Current Events > Is Hamburger Helper a "Struggle meal"?

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No, it's not even that cheap and you have to add a bunch of stuff to it.

More like spaghetti.

No? Ground beef is kind of expensive and the "helper" part is overpriced noodles and seasoning. Doesn't it usually require milk, too?

If you eat it without putting meat in it's pretty cheap

Irony posted...

If you eat it without putting meat in it's pretty cheap

I dont think it is really hamburger helper at that point though

I honestly don't know why anyone would buy it. It is basically just paying out the ass for noodles and seasoning. You can buy noodles separately or make fresh noodles which is easy. You already need the hamburger separately. From there it is just about seasoning or adding any cheese or anything you want. The box is basically pointless.

I've had it a couple of times while staying with friends in Canada (who were not well off). You can't get it in the UK.

Surprisingly, I quite liked it, and would eat it again. So I'd say it wasn't just for people who are struggling.

archizzy posted...

I honestly don't know why anyone would buy it. It is basically just paying out the ass for noodles and seasoning. You can buy noodles separately or make fresh noodles which is easy. You already need the hamburger separately. From there it is just about seasoning or adding any cheese or anything you want. The box is basically pointless.

So you're suggesting you pay even more

spaghetti is easily the struggle meal. If you make it meatless, you can feed a big group for like $10

Use ground turkey. Hardly any fat and it's a lot cheaper. Once it's cooked, you wouldn't know it from ground beef.

You'd be better off with spaghetti, though. Cheaper than hamburger helper.

Irony posted...

So you're suggesting you pay even more

No I'm saying most people already have various seasonings on hand. The hamburger has to be purchased anyway. By buying the box you are simply overpaying for a package of noodles. Just go to the pasta section and buy the type of noodle you want and it'll be significantly cheaper than the box of hamburger helper.

I mean...I don't go seeking it out unless I'm hungry for it but its pretty cheap, even including add ins since a lot of them you might have already at home like tomatoes or jalapenos.

Some of them are surprisingly good, the tomato basil penne one is pretty legit, add a bit of hot sauce and something to give it a bit of crunch(like croutons or garlic bread) and you'll be surprised. I can make better spaghetti with meat sauce but it's nice to have something different once in a while.

archizzy posted...

By buying the box you are simply overpaying for a package of noodles

A box of hamburger helper is literally $2, maybe 3.

Also this topic is weird because I'm making hamburger helper tonight for dinner.

Poverty food is some of the best food tbh.

Nothing cheaper than beans

psobro posted...

Nothing cheaper than beans

Buy the chili mac Hamburger Helper and put black beans in in

Can of Cream of Chicken/Mushroom soup over noodles.

That's a struggle meal. And a fuckig tasty one as well! Just throw some garlic and onions in there and it's great.

Eat_More_Beef posted...

Can of Cream of Chicken/Mushroom soup over noodles.

That's a struggle meal. And a fuckig tasty one as well! Just throw some garlic and onions in there and it's great.

Not that it is a struggle meal but one of my favorites in the Winter is get a few pounds of minute steaks (beef cubed steak) and cook them all night in a slow cooker with cream of mushroom sauce. Then make some baked potatoes the next day and pour that cream of mushroom mixture with the minute steaks over the baked potatoes. Excellent. Add in some fresh biscuits or even just buttered bread and it is comfort food for me.

White rice with nothing is my go-to struggle meal.

mach25687 posted...

White rice with nothing is my go-to struggle meal.

Dude, at least eat some beans with it or something.

Maybe I'm being too harsh but white rice needs SOMETHING lol...

I just get some rice and then make a gravy with some chicken and make that.

One of my friends who also grew up poor agrees with me that its a poor meal but we also agree that for garbage its delicious.

To me I always thought why not just make chili mac. Same steps and it tastes better
Macroni, hamburger, chili mix or spices if you have them add a bit of cheese and done

skullmagic2 posted...

Doesn't it usually require milk, too?

Quite a bit of milk, yeah.

I struggle to eat the family size dinner by myself.

Yeah it was a staple of poor food growing up.

Ramen, Hamburger helper, kool aid, dollar double cheeseburgers from McDonalds, etc

oh and those grenade shape fruit drinks with the foil lid

The best part is scooping up the cold leftovers with a slice of white bread

archizzy posted...

No I'm saying most people already have various seasonings on hand. The hamburger has to be purchased anyway. By buying the box you are simply overpaying for a package of noodles. Just go to the pasta section and buy the type of noodle you want and it'll be significantly cheaper than the box of hamburger helper.

My wife bought a box of hamburger helper for nostalgias sake and we made this discovery too. Same thing when I bought a box of shake and bake and realized it was just seasoned breadcrumbs. A lot of those prepackaged helpers are there for people that can't cook. If you spend any sort of time in the kitchen then they're all pointless and overpriced crap.

Beanies & Weenies

markconig posted...

A box of hamburger helper is literally $2, maybe 3.

Or you could get twice as much pasta for $1. Don't even have to buy in bulk.

So you're suggesting you pay even more

Spices in the little plastic bags at the grocery store are like $1 for 30x as much as you need to make one meal.

Either way it's not a struggle meal since beef/milk is expensive, so regardless of whether or not you're overpaying for the noodles and spices you've got better options if you're broke.

My favorite struggle meal back when I needed them was just a bunch of chicken breasts, potatoes, onions, and carrots seasoned to hell and back, diced, and dropped in a slowcooker with some bouillon broth. Everything became mushy and delicious for very little $ and even less effort, that was a week's worth of dinners for like $10.

ai123 posted...

I've had it a couple of times while staying with friends in Canada (who were not well off). You can't get it in the UK.

Surprisingly, I quite liked it, and would eat it again. So I'd say it wasn't just for people who are struggling.

Well sure... Seasoned noodles in a creamy sauce and beef is tasty and filling.

It's essentially like a "comfort food" kit.

ai123 posted...

I've had it a couple of times while staying with friends in Canada (who were not well off). You can't get it in the UK.

Surprisingly, I quite liked it, and would eat it again. So I'd say it wasn't just for people who are struggling.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/3/2/AAKd0vAAEoJo.jpg

k1zzl3_82 posted...

spaghetti is easily the struggle meal. If you make it meatless, you can feed a big group for like $10

Struggle doesn't simply mean inexpensive. It means trashy, gross food. Like Spam or $.25 fake Ramen. Spaghetti is not bad food. Even a $1 box of Barilla is a mid-tier food if you add cheese and decent pasta sauce.

I wouldn't call it that.

You get a laughable amount of pasta in the box. After it's all made you're left with 5 one cup servings. That's nothing. Other than a toddler who gets full on 1 cup of food. There are far more economical ways to stretch meat with pasta if you're struggling.