> cheaper than heather options

Due to spoilage concerns grocery stores price food based on shelf stability not just production costs. Processed foods are generally shelf stable enough for this not to be a major concern.

Similarly economies of scale apply in many situations. Slow cooking beans takes more energy the smaller the batch size due to surface area to volume ratios etc.

Combined with the opportunity costs associated with cooking + cleanup means there’s very few healthy options that can compete with highly processed foods.

I bought over a pound of steak the other day for $5. (Yes, it was on sale. But it is frequently on sale.) Along with a potato for 50 cents, that's cheaper than a bag of Doritos.

Oh, and I bought a banana for $.22.

Cooking a steak takes about 10 minutes.

Microwaving a TV dinner ($7.50) takes more time.