5 Food Items That Were Once Considered “Poor Man’s” Foods, Now a Part of Luxury Meals  

“Eat to live, and not live to eat.” This is a famous saying by Benjamin Franklin. People with low financial condition do the former. More than a wish, they do so because of their helplessness. Buying and having expensive delicacies are out of their reach. Poor people eat basic foods that are economically affordable for their survival. However, those from the richer section of society enjoy luxury meals. But, what if we say that today's super expensive foods were once considered “poor man’s” foods? Yes, that was the case with some of the most popular dishes you relish at expensive restaurants these days. Let’s find out the names of the dishes that were initially associated with poor financial status.

Salmon

Lobster

Lobsters were once used as a pest by farmers. They were not considered edible and were given to prisoners as punishment. For people in the 19th century, lobsters were not visually pleasing as compared to fish. The animal became a delicacy for the rich only after the railroad was invented.

Oyster

Oysters were once commonly found everywhere. And, poor people used to go to the sea and get as many oysters as they wanted to have as food. However, oysters reduced in number due to the side-effect of industrialization which is pollution. Notably, oysters are susceptible to pollution. As a result, their price rose and demand increases too making them food for the rich.

Sushi

Sushi used to be a commonly eaten food by Japanese fishermen. Sushi was invented as a way to preserve fish by covering it in fermented rice. Post World War 2, sushi’s price boomed probably because chefs started using exotic fishes to impress travellers.

Caviar

Caviar is one of the most expensive dishes these days. But, around 100 years ago, Russian bars used to serve it for free with sandwiches. The interest of the richer section of society in caviar led to its increased price.