Maybe it's also location which nets some foods to be more affordable? But I don't live in a fresh-farming environment (central Arkansas), we're surrounded by cattle so beef is what's cheap. . . some times of the year veggies are more expensive and I resort to more frozen.
But when we went on our trip cross country to California the thing I noticed that, especially out West, veggies and fruits were SO freaking cheap (like .88/lb for oranges, $1.50/lb/grapes) but fast food was expensive as hell.
We went to McD's in Barstow and it cost us $40.00. Locally that same meal would have cost us just under $20.00.
When we stayed at Half Moon Bay some veggies were still incredibly cheap, cheaper than what I pay for them here. . . I was shocked and actually ticked that I couldn't load up and bring them home
But in other areas where the veggies and fruits must be brought up from the southern states - or the west - I imagine it makes the cost go up even more. . . but, even then, frozen veggies or even canned would be ideal even if fresh is luxury - cost is cheaper because shelf life is longer, transportation can be slower.
Dried barley and garbonzo beans, peas and other such dried goods are a stellar way to slip nutrition into an otherwise so-so meal (like spaghetti w/ sauce - cook/blend up the garbanzo beans and add them into the meat, etc).
But, I admit that since I'm a stay at home Mom I spend a lot of time cooking - but that's not so much because I'm home, that's because I just thoroughly love to cook.
If I hated to cook I'd probably be singing a different tune right now