved,” u/Initial_Tadpole_666 shared.
“PLAIN LUGAW is the best. Best for breakfast, hangover, bloated feeling, when you’re sad, happy, or even battling diarrhea. It will always have a special place in my heart,” u/sirmiseria said.
Some mentioned slicing up tomatoes and salted egg, and pairing them with rice, while others paired unconventional items with rice such as chips or even coffee.
But while others reminisced on the comfort of their “poverty meals,” a few cautioned that eating these regularly could lead to health problems, and to choose healthier food especially if they’re financially better now.
“Take care OP, don’t get used to these kinds of food. We’re in the medical-related business and we’ve seen how large cardiovascular, nephrological, or endocrinal cases in the Philippines have grown. When they reach us, it’s already too late. We have patients only in their 30s and 40s. Good luck discovering healthier low-budget meals,” u/taenanaman said.
