I'm not sure if this will still be too broad or vague, but here's my attempt at a rewrite.  Please feel free to close it if it is still too broad/vague.   Friends overseas have a very minimal kitchen, and where they are, electricity is expensive, and they have a minimal income.    Here is what they have - one single electric burner, a smaller-than-normal dorm fridge (which eats up most of their electric bill, evidently), a very sketchy 80s or 90s microwave that they are reluctant to use because of radiation leakage, one very small pot with a lid, two chef's knives and a couple of bowls. They have access to vegetables, a little meat and a few spices and sauces (salt, pepper, ginger, garlic, onions), but that's more or less it.   They do not have access or easy access to the following - gas-powered or coal-powered products or devices; equipment or devices that are considered safe by most standards at home (they tried to get a hot water heater for coffee and it blew up in a month); ovens; toaster ovens; convection ovens; toasters; waffle irons; grills; George Forman grills; blenders; food processors; salad spinners, zesters, and other things we take for granted.  They also do not have access to processed foods like Oreos, soup mixes, canned broth, instant [fill-in-food-here] etc. Dairy and seafood are also out but those are due to allergies. They also do not have internet access, which is why I'm posting as I'm just learning to cook myself. I'm hoping to have answers for them next time I call.  I am looking for general food categories or formulas that they could make that have minimal time on the stovetop and will help with their bill.  Examples include stir-frys (cut up veg, add sauce, swish around, eat) or tortillas (eggs, add veggies and flavors, wait till eggs set, eat).    Are there other "food formulas" like the two mentioned above - not specific recipes - that they could use?  I used the following criteria   5-10 minutes on the stovetop easily adaptable - e.g. for stir-frys, they can use whatever veg their market has available imparts a lot of flavor in a short time is forgiving   I really am looking for suggestions, not recipes. What can my friends do to make meals under those circumstances?  Thank you for your patience and help. 
Aaronut's answer is fine, I'm just coming at it from a slightly different assumption.  Sandwiches like these are common in gas stations and convenience stores in the US. You can buy them in multi-packs at grocery stores or places like Costco.     In multi-packs they are sold frozen, in convenience stores they have often been defrosted.  They're perfectly safe still frozen as they were fully cooked before being quickly frozen and presumably stayed frozen until they were defrosted in the refrigerator before sale (if they're purchased thawed).  The only way these would pose a food safety risk is if they were thawed and left in the "danger zone" for longer than 2 hours, either somewhere along the distribution chain (highly unlikely), or after purchase. That's being very conservative, BTW. 