So called "healthy" prepared/processed foods (sugar-free foods, etc.) really do cost more than their sugared counterparts, but mainly that's because aspertame/splenda cost more to produce than sugar. But I find that buying vegetables/good cuts of lean meat isn't any mor expensive than the regular stuff.
Where it gets expensive is if you buy a bunch of fresh stuff and let it sit in the back of your fridge until it rots. I don't go to the supermarket and do a big weekly or bi-monthly shopping trip anymore. I pick up fresh vegetables daily or every other day at my local greengrocer. I save money that way, and I know that the food will be eaten if I only buy it in the quantities that I plan to use in the next day or so. MisterMadly and I don't eat a whole lot meat, so we buy small quantities and stretch them out. Sometimes I'll buy the cheaper cuts of meat and trim them down myself (or have the Mister do it) to save some money, but we can easily get three or four meals out of a small baked chicken, or out of a small pork tenderloin.
I also stopped buying big heads of lettuce/spinach and started buying the stuff in the bags. Again, it's a bit more expensive, but not when you figure how much waste there is when you buy lettuces/spinach whole.
And ditto on the frozen/fresh debate. Frozen vegetables are pretty good these days, and they keep very well. I usually buy frozen green beans, edamame, brussels sprouts, and corn in the winter and buy fresh in the summer months. I buy frozen cut-up vegetables for quick stir-fry meals -- I don't buy the stuff with the sauce already added, though.
-150 pounds and counting!
