This is so true. Even though I'm sure it's debatable if what they're experiencing truly is that bad. Just based on how they don't look quite like they're starving just yet.  Maybe not stuffed = hunger.  What I sometimes see though is people just being really bad with money (as you describe) and part of it seems that they just cannot cook at all. Eating clean and health aside, I know some fastfood and premade foods can be extremely cheap, but (depending on how simple you keep it) cooking will still be the cheaper option.  Apart from the money I'm sure it would help with their weight too. Most people (who are not Simply Sarah?) would hesitate when it comes to frying stuff in half a stick of butter. At least I hope they would.