My family ekes by on $3.95 per person per day. Been doing it for years.
We eat fresh meat, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit every day. We also are able to include a few luxury items every month. Plus we’re able to stock up on lots of non perishables.
In a pinch, we could cut our budget if we needed a little extra cash and still be well fed.
You can’t buy pre-prepared food on that budget,
and the same reason that the majority of people are generational welfare and foodstamp recipients
precludes them from preparing fresh food for their families.