Ultra-processed foods are energy-dense and ready-to-eat food items including things like processed breakfast meats, packaged snacks, and ice cream as well as artificially sweetened drinks.
Before I got student assistance I had to work while studying as well, I had to pay for the more expensive prepared food because I didn't have the time to plan a meal, cook it and clean up and all that, even if my depression + undiagnosed ADD combo would have allowed it. People don't know that being poor is expensive in ways they wouldn't think about. This is in a rich country as well, getting fresh ingredients typically is cheaper here too but people forget that the cost of preparation might not be affordable to some.
Before I got student assistance I had to work while studying as well, I had to pay for the more expensive prepared food because I didn't have the time to plan a meal, cook it and clean up and all that, even if my depression + undiagnosed ADD combo would have allowed it. People don't know that being poor is expensive in ways they wouldn't think about. This is in a rich country as well, getting fresh ingredients typically is cheaper here too but people forget that the cost of preparation might not be affordable to some.