Somebody Help Hamburger Helper

I was at the store the other day, checking out the Hamburger Helper section--yes, we're that poor that Hamburger Helper is now in our cupboards. I looked at all of the different Helper helpers and was actually kind of impressed that they have such a variety, breaking it down into meats (tuna, chicken, or hamburger), and then into ethnic varieties (Italian, Asian, Mexican). I wasn't really paying that much attention though, because my eyes skimmed over most of them without a second glance.

But then I saw this young mother reach out and grab a box of Hamburger Helper Italian Spaghetti and Meat Sauce. It took me a second to register what had just happened. Now, I know that a box of Helper is pretty cheap, usually around $3, and in these hard times people look at price more than ever. But I can't for the life of me figure out why someone would bypass an entire aisle in Wal-Mart containing all kinds of flavored sauces and shapes of pasta for a box of Helper. Yeah, a jar of sauce is about the same price as a box of Helper; a pound of beef is about that much too, so you've doubled the price. Then factor in that the pasta costs a little less. So you're looking at a meal that costs about three times as much as the Helper. But think of the serving size.

The recommended serving size on Helper is 1 cup, prepared. That isn't much. And when you consider that when they show the stuff in the commercials, there is usually about three side dishes and a salad and bread. I doubt that mother was fixing such a lavish meal to her and her son. Now compare that to the jar, meat, and pasta and you get something different.

I mean, honestly, in most families, when it is spaghetti night, that is the feature item, usually served with a salad and bread, but nothing much. It is a meal in itself, with protein, grains, vegetables, and dairy if you like cheese (and who doesn't?). Plus if you get the big box of spaghetti, you can serve, like, ten people as much as they want.

I don't know. Maybe I'm missing the point of Hamburger Helper Spaghetti and Meat Sauce. Maybe it exists for the same reason the Chef Boyardee has canned Spaghetti and Meatballs. But I can see a need for canned, pre-cooked pasta. With the Helper, you still have to cook the noodles.

Anybody out there had Helper Spaghetti? What did you think? Worth it? Or is it better to get a jar of sauce and a box of pasta and make it your damn self?