You're overlooking an important detail - kids love that cheap, shitty food. It was also quick and easy to make, so their tired, overworked parents were easily persuaded to make it.

Naturally there's a line where it becomes too much, but even rich kids love hot dogs and Mac & cheese.

Grew up poor, didn't know it. Lots of Mac 'n Cheese w/ hotdogs and canned vegetables. I remember the first time I had a fresh green bean, I was put off by the texture. Wasn't used to vegetables with structure.

Edit: also a fair amount of Hamburger Helper in my childhood. It's OK.

It could still be very much middle class. Parents make it out of nostalgia from when they were kids, instead of making it out of necessity.

I really disagree with this. My parents grew up in the 50s and just thought this kind of highly processed food was normal and easy. There were also commercials that constantly reminded them to buy it. We could 100% afford better food, this is just what they wanted 🤢

I figured it out we were poor once I hit middle school, and me asking about this and further realizing the truth of it... well of course that sent Republican dad further into an insecurity/rage/alcoholism loop.

Being honest would have been too difficult, I guess.

Middle class isnt a clear cut distinction anyway. It mostly serves to divide those of us who live off of labour rather than ownership so we go after one another instead of the capitalists.

I mean, maybe, but in my case I’m sure a good part of it was neither of my parents were good cooks lol

If I didn’t watch them make it, it was pretty hard to tell if the veggies were canned or not; they boiled fresh veggies to the same consistency as the canned ones.