I was told by my parents when I was a baby after all the bills were paid at times my parents would take the remaining money, but a container of formula for me, a large loaf of bread and a small jar of mayo in the summer and they pulled tomatoes out of my Mom’s parents garden and that is what they would eat during the summer when things got financially tight. They refused to go on welfare and both were working 40+ hrs a week, but in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky that sometimes still meant not having enough.
BTW I love a good mayo, salt and fresh tomato sandwich!
Growing up, Mom’s favorite “menu stretcher” was a casserole with noodle, tomato, onion, (a little) hamburger and toasted bread crumbs on top. We’d eat that a couple times a week for supper. I didn’t complain...and still like it to this day.
Your parents are salt of the earth folks!