Instead people wrongly think fast food is cheaper than home cooked food.

Not sure your point of "no money for good food"

Source- calories and protein and vitamins per dollar

Edit- fast food is not necessarily faster. Carrots and protein shakes are faster than waiting in line for example.

Fast food is cheaper than home cooked food when you factor in time & mental effort. Cooking at home requires skills that many people do not have.

Yes weekend meal prep is a thing too - but freezer space is at a premium in shared households and there's always the threat of a roommate or family member taking the food for themselves.

I think you severely underestimate the power of teamwork.

That's how our family has survived through 90s. This grandma will watch after everyone's kids. That only guy who has a car will buy cheap potatoes in bulk for everyone.

Even just the church tradition of organizing bringing food to somebody in the community who is sick, indisposed or undergoing a stressful time in their lives (think: just had a kid) is falling by the wayside.

Morning porridge: pour water into oats. Microwave for 2 minutes.

Dinner: pour water into rice. Boil for 10 minutes. Add a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.

My 7yo does it. Do you seriously think there's a non-disabled adult incapable of pouring water in a bowl?

I seriously think there are non-disabled adults that would never think to pour water into a bowl for oatmeal. That's the crux of my argument. The meta cognitive step to "change the status quo" appears to be beyond the capability of most people.

At least it's cheap, reasonably healthy and tasty.

You'd be surprised. Ever heard e.g. of "syrup sandwiches"?

Or dozens of other ways poor people get by with no money for food?

It's not just "fast food". And even that, it's not because they "wrongly think fast food is cheaper than home cooked food" -- it's because fast food is less stressful to make when you have to work like crazy, in excruciating jobs to make ends meets, and requires less time...