Do u already have complementary cooking resources; powder, garlic, oil etc? These often overlooked in a buck a day meals. Excellent point. There is a baseline

Do u already have complementary cooking resources; powder, garlic, oil etc? These often overlooked in a buck a day meals. Excellent point. There is a baseline capex to getting a kitchen in shape. Yes, you can go to the dollar store for cheap spatulas, or the discount supermarket for 89 cent herbs, but the point is that the startup cost is non zero. Especially for a person or family who is tired from long hours of work, microwave burritos or pizzas or other "convenience" foods are cheap enough. Also, skills are a big factor. If you don't know how to cook, making and freezing a giant pot of chili or stew in portions is a daunting task. And if you get it wrong, and you just blew your entire food budget for the next two weeks ... good luck!