Thanks for assuming a ton there, asshole.

I have been there. I have scraped together coins I could find to buy a single pound of dry pasta, to eat it plain. Repeatedly.

Money is not such an issue for me these days, but depression is. I know how hard it can be to do the minimal steps to make food.

I understand how precious time, money, and energy can be. I have eaten cereal and the like for plenty of meals I shouldn't have, and have always regretted it.

There are better options.

A $20 rice cooker is the same as like 5 boxes of cereal. If you are too money pressed, but have some time, one can likely be found nearly free at a thrift store or yard sale, or you can cook rice or pasta in a pot instead.

If you don't have access to a cooking surface, we're getting to houselessness territory, which is a huge problem and is affecting far too many people, but is beyond just being poor or not having time.

Edit: And if all that is too much, you can eat cold beans from a can. I have done this as well. It's not great, but it's a better option than cereal still.