[AussieWog93]

It might be a case of the US and Australia being different, but here here $1 will get you 3 or 4 bananas at an independent fruit shop whereas even the shittiest cheeseburger on the Hungry Jack's Penny Pinchers menu costs $2.

[trentgreene]

The tricky part of this is macro nutrient diversity and satiety.

Let’s say $2 for 8 bananas vs $2 cheeseburger

Assuming normal size bananas, that’s about 800 cal worth of banana. From what I can tell about that cheeseburger, 415 cal per serving. So banana almost twice as good?

Not quite. Those 8 bananas are pure carbohydrate. You’re gonna digest those very quickly, and you’d still need a source for protein + fat, both of which you need to not die.

The shittiest cheeseburger, on the other hand, has tons of fat and a decent hit of protein. Way slower to digest. Also way easier to do stuff after eating. Eating that many bananas is a rough deal

10/10 times in severe poverty, I’d save up for for the cheeseburger.

I say though, the banana is still a very good additional carb source on a tight budget when combined with other foods. I ate, and will continue to eat, a boatload of bananas.

[riku_iki]

I think if you buy frozen beef parties, buns and cheese separately and cook yourself you can do better than $2 per cheeseburger.

Food is something already solved in US. I think more expenses come from other sources: housing, medicine, transportation.

[AussieWog93]

>10/10 times in severe poverty, I’d save up for for the cheeseburger.

If you're saving your money, why not go for the classic student combo of home brand bread, peanut butter and milk?

Just under 10,000 cal of diverse macronutrients for A$7.50 at Aldi, no cooking or significant prep required (cheeseburger equivalent would be closer to $50).

Get yourself those 8 bananas for $2 extra (realistically it'd probably be 5 big ones, though) and you'll get enough fibre to actually feel good too.

[tomatodevice]

> 10/10 times in severe poverty, I’d save up for for the cheeseburger

I lived on 500€/month for several years with only a microwave oven, and if your BMI is between 20 and 25, you can just eat canned vegetables at 0.50€ half of the time and be healthy.

I can't eat green beans anymore though.

[trentgreene]

Personally, it was corn I got burnt out on, but canned foods were a lifesaver. Usually precooked too, can skip the microwave.

[maria2]

Other than the refined carbs in the bun, a cheeseburger is actually a very healthy meal.