I agree with your coworkers ! I don't know if your job gives you health insurance or not, but not getting sick is waaaaay cheaper than "saving" money on unhealthy cheap food.

And beyond being "sick" eating better food gives you so much more energy, and creates a better mood. I think that if you weigh the opportunity cost of not eating healthy against the financial savings incurred by eating ramen, you will conclude that you miss out on things far more valuable than money by eating bad food.

Also if you need other cheap options, there are so many food bloggers here to follow, but I personally love lentils, chickpeas, and tofu dishes for cheap meals. These things can easily come in at under $1 per serving, and pack a lot more nutrition. You can cook them in a crock pot over night, and its really easy.

To your health!!