Ramen noodles makes for a great meal for those on a tight budget
I mean, if you are just looking for basic survival, I guess it's okay, if you want something healthy, not so much. Either way I wouldn't call ramen a "great meal" unless you are literally about to die of starvation or something. There are much healthier ways to eat on a budget.
Start with brown rice as your basic staple. Get some affordable spices *I work at a discount grocery and we have spices for as low as 49 cents a jar* and at the very least you have a warm, flavorful meal that isn't toxic waste (ramen) or nasty white flour carbs. If you like beans, you can eat some pretty cheap and yummy rice/bean combination dishes during times when money is tight.
After reading the above definition of porridge I think you'd for sure be better of with that vs something like Ramen.
edit- also, GET INTO DUMPSTER DIVING!
This sounds gross but it's really not. It really is a skill. People dumpster dive at my store all the time. I don't mean that they literally go into the dumpster, as at my work we usually leave semi-decent food outside the dumpster for awhile for the scavengers. We throw out so much food... sometimes it's heartbreaking honestly, knowing how many people are suffering out there with hunger and being unable to afford what they'd like to eat. I supplement probably 10-20% (or even more at times) of our groceries each month by doing this. Because legally we have to toss out meat, yogurt, cheese, etc when it's a week past it's "sell by" date... but the food is still good at least 2 weeks past, or even more. So every day after work I bring home beef, yogurt, tons and tons of produce.. it's always GREAT quality. It will be like, one soft spot on an apple or pepper you can just cut off and the rest is quality.
When I think of my store, which is one of probably hundreds of grocery stores in the city, it's crazy how much food is probably being tossed each day. It takes a little watching and learning to figure out what stores dump what/when but if you really wanted to, you could probably talk to the managers or stock people and ask them, most of them would likely love to help you out. No one likes to see food go to waste and there is no shame in making use of something which can still be used.
