If you cannot afford healthy food, what are your best options?

I've edited and added some more info so I deleted the original post and am posting it here.

It depends on which country the person lives in as to what the options are. Food standards and farming husbandry differ between say, the UK and the US.

Not able to be totally accurate about what food's like in the US, I'll stick with the UK and try to be principled so it can translate to other countries.

Generally;
I buy fresh fruit and veg, not necessarily organic but whichever wasn't grown with hormones or anti-biotics etc in the fertilizer.

processed foods:
There's nothing wrong with processed foods per se.
I think it's the degree to which they are processed that differentiates between good and not-so-good.
Peas are processed but not filled with additives. They are brilliant. (The best veg in the world lol)
Other veg are processed such as trimming off leaves but it's the lack of additives that I look out for and thankfully (as I write this), in the UK that's not really an issue.

So, buy the good veg. Then also buy a good oil and some herbs and spices, which will increase the flavour which is especially good if the veg is bland.

At a GFs family dining table, one Thursday, I commented that the meal was great and that I knew there was no meat in it. (I was definitely not vegetarian back then).
I was told that there hadn't been meat in any meal since the weekend, though, back then I ate like a vacuum cleaner and appreciated taste without obsessing over the ingredients.
I just trusted the people doing the cooking. My then future Mother-in-law was amazing in the kitchen. Her husband was a naturopath and so food was recognised and understood to be a major factor in our health. Changing foods could actually improve heath and if there were digestive issues or even illnesses, cutting out some foods could (and did, for some people) reduce their illness.

Though about 10 years ago, I went to see a kinesiologist. Good idea. I was bloated, tummy was like a balloon, and I had heartburn and acid reflux.
Turned out I was eating too much wholegrain bread. I had removed marmalade, and reduced my wheat intake and cut out coffee for a week, but the symptoms remained. Cutting out wheat for 4 weeks I lost the ballooned tummy and all those symptoms were gone.

(Actually the tummy was down within a week and even today, if I were to eat granary bread - I love it - I can see it's ballooning again that day not long afterwards. That means it can only be a treat occasionally and not be my main breakfast bread/toast.).

She also explained about - and gave me a list - of things I should avoid for 6 weeks.
My diet was restricted in variety but I wasn't prevented from eating enough to feel full.
And after 6 weeks, I had lost a stone (14lbs) and was feeling more alive, awake and happy.
[note to self: do it again now!!]
My point is: I grew up being told veg was good for me - especially 'greens'.
It is, but, not all of it.
Some enzymes in some veg affect people differently. I'm ok with all sorts of 'greens' but my o/h can't eat lettuce or cabbage when she's on that restricted diet and generally, now, she avoids them.
She's actually only allowed carrots and potatoes when she's 'resetting' her system.
Grim for her.

Fruits too: some are ok but others should be avoided or eaten in very small quantities. Which are good/bad/less good, is a matter for the individual. We're not all the same. My o/h must avoid grapefruit and oranges (basically citrus) but I can't eat pears or apricot when on that reset program.

I'm not trying to make money for anyone but, imv, it is a good idea to get checked out by a kinesiologist so you know which individual ingredients are good for you, which are ok in small quantities and which each of us, on an individual basis, should avoid. I learned much more than when visiting a dietician and my GP now refers people to her.

tips:
Long-grain rice - we gently fry some chopped onions in a little salt-free butter (or lately Gee, which doesn't burn), for a couple of minutes and then add the rice.
When adding the water (2 cups water to 1 cup rice - enough for two people or make more if you're really hungry or have high calorie burn during the day), we put a good quality stock cube (gel) in it.
Yep, Mmmm, I love it. Boil slowly too. Better results (cooked evenly through) and more tolerance in timing so if you forget it by 2 mins, it won't be destroyed or stuck to the saucepan/pot.

Pasta - Per a senior Italian chef, the water should taste like the sea. I did it the first time about a month ago.
Much better. (cook on slow heat, bubbling but not raging bubbling. More than a simmer. Totally immersed in water).
Surprised with the amount of salt required (I used sea salt) but, apparently, not much is absorbed by the pasta.
Nuts - I was late to discover the amazing things that are nuts. As a snack yes, I ate them, but when included in a meal, they add flavour and texture.

shopping sense: I don't look at the packet price. I look at the price per unit/weight. i.e that which you are actually getting for your money.

Shops use packaging to show us a product that we like and want.
They exploit those with a tighter budget.

eg. 50g honey -v- 100g honey. Last time I checked I was shocked and annoyed. 50g was £2.00 and 100g was £2.50.
I don't use the word hate though for those crooks I'll gladly make an exception.

The poorer amongst us who struggle to pay 2.00 and can't justify 2.50, are being charged massively more than the rest of us for what they actually get for their money.
That's morally wrong, imv.
Financially loaded but morally bankrupt.

Also, I try not to be fooled by special offers. eg 3 items for 9.00gbp.
It may seem attractive but what are you actually getting for the money?
And I also look out for items that may not be in the offer but which are right beside those that are. I avoid them so when I get to the till, I'm not looking a fool when I complain about its price. So, I work it out when I'm thinking alone.

Tomato puree too can be good, depending on your choice of dish. Concentrated, sun-dried, garlic, quite a few to choose from.

I sometimes wipe food items with a stock cube when it's nearly cooked which boosts flavour and strengthens the dish flavours.
It certainly increases its presence on the palate.

hth someone/anyone

 

Sorry.
I picked up this thread in 'new posts', so I did not realise it was in the vegetarian forum.