I think that if you decide to scrape the bottom of the barrel and travel as cheaply as humanly possible, bicycling will always be cheaper per mile than driving. At the other end it just depends on how much you want to spend. Same with sailing vs motor boating. The lowtech option will always be cheaper is you are trying to be cheap.

No one mentioned camping in front yards or hotel lobbies - no one other than yourself. Such a thing would hardly be stealth camping, in fact. I believe I've heard that referred to as "Gypsy camping", where you set up your camp to be completely public and visible, with no regard of who it may infringe on... though I doubt front yards and hotel lobbies are frequented by those types, either.

Most bicycle tourists I've read of, spoken to, or known have had a pretty similar ethic in regards to stealth camping. You wait until dark or near dark, you find unimproved or unposted land, you set up just as much as you need to get you through the night, and you pack up and obscure any trace you where ever there in the morning. Most folks, myself included, won't even eat at a stealth campsite. Dinner is eaten further up the road, breakfast is further down the road. There is no fire, no litter, and in nearly all cases no one ever knows or cares. Sadly even that is illegal in many places, because others will abuse it, so yes I may at times be breaking a law. It's a risk no greater than dog attacks, nosy bears, car collisions, and dangerous people.

I'm not trying to take anything away from another person. If someone has built up an area for public or private use, I don't advocate using it without permission. I also don't approve of crossing fences or posted warnings unless you absolutely need, for your own safety, to stop. Excluding those listed locations still leaves one with many options for free camping. What I do believe in, and advocate, is that bicycle tourists, by virtue of already being a bit outside of the norm, should not be so quick to judge their fellows for not wanting to follow the Standard American Vacation Plan. I think your comment about demanding lodging and gas was childish and unnecessary, but you probably already realize that.

Rice is my staple when touring and it cooks pretty quickly, ~20 min. Beans take a lot longer to cook but if you put some in a plastic container in the morning and fill it with water, by evening you can cook them in about 20 minutes or so. I try to keep my salt intake to a minimum at home, but find that touring means I can tolerate a little bit more, probably because I need more. so salt and pepper are necessary and a great spice is curry powder. It really works well with the rice. Definitely bring something to flavor your food with. It can get boring eating non-seasoned food. Seasonings weigh almost nothing.

Breakfast is always oatmeal, lightweight and easy to carry. Dried fruit is a good way to add flavor. I also bring lots of walnuts and almonds for snacks.

Lunch is the biggest variable, depending upon the route, maybe I'll run across a store so for culinary excitement, might grab a burrito or sandwich or whatever. Also, if I do find a store during the day, I'll try to buy some fresh produce. Green beans, broccoli, carrots and other hard veggies will usually survive a few hours as luggage. Apples are also on my list.

Before you go, take what you want to bring and actually cook it. Remember too that at the end of the day, you might be tired and hungry and not want to spend 45 minutes cooking.