For low cost housing I think it is time to rethink the kitchen. Dump the cook top and oven. It requires a 240 v line (expensive) and take up valuable space. Make a space for a crock pot, toaster oven, microwave and two burner hot plate. Dump the giant refrigerator and go with a more modest one but with good amount of freezer space.

Not that you don't have a valid point about not enough affordable housing and poor people needing to work so much they don't have time to cook.

Most middle class kitchens are fit to feed an Army or at least 12 people for Thanksgiving.

Frozen veggies are underrated (cheap fresh and delicious), that is why I mentioned enough freezer space.

I must say crock pot again. Oh, and again. I use mine more than anything. Whole chicken and it makes stock. Country ribs. Vegetable soup, stew, chowder, corn beef and cabbage, on and on and on and it is low on effort. Prep before bed, throw in the pot before you leave for work and meal when you come home. Did I say frozen veggies....oh, I am sure I did. They don't even need to be defrosted. They go into the pot frozen.

I am sure I could cook delicious, easy, affordable low effort, healthy meals in a one room studio with no kitchen with just a few appliances. You can wash the dishes in the bath tub.

I am a tent camper, I can make these meals over an open fire using gathered sticks and branches with my camping gear. Clean up is a bigger problem.

Bread, I use a bread machine not the oven. I have and do sometimes make bread in the oven but I have a bread machine. You don't need an oven. I think they almost give bread machines away at Good Will.

TEK