1) I never said there may be some healthier options that could possibly be cheaper than unhealthy options. I don't know why that is the gist of what you got from my statement.
2) Even though I never implied correlation, there absolutely is. For two simple reasons: (a) Comparing similar products, higher quality products are more expensive. Compare high quality eggs to lower quality. Compare higher quality cheese to lower quality. Compare higher quality ice cream to lower quality. It's not even close. And (b) processed food is way cheaper. If you are eating healthy, whether it's meat, cheese, or vegetables, on a per calorie basis, processed foods is just way cheaper. Go ahead and eat salad, but you can get the same calories from a 50 cent cookie. And even if you say salad is cheap, I like my salad with high quality field greens, olives, and feta.
I really don't understand what you're comparing to say there is no correlation. There is literally direct causation of quality to price, especially because corn syrup and grain is so cheaply produced. It costs money to put real nutrition into food. That extra nutrient or space you feed the plants or give animals aren't free. And the labor it takes to make food better quality isn't free. And you're saying those factors simply don't exist?
3) Anyways you entirely missed my point. I was implying that novelty is important in life, and I want to maximize my enjoyment when it comes to food. When it comes to trying to enjoy a healthy balanced life, obviously in terms of your health, it's about diet-exercise-sleep. Exercise and sleep is practically free (not including the opportunity cost of doing so). Food costs money and influences everything else.
Meaning, when I eat, I want it to be the high-point of my day and be high and packed with nutrition and sustenance. It's the only thing in life you can really enjoy that costs money, and have no ill consequence if it's healthy. And lower quality food, I simply don't enjoy and doesn't make me feel great. It leads to worse outcomes. For two reasons: (a) if my food is boring, I crave other things in my life that will give me enjoyment, which both are more expensive and more destructive. If I eat spaghetti everyday, it will get old fast, and I'll end up doing something else to make my life novel, and there is only so much you can do within your house that is healthy. So you end up eating bland food and then playing video games or watching TV. Yes, you can run on a treadmill, but that's boring too. Or you can go out, but you're probably going to spend money and go shopping or do some other activity equally as unhealthy. I know this isn't always the case for everyone, but I guarantee if I analyze most peoples habit, chances are, this is it. I'll break it down for you, as far as what I noticed in my life.
1) If I eat a boring diet, I crave novelty in other areas of my life 2) If I eat a bad diet, I lose energy 3) If I feel energetic, I don't run or exercise 4) If I don't run or exercise, I feel restless at night, and I end up staying up real late or need a night cap 5) I get horrible sleep, and end up feel even worse the next day
Or you can actually look forward to awesome different meals everyday that balance dozens of flavors and cook it yourself. That activity replaces monitity, and the only thing I can think of that you shouldn't budget. And by budget, I'm talking about, when you decide to buy food, and your choice is between item A (healthier and tastes better), that you do want and crave, and item B. If item B is cheaper, you are doing yourself a disservice.