Gaining

Pizza and pasta can be had cheaply enough in the states. What are prices doing in Ireland these days?

If you're willing to eat really low quality food it's possible. Store-brand waffers, store-brand pasta. The ones tasting like paper yet still having loads of calories.

I have similar problem but I'm unwilling to spend money on poor quality food - which results in me not having financial cushion but at least eating freshly made restaurant takeout/delivery and filling the rest of my days with moderate amounts of decent (quality wise) food.

You can fish for coupons or some special cards in some places - or get a younger friend working in fastfood - they will have access to staff meals

You can also mention food/prepaid (if it exists) as a good gift idea to friends and family (+coworkers?).

If you can't cook - learn, at least try. In most European countries eggs/flour/oil and white sugar are fairly cheap and you can make so many pancakes/omelettes/muffins.

If you have a car or convenient way to get to some restaurants just compare prices - it's always cheaper to go there and buy something for 20 than to order for 40 because that's the minimum and pay 5 extra for delivery, currency doesn't matter.

Also buying in bulk and comparing price per 100g or 1kg (or ounces/pounds) to get the best value for money.