It’s not a matter of growing your own food. I know folks who go to U picks to get fresh beans and tomatoes, and veggies to can. They take their kids to U picks for peaches and apples to can or dehydrate, same with berries. Farmers markets are pretty ubiquitous now a days and CSAs make fresh veggies in season very affordable. I no long have a need for a fore quarter of beef but I do have a friend who raises lamb for the table and I have the same arrangement for my lamb as CTL has for his beef. I also bought into a flock of chickens through someone the traveling Shochet introduced me to some years back. Poultry prices should be going sky high, millions of chickens in DE, IW, PA and AR are being killed due to avian flu.
Americans are relatively spoiled, they want to eat what they want to eat when they want it. The average American buys expensive fresh fruit and veg (out of season) that are transported sometimes thousands of miles.
Certainly a lot has to do with lifestyle and I’m grateful that I’m financially comfortable and not paying for heating oil or wondering if I can afford that next box of diapers like some women do.