iSavta | 10.05.2020

Are your pockets running dry? Have you been feeling the economic impact of the COVID19 pandemic? While government leaders, health care professionals, and the whole society are cooperatively racing to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still obvious that the fight is far from over. Best Response? Continue to adjust and view this situation positively, become more practical in spending, and use this time with family - something many were not able to do when life was more normal and busier. 

 

Speaking about family, one thing that always keeps the bonding strong is food! Sharing food, eating together on the table, and talking about enjoyable things with full stomachs, would always be a sound idea. However, many people think, how can we celebrate or eat good food when income is low? Companies are closing and people are losing jobs. Where are we gonna get the budget to eat good food? Here, we’ll look at some classic dishes that made people survive crises in the past. Budget-friendly, yet, completely enjoyable still! 

 

Pasta

 

Originally from Italy, we all love spaghetti, macaroni, fettuccine, lasagna & many more! While it may seem like it’s often cooked for celebrations, and looks special, it is actually very economical. Whether you come from Europe, Asia or America, pasta is just a delight to everyone’s taste.

 

Would you believe a 500g pasta can actually feed up to six people comfortably? And the budget? Depending on location, costs could be different, but in countries like the Philippines, $5 could be enough. That’s less than $1 budget for each person. Of course, pasta preparations would differ according to choice and preference of ingredients, but even the very basic could still be a delectable cuisine.

 

Tomato, Creme, or Olive Oil are just some of the easy sauces. Tuna, Chicken or Meat Balls are usually added to give more flavor and texture. You may check out easy to do pastas on youtube and follow easy steps if you wanna begin making your own. Some pastas also have basil leaves or mushrooms. Interestingly, pastas usually have proteins, vegetables and carbohydrates - a good balance in nutrition.

 

Noodles

 

While Europe has pasta, Asia has its own version! Believed to be Chinese in origin, noodles has become an important cuisine elsewhere in Asia and Asian communities across the globe. In the Philippines alone, it has more than 30 variants called “Pancit.” Some are cooked dry, while others are made into noodle soups - a cooking style that can also be seen in Vietnam, Korea and Japan. In fact, Japanese Ramen is a favorite soup not only of Asians, but also of many Westerners. 

 

Like pasta, cooking noodles is also very easy. Aside from instant noodles that can be found in all supermarkets, there are very cheap packages of plain noodles in different varieties - thick, thin, flat, white, transparent, and creamy-yellowish. Cooking noodle soup could be as easy as 1-2-3. Boiling the noodles, adding some salt and seasoning, adding some meat, and some greens. Done! Like its European counterpart, it is also composed of the three food groups. No wonder it was used during World War II as survival food, and yes, they made it through - delightfully slurping this delicious dish! 

 

Spring Rolls

 

Another Asian wonder, this irresistible food has been a favorite of many people. Using Spring Roll wrappers, various vegetables, nuts or legumes, and meat are combined together, then wrapped and deep fried, creating an authentic Asian taste. During normal times, this can only be considered as an appetizer. In times of crises, it can actually be viand itself. 

 

Dipped in sauce, you’ll be asking for more in it’s delicious taste. This dish has different variations too in different areas. Diverse ingredients are used in China, Vietnam, and other Asian countries. It is another popular dish in the Philippines where Spanish and Chinese taste mix.

 

A simple “Lumpia” in the Philippines can be composed of mongo sprouts, thinly sliced carrots and cabbage, ground meat or fish, usually added to sauteed onion and garlic, blended to taste with some salt and seasoning. This mixture is cooled and then wrapped inside the wrappers before finally being deep fried. This too is composed of the three food groups which is a good way to achieve a balanced diet.

 

If the quarantine season persists longer than six months, it would definitely be a very difficult time for many. These dishes are not only affordable, they are also delicious and balanced. These dishes will not only fill our stomachs, they can help us create the feeling that life is still good and decent despite the difficulty. So try them, and continue to enjoy life’s journey!